Harold López-Nussa

It doesn't happen all that often: A young man trains as a classical concert pianist, goes quite far, plays with various symphony orchestras - and then more or less suddenly decides to turn off in a completely different direction. Harold López-Nussa, born in 1983 in Havana to a family of musicians, is such a case. In his mid-20s, he finally follows his love for jazz, which had already ignited before, and his talent opens all doors for him here as well. He plays with Chucho Valdés, David Sánchez or Horacio "El Negro" Hernández, with Christian Scott, Alexander Brown or Omara Portuondo. Since 2007, he has regularly released albums under his own name and has toured the world with his trio and as a soloist. López-Nussa's playing, however deeply it has penetrated into the forms of American jazz, naturally shows his origins - the bubbling life in the streets of Havana, the Latin American rhythms, the traditions of Afro-Cuban dance music characterize the improvisations of this virtuoso. Comparisons with Chick Corea or Herbie Hancock are not too far-fetched, since López-Nussa, just like the aforementioned, has the ability to invest his passion in all possible styles and still remain true to himself each time. López-Nussa gets his inspiration from all over the world. But the most important place, he once said, remains Havana, "the people, the friends, the problems, the parties, the music everywhere." Everyday life feeds the musical imagination; jazz and Cuban music are not learned here in conservatories - where it's all about classical music - but on the street. The carefreeness, wildness, joy associated with this study on the street can be heard in his shows to this day.