Harold López-Nussa

Harold López-Nussa: Bridging Musical Traditions Through His Piano

Harold López-Nussa is a Cuban pianist and composer, born into a musical family in Havana on July 13, 1983. His father, uncle, and late mother were all involved in music. He began studying classical piano at a young age and pursued a degree in classical piano from the Instituto Superior de Artes.

Although López-Nussa initially focused on classical music, he later discovered jazz and was inspired by Herbie Hancock and Cuban jazz pianists like Chucho Valdés and Bebo Valdés. His music incorporates elements of classical, folkloric, popular Cuban music, and jazz improvisation.

Throughout his career, López-Nussa has achieved various accomplishments, such as recording with Cuba’s National Symphony Orchestra, winning the Jazz Solo Piano Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and collaborating with renowned musicians like Omara Portuondo. He has released albums both as a solo artist and with his trio.

His albums, such as “El Viaje” and “Un Día Cualquiera,” reflect his Cuban roots while embracing diverse influences beyond traditional Latin jazz. López-Nussa believes in the power of music to transcend borders and bring people together.

In 2020, he released the album “Te Lo Dije,” featuring collaborations with artists like Cimafunk, Randy Malcom of Gente de Zona, and Vincent Peirani. The album presents a mix of Afro-Cuban jazz, reggaeton, and unexpected styles.

Harold López-Nussa with band - Photo by Paulo Vitale
Harold López-Nussa with band – Photo by Paulo Vitale

Overall, López-Nussa’s music represents a fusion of Cuban musical traditions with his own creative expression, highlighting his skills as a pianist and composer.

Discography

Canciones (Colibrí, 2007)
Sobre el Atelier (Harmonia Mundi, 2007)
Herencia with Felipe Cabrera, Ruy Adrián López-Nussa (World Village, 2009)
El Pais de Las Maravillas (World Village, 2011)
New Day (Harmonia Mundi, 2013)
Havana – Paris – Dakar (World Village, 2015)
El Viaje (Mack Avenue Records, 2016)
Un Dia Cualquiera (Mack Avenue Records, 2018)
Te Lo Dije (Mack Avenue Records, 2020)

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.
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