César López

César López started studying music when he was 10. Only three years later, he won the 1st Prize in the Cuban National Sax Contest. In 1988, due to his outstanding conditions as a sax player, with only 19 years he was chosen by Maestro <a href="spotify:artist:27mRThsZ9K1BYmz0rioxwp" data-name="Chucho Valdés">Chucho Valdés</a> to play the sax for the legendary Cuban band <a href="spotify:artist:2xbLfmO8N89nCiA55XsSeI" data-name="Irakere">Irakere</a> . During 9 years César developed a fruitful international career with this band, performing at the most prestigious stages, which gave him the possibility to share the stage with Jazz masters.
  In 1997, César decided to form his own band, <a href="spotify:artist:19jFiEsjlFujdrurI3UwKW" data-name="Habana Ensemble Jazz Band">Habana Ensemble Jazz Band</a> Cubadisco 2008 set a hallmark in his career: “Clásicos de Cuba” was awarded with the Prize to the Best Instrumental Album and Best Live Recording, which won the Cubadisco’s First Prize. In 2018, he joined to <a href="spotify:artist:0ntVDLb8Ro6BLGVBVOBFVS" data-name="Orquesta Akokán">Orquesta Akokán</a> , formed by American and Cuban musicians playing deeply soulful mambo of the 1940’s and 1950’ with the rich compositional styles of Havana, New York, and beyond. Their 1st album <a href="spotify:artist:0ntVDLb8Ro6BLGVBVOBFVS" data-name="Orquesta Akokán">Orquesta Akokán</a> acquited various awards such as Songline Music Award 2019 and it was nominated to the Best Tropical Latin Album of the 61st Annual Grammy Awards 2019 and the Tropical Album of the Year of the Billboard Latin Music Award 2019. Lopez also takes part in the <a href="spotify:artist:4LZQD5mjsSK7Cxp1Zx4iQz" data-name="Cuban Sax Quintet">Cuban Sax Quintet</a> which are structured from five of the best Cuban sax players. The 1st album <a href="spotify:album:1q7U9Wa3zylvvcEywdTx1g" data-name="Saxofones Live Sessions">Saxofones Live Sessions</a> achieved the Cubadisco’s First Prize and was nominated to the Best Instrumental Album of Latin Grammys 2019.