César López Corzo is one of Cuba’s most important jazz musicians. A Cuban saxophonist, he was born in Havana in 1968. He is recognized by many as the Charlie Parkes of Cuba. He graduated from the National School of Art (ENA) (120th Street between 9th and 13th Streets, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana). He began his professional career in 1985 with the troupe of the prominent Cuban musician Bobby Carcassés, a talent scout and passionate cultivator of Latin Jazz.

In 1988, due to his exceptional talent as a musician and instrumentalist, he was selected by maestro Chucho Valdés to join the prestigious group Irakere. Over the course of nine years, he performed with the group, sharing the stage with numerous international musical personalities such as Gladis Knight, Chik Corea, Winston Marsallis, Michael Camilo, Tito Puente, and others.

In 1997, he founded his group Habana Ensemble, which combines Latin jazz, fusion, and Cuban popular music. The group is considered a school where various instrumentalists have completed their teacher training in the classroom, but which is validated as such through direct practice.

In 1998, he recorded his first album, “Mambo Manía.” This album represents a tribute to the distinguished Cuban musician Dámaso Pérez Prado, who internationalized the famous mambo rhythm. This album reflects his conceptual skill in the arrangements, which fuse Cuban rhythms such as mambo, cha-cha-chá, and son with jazz and funk.

Their next album, “Tocando Tierra,” sponsored by Latin World, features top-tier artists. Among their other albums are “Todo incluido,” Latin World, and “Kubilete,” Unicornio (2000).

His recordings have received awards at the Cubadisco fairs, both in 2006 for “Andante” and in 2008 for “Clásicos de Cuba,” which won the Grand Prize and clearly demonstrates the style of César López and his group Habana Ensemble. “Clásicos de Cuba” represents his full maturity. For the performance, he was accompanied by the Havana Chamber Orchestra, a group led by Holguín maestro Iván del Prado.

Among the highlights of César López’s career is his appearance, at the express invitation of Maestro Chucho Valdés, at the famous concert he gave with Diego Cigala in Havana in 2004. This concert was later repeated with equal success at London’s Berbican Theatre, this time with the presence of the great Bebo Valdés. Another notable moment in César López’s musical career is his performances, also invited by Maestro Chucho, at London’s Ronnie Scott Theatre, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the group Irakere.

In 2010, César’s latest album, Contrastes, was released under the Bis Music label. It was presented at the Fresa y Chocolate Cultural Center (23rd and 10th Streets, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana). It consists of nine tracks, which become ten because the song “Music and Words” begins and ends the album. The songs are composed by renowned musicians such as John Coltrane, Joao Danato, Adolfo Guzmán, Juan Tizol and Duke Ellitong, C. Estrada, Pablo Milanés, and César López himself. A legitimate contrast of the album is the diversity and fusion of musical genres, as the selection of songs demonstrates a great variety.

César López has an extensive discography alongside Iván Lins, Silvio Rodríguez, Roy Hargrove, Richard Egües, Sara González, and Chucho Valdés. He has performed in major concerts with important figures such as Compay Segundo, Danny Rivera, Leo Brouwer, and the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He has toured Europe, the United States, Latin America, South Africa, and Japan.

He has given master classes at different universities: Center University (Canada), University of the Atlantic (Barranquilla Colombia), Institute of Higher Art (Calle 120 No. 1110 between 9th and 13th. Cubanacán. Playa. Havana) (Havana, Cuba), and also in various music conservatories such as Cali (Colombia), La Coruña (Spain) and London (England).

Today, César López and his Habana Ensemble are a jazz institution in Cuba and abroad.

Discography: Mambo Mania (1998), Touching the Ground, All Inclusive, Kubilete (2000), Andante (2005), Cuban Classics (2008), Contrasts (2010).