Music: Orquesta Aragon, still a force after 61 years, brings its elegant Afro-Caribbean sounds to the Southland on Thursday.

              By ERNESTO LECHNER, Special to The Times

                  STUDIO CITY--One of the most beloved and respected bands ever to come out of Cuba, Orquesta Aragon, is still going
              strong after 61 years. The group will perform a rare Los Angeles concert Thursday at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City.
                   Aragon is the kind of traditional Cuban ensemble known as a charanga, which explores the European side of Afro-Caribbean
              music, structuring their elegant but pungent sound on delicate layers of flute and violins.
                   "Each instrumental section within the band has its own, very specific function, like the rhythm, the strings and the vocals," explains
              41-year-old Rafael Lay Bravo, the band's first violinist and current leader.
                   "The original idea was to form a string ensemble backed by a rhythm section, instead of just another dance orchestra. To create a
              group that would make for good dancing and good listening at the same time," he said.
                   Lay Bravo is the son of violinist Rafael Lay, Aragon's leader from 1948 until 1982, when he died in an automobile accident. The
              son, who had already been playing with the ensemble for two years, replaced his father as leader.
                   "My father never attempted to impose any of his musical ideas on me," he said. "He sent me to the national conservatorio, and
              would
                   occasionally inquire about my progress. Sometimes he would find me studying the Aragon records and tell me to put something
              else on. 'You have to listen to all kinds of music,' he would say."
                                                             * * *
                   Throughout its six decades of existence, the band has amassed a vast repertoire of hits such as the frisky "Sabrosona," the
              humorous "Senor Juez" and the timeless "El Bodeguero," which was covered by countless artists, including the famous Buena Vista
              Social Club.
                   Aptly titled "La Charanga Eterna" (Eternal Charanga), Aragon's latest disc has replaced the rustic charm of the group's seminal
              sessions with the aural sophistication of modern recording technology.
                   The album includes vocal contributions by African salsero Papa Wemba, Puerto Rican crooner Cheo Feliciano and Buena Vista
              member Omara Portuondo.
                   "From its inception, this orchestra has functioned like a family," Lay Bravo said. "Our motto is all for one and one for all. We
              have put a lot of love and sacrifice into our music. Perhaps that's the reason why Aragon has lasted such a long time."
                   The performance begins at 10 p.m. Thursday at Sportsmen's Lodge, 4234 Coldwater Canyon Blvd., Studio City. Call (310)
              450-8770 for more information.
              Copyright 2000 Los Angeles Times