Grupo Riken

Grupo Riken has been performing in the Tucson area since 2009, specializing in folk music from the Caribbean and Latin America, including Cuban bolero, Puerto Rican jibaro music and plena, Latin jazz, salsa, and bossa nova. The group’s unique sound comes from folk instruments such as the Puerto Rican cuatro, Peruvian cajón, and Afro-Caribbean bongos and congas. The name Riken is a derivation from the name used by the indigenous Tainos in Puerto Rico, who call the island “Boriken.” Grupo Riken has performed at Tucson Meet Yourself, Tohono Chul Park, and in 2016 released their first CD De Aqui Pa’ Allá. In Spring 2019 they won second place at the SAACA Folk Music Festival in Oro Valley. Their members include José Luis Puerta, guitar; Alexis Rivera, cuatro; and David Pérez, percussion.