Ruy López-Nussa Lekszycki

Ruy López-Nussa Lekszycki, born in Mexico City, 1957, has resided in Havana, Cuba, since 1958.

He began working in 1976 as a Percussion professor, with more than 40 years of experience. He earned his degree in Music, specializing in Percussion, in 1982.

He has worked as a musician and drummer in various top-level groups including: Beatriz Márquez, Pedro Luis Ferrer, Santiago Feliú, Yusa, Estado de Ánimo, Ramón Valle, Jose María Vitier, Ernan López-Nussa, Roberto Fonseca, Elmer Ferrer, Yasek Manzano, among many others.

In 2009 he founded his musical group "La Academia," inspired by his book "Ritmos de Cuba," where he combines concerts and performances with teaching. A musician and professor par excellence.

His musical work was recently recorded in his latest audio-visual project "Repercusiones."

1976: Completes his middle-level music studies, specializing in percussion.
Begins working as a Percussion professor at the Provincial School of Art in Pinar del Río, Cuba.

1979: Moves to Havana and begins teaching music at the Alejandro García Caturla School.

1980: Begins his career as a professional musician: the first semester with a rock group; later as an accompanist for singer Beatriz Márquez.

1981: Begins working as a percussionist and drummer with singer-songwriter Pedro Luis Ferrer.

1982: Completes his degree in Music, specializing in Percussion, at the Superior Institute of Art (ISA).

1983: First Prize in Percussion at the Competition of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, UNEAC.

1984: Participates in the recording of the LP "En espuma y arena," by Pedro Luis Ferrer.

1985-87: Participates in various national and international events, including:

International Festival of Varadero, Cuba;
International Guitar Festival of Havana;
CICLA Festival, Peru;
Youth and Students Festival, German Democratic Republic;
Festival of the newspaper El Día, Mexico City.

1988:

Begins working with vocalist Santiago Feliú.
Jazz concerts with Cuban pianist Ramón Valle.
Tour through the GDR (Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig).

1990: Tour through Colombia with Santiago Feliú. Participates with the group Brújula, by Ramón Valle, at the Bogotá Jazz Festival.

1992: Tour through Spain with Santiago Feliú and the band Estado de Ánimo. Presentation at the III Barcelona Jazz Festival.

1993: Participation in the Jazz Plaza Festival of Havana with figures and groups such as Airto Moreira, Irakere, Afrocuba, Sampling, and Ronnie Scott's, among others.

1994: Tour through Galicia with Santiago Feliú and Estado de Ánimo.

1995: Tour through Argentina with Santiago Feliú and Estado de Ánimo.

1996: Presentation at the Jazz Plaza Festival of Havana. Tour through Germany, Switzerland, and Spain.

1997:

Selected to represent the Paiste cymbal company.
Begins working with the group Temperamento.
Participates in the Cervantino Festival of Guanajuato, Mexico, with pianist José María Vitier.

1998: Tour through Italy with Temperamento.

1999: Tour through Spain with Santiago Feliú.

2000: Tour through Ecuador with pianist Ernán López-Nussa.

2001: Tour through Argentina with Santiago Feliú.

2003: Tour of the group Temperamento and Ibrahím Ferrer with Buena Vista Social Club through Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, England, and Scotland. Temperamento presentation in Moscow.

2004: Launch in Havana, Cuba, of the book "Ritmos de Cuba. Percussion and Drums," 1st edition.

2005:

Invited to participate in the first and second National Meetings of Symphonic Orchestras in the country.
Tour with Santiago Feliú through Dominican Republic and Argentina.

2006: Grand concert "30 Years of Artistic Life" with a group of musicians with whom the Author had worked, held at the Auditórium Amadeo Roldán theater in Havana, Cuba.

2007: With brothers Sergio and José María Vitier participates in the Cuba Disco Gala with the Havana Symphonic Orchestra.

2008: Invited to participate in the II Festival of Percussive Arts, University of Costa Rica. Second edition of the book "Ritmos de Cuba" in Germany by Advance Music.

2009: Premiere and presentation of the percussion project "La Academia" at the Cuban Institute of Music.

2010: National Tour through Art Schools: Ruy L.N. and La Academia.

2010: Participates in the "Proposiciones" Festival at Sports City, with La Academia.

2010: Begins collaborating with the Group Mezcla.

2010-11: Tours to Canada with the group Mezcla: Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto, Ottawa, London.

2011: Selected to represent the Sabian cymbal company.

2011: National Tour through Art Schools: Ruy and Adel González.

2011: Presentations at the Jazz Plaza Festival with La Academia and the Group Mezcla. Drum Festival.

2012:

Percussion Festival at the Superior School of Music in Monterrey, Mexico. (January)
Begins recording CD of La Academia.
Invited to the Drums Festival in Costa Rica (February).
Participates in the Drum Festival in Havana.

2013: Concert-DVD at the National Theater of Cuba with La Academia.

2013: Tour "Familia López-Nussa" through Turkey, Holland, and France.

2014:

Recording of the Quintet La Academia.
Master Classes and Workshops.
TV Program "Excellence."
Leo Brouwer Guitar Festival.
Jazz Plaza Festival with "La Familia."
Premiere of the Documentary "17 Years Later" at La FAC.

2015:

Concert and Master Class at the Drum Festival.
TV Programs from Brazil and "Sin Límites" Cuba.
Presentations of La Academia with Pablo Paul at:
Casa de Las Américas, at the First International Colloquium "Cultural Identities," dedicated to B. Marley, Café Miramar, La Zorra, and La FAC.
Les Voix Humaines Festival, by Leo Brouwer: Invited to perform with Portuguese singer Dulce Ponte, Teatro Mella.
National Tour through Art Schools with La Academia in Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, Mayabeque, and Havana.
Jazz Plaza Festival with La Academia and the Group Mezcla.

2016:

Percussion Workshop with La Academia at the Hispanic American Center.
Tour through Art Schools with La Academia: Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Amadeo Roldan, and Guillermo Tomas.
Presentations at Café Miramar, FAC, Melen, Zorra, etc.
Concert at the Teatro Museo de Bellas Artes with La Academia.
Concert-filming of DVD "Re Percusion Es" at the National Theater.