Cesar Lopez

César López (Havana,1968) Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Vocal He graduated from the Arts National School and his life as a professional began in 1985 with the troupe of the outstanding musician Boby Carcasés, Latin Jazz lover and talent researcher. In 1988, López is chosen by Master Chucho Valdés to join the prestigious Cuban band “Irakere”, he stayed in this band during 9 years and played with several luminaries from the world of music, highlighting, Gladys Knight, Chik Corea, Branford Marsalis, Winston Marsallis, Michael Camilo, Paquito D’Rivera, Tito Puente and Arturo Sandoval among others. César has a wide discography together with Ivan Lins, David Murray, Silvio Rodríguez, Roy Hargrove, Richard Egües and Chucho Valdés. He also joined Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Compay Segundo, Arturo Sandoval, Danny Rivera, Sting, Leo Brouwer and the National Symhpony Orchestra in many concerts. Being founded in the early months of 1997 and featuring prestigious Cuban musicians, ''Habana Ensemble'' shows a series of new elements approaching the musical and aesthetic spheres becoming different from other Cuban groups. The fact of being scholars of Irakere, under the direction of the famous jazziest Chucho Valdés allows these young talents to get maturity mastering their instruments and being, on the other hand, examples of great virtuosity at Latin Jazz World. Using the individual skills of each member, Habana Ensemble tackles in its repertoire masterpieces of Classic Jazz and Cuban popular music. They achieve a contemporary sound that makes them authentic in each of their performances. Under the leadership of César López, saxophonist boasting high professional level, named by the critic as the Cuban Charlie Parkes; Habana Ensemble is adamant since its early years about showing to the public its versatility and performing strength, holding an ample repertoire conformed by boleros, salsa, instrumental pieces, congas, and versions of some standard jazz where improvisations play a decisive role in each one of the members, this fact joins their great sonority to enhance their musical prestige. To express feelings and emotions transcending upon the most universal language, the music, is the greatest success of Habana Ensemble. It is done through a study of the Cuban musical history and the contributions that have been made in the last 20 years achieving a defined sonority and style before an avid and expert public. This fact allows them to participate at national and international Festivals also sharing scenarios in Venezuela, Barbados, Peru, Colombia, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Japan, being acknowledged with critic appraisal and public acceptance. To add more reasons, César López and his group Habana Ensemble were the special guests for the Japanesse Trio Fumio Karashima, outstanding jazzist who performed in our country as part of a wide schedule to celebrate the 75 anniverasry of the relations between two archipelagos, as Japanese Embassy announced in Cuba. César López is starting 2004 with new proposals to reinforce his prestigy as Cuban instrumentalist and composer. Around April and March he will be in charge of the Radio and Television Orchestra in Denmark, where he will offer a series of Cuban music concerts, which arrangers and orchestrations are under his sign, to arrive later to United States as guest of Chucho Valdés and Irakere in their upcoming tour. Another important experience for César was the fact of being protagonist of the major musical event of Cuba that year, we are talking about the concert of the famous jazzist Chucho Valdés and the Spanish singer Diego El Cigala, reaching sonorities hard to forget. We all witnessed of all that flood of feelings, good music and passion of each member in that concert and although it`s a reality for everyone that César is a peerless musician, this experience simply launched him to fame forever. To add more spice on June of the same year, as it was forseen by Master jazzist Chucho Valdés, César López was the guest artist of the concerts at the Ronnie Scott to honor the 30 anniversary of Irakere foundation. During an entire month César López was presented by Chucho from Monday to Saturday at the famous club in England and this young and peerless musician and his sax showed the sensibility and professionalism as permanent features of him. On the other hand, a magic air flooded over the English audience and it also happened in Havana when in Berbican Theater, Diego el Cigala, Chucho Valdés, Bebo Valdés and César López were present to delight a demanding audience. Little more than ten minutes was the English public clapping and acclaiming such peerless staff which mixed to an excellent music performed an unforgettable night. In August, they played in Blue Note Tokyo with Chucho Valdés and Irakere NC, in Semtember Habana Ensemble participated in Tokyo Jazz Festival that is organazed by Herbie Hancock. Virtuosity, originality and above all, the desire of offering a musical project having a high aesthetic content, are the main features of Habana Ensemble, Cuban musical group that is already occupying an important place in the Latin Jazz's history.César López y Habana Ensemble "MANBO MANIA; TRIBUTE TO PEREZ PRADO" (Latin World/1998) "TODO INCLUIDO" (Latin World/2002) "ANDANTE" (Bis Music/2005)César López "KUBILETE" (Unicornio/2000) solo "CUBAN FLAVOR" DR Big Band (Cope records/2004) produceChucho Valdés y IRAKERE "INDESTRUCTIBLE" (Egrem) "BOLEROS INIGUALABLES" (Egrem) "CHUCHO VALDES E IVAN LINS EN VIVO" (Egrem) "AFROCUBANISMO" (Bembe Records/1996) "IRAKERE EN VIVO (TERESA CARREÑO)" "BABALU AYE" (Egrem) "LIVE AT RONNIE SCOTT’S" (Blue Note) "YEMAYA" (Blue Note/Egrem) "LEGENDARIO IRAKERE vol.II" "IRAKERE EN NITEROI" "RUE EN EL RONNIE" "IRAKERE Y SILVIO EN CHILE" (Egrem) "30 ANOS" Irakere (Egrem/2004) co-produce etc...