Iván Lewis

Cuban pianist. He is a holder of a very particular way of executing the tumbao, away from the conventional manner that had been done previously in the popular music of the Island. His music shows a clear fusion of styles in which elements of traditional Cuban music converge with the presence of popular genres such as the danzón, the cha cha chá or the son, together with the force of Afro-Cuban percussion perfectly interlaced in the contemporary language of current Latin jazz.

Several times nominated for Latin Grammy awards, Iván "Melon" Lewis is recognized as one of the most influential pianists of his generation.

In the 90s "Melon" stood out for his work with Cuban singer Issac Delgado, marking an unrepeatable era and sound.

Based in Spain since 1998, Iván "Melon" Lewis has collaborated with the most important artists in Spain and Europe. Joan Manuel Serrat, Joaquín Sabina, José Luis Perales, Sole Giménez, Charles Aznavour, Mariza and his long and fruitful collaboration with the Spanish-Guinean Buika are the credentials of this pianist, arranger and music producer.

At the head of his own quartet, with which he has already released two albums (Travesía and Ayer y hoy), Iván "Melon" Lewis has performed at the most prestigious jazz festivals around the world such as Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz in Marciac or SFJazz in San Francisco, among many others.

After several years of touring around the world with different artists, the creation of The Cuban Swing Express is the musician's most recent project. It is a group made up of 10 of the best and most talented Cuban musicians based in Europe, which made its debut at the L'Alhambra theater in Paris in December 2014 and which bet on a sound that is both traditional and bold.

Compositions by Pérez Prado, Benny Moré, Ernesto Lecuona, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson, Rolling Stones or "Melon" himself can be heard in their repertoire.

Coming from a family with a long musical tradition, Ivan "Melon" Lewis had during his childhood an important reference in his father, maestro Ricardo González Duquesne who was director of the renowned Orquesta de Música Moderna de Pinar del Río in the 60s.

The Cuban Swing Express is based on the sound of that era but adding sound elements of our time; achieving a fresh and fun musical mix.