The Buena Vista Orchestra (sometimes referred to as The Buena Vista Social Orchestra, Orchestra Buena Vista, etc) will headline the third annual Tilles Jazz Fest on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Featuring a rotating lineup of musicians pulled from acclaimed ensembles (including the original Buena Vista Social Club, AfroCuban All Stars, the bands of Celia Cruz, & more), the Buena Vista Orchestra is widely regarded as the world’s foremost Cuban music repertory ensemble. 

The Buena Vista Orchestra and related projects have garnered global recognition for their vibrant blend of traditional Cuban rhythms with contemporary influences. Its performances celebrate Cuba’s rich musical heritage while also continuing to push the boundaries of the genre. The ensemble’s highly anticipated studio album is scheduled for release in 2026. 

Led by renowned Cuban violinist Rolando Morejón Reyes, the ensemble features a collective of skilled musicians. Reyes’ credits include leading the Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín, the bands of Omara Portuondo, Willin Colón, Chachao Lopez, Oscar D’León, and many more. Joining him onstage are a collective of skilled musicians, including trumpeter Antonio Perigo, percussionists Miguel Valdés and Pepe Espinosa, pianist Helder Rojas, and international trombone sensation Yosmel Garceran! Independently, members have performed alongside renowned acts such as Celia Cruz, Cachao López, Chucho Valdés, McCoy Tyner, and Buena Vista Social Club. 

The orchestra’s history is inseparable from the extraordinary legacy of its predecessor, the Buena Vista Social Club. Formed in 1996, the Buena Vista Social Club played a pivotal role in revitalizing traditional Cuban music and bringing it to audiences around the world. The ensemble of veteran musicians, with many coaxed out of retirement for the group’s formation. The music echoed sounds from Cuba’s musical “golden age” of the 1930s through the 1950s, showcasing styles like son, bolero, and danzón. Their 1997 debut album Buena Vista Social Club—recorded for World Circuit Records in just seven days—is now the best-selling Cuban album in history, with over eight million sales globally. Its success sparked renewed international interest in Cuban music and as well as broader attention to Latin American musical traditions.

The cultural influence of the Buena Vista Social Club extends well beyond the stage and studio. In 1999, filmmaker Wim Wenders released the acclaimed documentary Buena Vista Social Club, which features live performances and interviews with the musicians. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature and won numerous international honors, introducing millions of viewers to the artists and their music. By spotlighting the individual musicians, the film fostered deeper personal connections between viewers and the music, demonstrating that the sound of the Buena Vista Social Club is inseparable from the environment, place, and people that shaped it. A follow-up documentary, Buena Vista Social Club: Adiós, was released in 2017.

More recently, the story of the Buena Vista Social Club has reached new audiences through the stage musical Buena Vista Social Club, which premiered in 2023 and made its Broadway debut in 2025. Featuring music from the 1997 Buena Vista Social Club album and a book by Marco Ramirez, the musical narrates the group’s formation from the 1950s to the 1990s while also situating its story within Cuba’s broader social context. The Buena Vista Social Club’s frequent place in art and media testifies to its continued relevance and unique ability to connect with audiences. 

Today, the Buena Vista Orchestra carries that tradition forward with electrifying performances and a skilled lineup of musicians. Attendees of the third annual Tilles Jazz Fest should be sure not to miss this exciting group!

Get tickets on our website, over the phone, or in person at our box office.

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION: To select a ticket to the evening performance ONLY by Buena Vista Orchestra, please select your seat from the seat map on Ticketmaster and add a Standard Admission Ticket to your cart. If you wish to purchase an All-Event Pass, which includes a ticket to the evening performance AND all daytime events, please choose your seat on Ticketmaster and select the All-Event Pass. Click below to purchase tickets!