Cuban jazz outfit Komokuba will be playing their first live gig this week, bringing the sounds of salsa, cha cha, rumba, bolero and other styles to Rabat.

The idea for the gig came about when musician Justin Galea (of Plato’s Dream Machine and KażinSka fame), first discovered the pleasantly kitsch decor of the Bottegin Palazzo Xara Hall, which immediately brought to mind the possibilities of transforming it into a live music venue.

Galea approached jazz pianist Joe Debono, who has previously been part of a Latin band with late jazz percussionist Nicky Doublet, and Komokuba was born.

“We decided to call the band Komokuba, because the name originates from ‘como Cuba’, which means ‘like Cuba’. We wanted to write it in a way that could easily be read in all languages; it has a certain feel of an Afro-Cuban rhythm when said aloud, and it also implies that we are not Cubans ourselves but that we respect the style and try hard to perform the songs in the Cuban manner,” Galea said.

The band is inspired by the likes of Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Buena Vista Social Club and others. A seven-man outfit, the band is made up of Galea on voice and flute, Debono on piano, Anthon Saliba (il-Fesu) on bass, Joseph Camilleri on drums, Adrian Galea on percussions, Adrian Brincat (ir-Russu) on trumpet and Jonathan Abela on trombone.

Komokuba perform on Saturday at 8.30pm at Bottegin Palazzo Xara, Rabat. Tickets are available online.

www.komokuba.yapsody.com;

www.facebook.com/events/665649620189789/