Submitted by the Orcas Center.

Orcas Center proudly kicks off this year’s Orcas Island Jazz Festival with a vibrant, free outdoor concert featuring Duende Libre and Sabu on the Village Green, Sunday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. This free event is in partnership with the Summer Concert Series presented by Orcas Center, Doe Bay Resort, GiveOrcas/Orcas Island Community Foundation and San Juan County!

Duende Libre is an award-winning jazz ensemble that combines jazz virtuosity with roots rhythms from Cuba, Brazil and West Africa into a “strikingly authentic blend.” Each having apprenticed with direct descendants and master musicians of these traditions, they consider themselves disciples of their teachers. The result: a euphoric new jazz that honors its historical roots, pushing open the boundaries of genre to invoke a powerful sonic freedom.

Sabu is a six-member drum ensemble based on Orcas and San Juan islands. They play the traditional music of the Maninka, or Mindinka, the people of Guinea and Mali in West Africa. Their presentation of this music is in the style of renowned Guinean djembefola (djembe player) and teacher Mamady Keita. This music is traditionally played at celebrations and gatherings of all kinds, and the village comes out to dance!

The 2025 Orcas Island Jazz Festival will continue indoors with performances from EntreMundos (Aug. 29), Greta Matassa (Aug. 30), and Martin Lund and the Off-Island All-Stars (Aug. 31) on the Orcas Center Main Stage. Tickets can be purchased online at www.OrcasCenter.org, over the phone at 360-376-2281 x 1 or in person Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and an hour prior to showtime.