Harold López-Nussa wins 2026 Edison Jazz Award in the Global category for "Nueva Timba"

October 28, 2026

Cuban pianist and composer Harold López-Nussa has received the 2026 Edison Jazz Award in the Global category for his album "Nueva Timba," according to the official list of winners published by the awards' organizers in the Netherlands. Handed out since 1960, the Edisons are among Europe's oldest recording awards; this year's Jazz and Classical edition wrapped up on October 25 with a ceremony broadcast on NPO 2 from Hilversum.

Dutch broadcaster Concertzender, which announced the award, reported that the jury praised the enthusiasm, energy and technical ingenuity with which López-Nussa blends Cuban musical traditions with a contemporary jazz sound. His fellow nominees in the Global category were "Arise!" by Nawras Altaky and "Hoggar" by the Tuareg band Tinariwen.

Released on September 5, 2025, "Nueva Timba" is his second Blue Note album after "Timba a la Americana" (2023). It grew out of performances at the Paris club Le Duc des Lombards that were later reworked in the studio, and features his brother Ruy Adrián López-Nussa on drums, bassist Luques Curtis and harmonica player Grégoire Maret. The set list includes takes on "Bonito y sabroso," the classic associated with Benny Moré, "El manisero" and Ernesto Lecuona's "Gitanerías," as well as "Niña con violín" by his uncle Ernán López-Nussa. The cover reproduces a painting by his grandfather, Leonel López-Nussa.

Born in Havana in 1983 and winner of the 2005 Montreux Jazz Festival solo piano competition, López-Nussa now lives in France. Radio Cadena Habana hailed the prize as another international milestone for Cuban jazz.