César López y Habana Ensemble
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CESAR LOPEZ (Havana, 1968)
Alto/Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Voice, Composition and Arrangement
César López took his first steps in music at the age of 10. Three years later he wins 1st place in the Cuban Saxophone Contest. He entered the National School of Art in 1985 and simultaneously began his professional life with the outstanding Cuban musician Bobby Carcasés, where he made his first forays into Jazz.
In 1988, due to his exceptional conditions as a musician, he was selected by maestro Chucho Valdés to join the legendary Cuban band "IRAKERE", where he performed as an instrumentalist for 9 years. In this band, César develops a fruitful international career, performing at the most prestigious festivals, theaters and clubs in the world, which gave him the opportunity to share the stage with countless personalities from the musical world: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chik Corea, Branford Marsalis, Winston Marsallis, Michel Camilo, Paquito de Rivera, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, among others.
In 1997, César decided to form the band “HABANA ENSEMBLE”, together with Alfred Thompson and Mario Hernández “El Indio”, integrated from the beginning by prestigious musicians in the Cuban musical field. Habana Ensemble have continued their trail of national and international triumphs. In 2006, with his CD "Andante" (BisMusic), he won the Best Jazz Album Award at the main event of the Cuban phonographic industry, Cubadisco. During the 2008 edition of this important festival, the group was awarded the Grand Prize and the prize for Best Instrumental Album with its CD “Clásicos de Cuba”, in recognition of the excellent work carried out by these extraordinary musicians during the last decade.
In 2014, César made a recording of his classical music compositions with the Liseo Mozarteum Orchestra on the album “Entre Cuerdas” (Hummingbird).
Since 2018, he is part of ORQUESTA AKOKAN and the first album “Orquesta Akokan” (Doptone Records), had several awards such as Songline Music Award 2019 and was nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards 2019 and for Best Album. Tropical of Billbord Latin Music Award 2019.
In addition, César is a member of the CUBAN SAX QUINTET saxophone quintet where he has been formed by five of the best saxophonists on the island. The first work of the group "Saxophones Live Sessions" won the 2019 Cubadisco Grand Prize and was nominated for the Best Instrumental Album of Latin Grammys 2019.