Orchestra Mambo International
Formed in November 2023 by DJ Lubi Jovanovic (DJ Lubi) and salsa/mambo trombonist Jonny Enright (Grupo X) for a one-off tribute to Tito Puente at Manchester’s Blues Kitchen, the band was propelled forward by an electrifying audience response, leading to a string of sold-out shows across the UK. Fronted by lead singer Carlos “Pachanga” Peña, the diverse lineup features musicians from Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Spain, Congo/Argentina, and the UK.
OMI are bringing mambo to a whole new young generation of UK listeners. Their original tracks , including dancefloor favourites “Mambo Te Llama,” “Baila Mi Cha Cha,” and “Mi Mambo”, have earned widespread acclaim, lighting up airwaves from BBC Radio 6 Music to global salsa and jazz DJs. Endorsements from Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, and Coco Maria have further amplified their impact.
Highlights include an electrifying performance on the Glasto Latino stage at Glastonbury Festival 2025 and a December 2024 live session at BBC Maida Vale Studios for Cerys Matthews’ Christmas show, reaching an audience of 800,000.
Press Kit: https://orchestramambointl.carrd.co/
Grupo X
.Formed in London in 1997 by trombonist, composer, and arranger Jonny Enright, Grupo X is a pioneering UK Latin ensemble rooted in the sounds of ’60s and ’70s New York — where Afro-Cuban music fused with soul and jazz to create what the world would come to know as salsa. Drawing inspiration from legends such as Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colón, Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz, and Joe Bataan, Grupo X forged their own original and distinctly British take on the genre.
Regular appearances at London’s Jazz Cafe in the late ’90s and early 2000s built the band a devoted following, and their acclaimed debut album X-Posure (2001) — released on Loft Recordings — earned rave reviews worldwide and a Latin Grammy nomination. Subsequent releases Food For Your Latin Soul (2006), As Hills Go By (2011), the best-of collection Songs From Our Latin Soul (2016) and Saturday Night (2021) cemented their reputation for infectious grooves, sharp arrangements, and soulful vocals.
Featuring the stunning lead vocals of Lisa Millett alongside Venezuelan salsa star Carlos Peña, Grupo X have collaborated with an array of celebrated artists, including Joe Bataan, Jack Costanzo, Dave Pike, Jimmy Sabater, and Jimmy Bosch. Their track “Jonny’s Bugalu” was licensed for a DSW Shoes TV commercial across the USA in 2007, and their music has received extensive airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio 2 from DJs including Lauren Laverne, Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Craig Charles, and Cerys Matthews.