Harold López-Nussa – Te Lo Dije (Mack Avenue Music Group, 2020)
Harold López-Nussa is a fantastic piano player and composer based in Havana, Cuba. Te Lo Dije celebrates the intersections between jazz and Cuban music. Harold López-Nussa provides a selection of his original compositions along with three covers of classics by Michel Legrand (France), Juan Formell (Cuba) and Leo Brouwer (Cuba).
Cuban styles include mambo, timba and guajira. Harold López-Nussa delivers a spectacular set of performances on acoustic piano and electronic keyboards showcasing his virtuosity and also his talent as an arranger featuring masterful arrangements. His band includes the great trumpet player Mayquel González and a fabulous rhythm section that incorporates Cuban beats as well as funk.
Harold López-Nussa dedicates his piece “Timbeando” to Chick Corea. This is a superb piece that highlights Harold López-Nussa’s versatility on the electric and acoustic pianos.
Innovation appears in the form of a fascinating and irresistible mix of jazz and reggaeton called Jazztón and a tribute to the encounter between Cuban music and New Orleans.
The lineup includes Harold López-Nussa on piano, keyboards and backing vocals; Mayquel González on trumpet, backing vocals; Julio César González on bass, backing vocals; Ruy Adrián López-Nussa on drums and percussion, backing vocals. Additional musicians: Heikel Fabián Trimiño on trombone; José Julián Morejón on percussion; Jorge Aragón on extra keyboards.
Special guests include French accordionist Vincent Peirani who adds a melancholic touch to Michel Legrand’s The Windmills of Your Mind (1968), a song that appeared in the movie The Thomas Crown with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.
Other guests featured: rising Cuban vocalist Cimafunk; Habana Abierta’s Kelvis Ochoa on vocals; and percussionist Randy Malcom Martinez (La Charanga Habanera).
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.