The Harold López-Nussa Trio: Between Havana and Toulouse

Harold López-Nussa grew up in Havana, in a family where music was part of everyday life. His father was a drummer, his uncle a pianist, and his mother taught classical piano. Harold, too, became a pianist. In 2005, he won the Montreux Jazz Festival piano competition. His career then took him to international jazz stages, whilst Cuba remained his home for a long time.

In 2021, López-Nussa moved to France with his family. His brother Ruy Adrián, with whom he has been playing for many years, also left Cuba. This new beginning was not easy for Harold. At the same time, the distance changed his perspective on the music of his homeland. He suddenly heard many things in a new light that he had taken for granted in Havana.

In 2023, his first album with Blue Note, *Timba a la Americana*, was released. Two years later, "Nueva Timba" followed. On this album, López-Nussa delves deep into Cuban musical history. He reworks Benny Moré’s ‘Bonito y Sabroso’, plays Ernesto Lecuona’s ‘Gitanerías’ and records ‘Niña Con Violín’, a composition by his uncle Ernán López-Nussa.

At the heart of his band are the piano, bass and drums. Ruy Adrián López-Nussa on drums and Luques Curtis on bass have been among his closest musical partners for several years. Harold had already recorded ‘Timba a la Americana’ and ‘Nueva Timba’ with both of them. The three combine Cuban rhythms with modern jazz and the pianist’s classical training.

‘Nueva Timba’ was recorded partly live at the Parisian jazz club Le Duc des Lombards and was later refined in the studio. The album tells us a great deal about López-Nussa’s years spent between Cuba and France.
Havana is a long way from Toulouse today. At the piano, the distance feels much shorter.