Harold López-Nussa along with other Cuban musicians at San Francisco Festival

June 5, 2021

The San Francisco Jazz Festival opens today its virtual edition with the performance of Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa alongside a talented quartet of musicians from the island, announces its official lineup.

López-Nussa will confirm his presence through a recital recorded from his studio in La Habana and will join the group made up of his brother, Ruy Adriián López-Nussa on drums, violinist William Roblejo, percussionist Yaroldi Abreu and vocalist Kelvis Ochoa.

The renowned quartet that masterfully defends the genre in Cuba will star in the first online presentation of the Festival that originates outside the United States.

This year, the competition moved to the online scene due to the health crisis caused by Covid-19 while its programming involves 18 exclusive broadcasts with the most outstanding performances from previous editions.

For the host country stand out the singer of African descent Jazzmenia Horn, the band Brian Blade & The Fellowship as well as the poet and dancer Marc Bamuthi, all exponents of jazz from its most diverse facets.

The participation of bassist, composer and arranger Marcus Shelby and his quintet stands out along with author and notable activist Ángela Davis during a dialogue about the legacy of blues and black feminism in the northern nation.

Davis will join Shelby's quintet of stars for an evening of spoken word and music that will illuminate the legacies of 'Ma' Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday, with Terri Lyne Carrington, Tia Fuller, Tammy Hall, Paula West, Tiffany Austin and Kim Nalley.

To the event's roster will be added Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana, winner of the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition 2013 and one of the main figures of jazz at the regional level.

The musical event will take place throughout the month of June and foresees the exhibition of the documentary Music in Monk Time dedicated to the figure of Thelonious Monk along with several world premiere concerts that will star international exponents.