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Percy Chinchilla and Perkutao Afro-Peruvian Jazz Courtesy of Blues Alley.
Published October 6, 2026 · 3 min read
There's a percussion tradition born from shipping crates and a ban on drums. Africans held as slaves in colonial Peru weren't allowed to play their own instruments, so they repurposed wooden boxes and invented something new. The cajón has since traveled the world—into flamenco, jazz, and every fusion in between. In 2001, Peru declared it Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
Tonight, Tuesday, October 6, you can hear it at Blues Alley, played by a man who grew up with its sound in his ears every day.
The Artists
Percy Chinchilla is a master percussionist, zapateador (Afro-Peruvian foot percussionist), and educator from Lima. He grew up in the Callejón del Buque in the La Victoria district—a legendary bohemian courtyard where the cajón could be heard daily alongside guitars and singers. He trained in Perú Negro, the emblematic Afro-Peruvian ensemble, and comes from a family of musicians including Caitro Soto and Ronaldo Campos.
He founded Perkutao in Lima in 2005 alongside percussionist Robin Axel. The ensemble has since relocated to the Washington, D.C. area and has been performing at Blues Alley, Mr. Henry's, and Takoma Station. Their debut album, Mis Ancestros ("My Ancestors"), was produced by acclaimed percussionist Manongo Mujica and released as the fourth installment in the Perspectivas de la Música Afroperuana series.
The ensemble blends Afro-Peruvian rhythms rooted in coastal Black Peruvian culture with Afro-Cuban and Caribbean influences, then marries it all to jazz improvisation. The lineup includes Chinchilla on percussion, Robin Axel, Gabriel Vivas on bass, Joshua Jenkins on keys, Bobby Muncy on sax, and Leo Maxey on trumpet.
Why This Matters
Afro-Peruvian music is a fusion of three worlds: African rhythms, Spanish melodies, and Indigenous Andean traditions. It developed along the coast, where Black Peruvians preserved their musical heritage despite colonial attempts to suppress it. The cajón—literally a wooden box played with the hands—became the heartbeat.
Perkutao modernizes that tradition for global audiences without sanding off its edges. Their sound runs from the driving polyrhythms of festejo and lando to soulful jazz solos, all held together by the cajón's low-end pulse.
The Venue
Blues Alley is the nation's oldest continuing jazz supper club, founded in 1965 in an 18th-century red brick carriage house in Georgetown. It has hosted Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Grover Washington Jr., Ramsey Lewis, Charlie Byrd, Maynard Ferguson, and Eva Cassidy. Capacity is 150, which means there's not a bad seat in the room.
Logistics
Date & Sets: Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Set 1 at 7:00 PM, Set 2 at 9:30 PM.
Doors: 6:00 PM and 8:45 PM.
Venue: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Tickets: Available via bluesalley.com or InstantSeats, the club's sole ticketing provider. Tickets purchased through third-party sites will not be accepted. There is a $7 service fee per ticket. Prices vary by set and reseller—expect roughly $91 and up.
Minimum: $15 food or beverage minimum per person, not included in ticket price.
Seating: General admission, first come first served. Arrive early for the best seats.
Age: 10 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Parking: Paid parking at Georgetown Park, 1092 Wisconsin Ave NW.
Dress Code: No dress code. Social casual is suggested.
Accessibility: Performance area is street-level and accessible. Restrooms are on the second floor with stair access only. Call ahead for accommodations.
Perkutao kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month and the Peruvian Jazz Series with two sets at one of America's most storied jazz rooms. The cajón has traveled from Lima's courtyards to Georgetown's carriage house. Go hear what it sounds like in person.
Tickets at bluesalley.com.
#PercyChinchilla #Perkutao #AfroPeruvianJazz #BluesAlley #HispanicHeritageMonth #Cajón #DMVJazz #CulturalDMV
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