Lucía
Mexican vocalist Lucía brings her luminous voice and singular artistic vision to Kuumbwa, blending American jazz standards with the warmth of Latin folk traditions from her native Veracruz. At just 24, she made history as the first Mexican artist to win the prestigious 2022 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, launching a career that bridges jazz, bolero, and son jarocho with remarkable sophistication.
Lucía's musical journey began at age two, performing with her parents' acclaimed son jarocho ensemble Son de Madera. This deep grounding in Mexican folk traditions, combined with her jazz studies at Universidad Veracruzana, creates a unique sound that honors both American jazz masters like Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone, and the bolero legacy of composers like Agustín Lara.
Her recently released debut album, produced by Grammy-winner Matt Pierson (Samara Joy, Brad Mehldau), showcases this distinctive approach. The recording features jazz virtuosos including Venezuelan pianist Edward Simon, bassist Larry Grenadier, and five-time Grammy winner Antonio Sánchez on drums. From her velvety interpretation of "You Must Believe in Spring" to an achingly vulnerable cover of Olivia Rodrigo's "Lacy" and the traditional "La Llorona," Lucía demonstrates both technical mastery and deep emotional connection to her material.
Expected to perform songs from the new album, Lucía's live shows weave together jazz ballads in English with Spanish classics, often incorporating zapateado dancing—the traditional footwork that helped distinguish her competition-winning performance of "What a Difference a Day Makes." Her stage presence combines the intimacy of jazz vocal tradition with the community spirit of son jarocho, creating performances that feel both deeply personal and culturally celebratory.
Having collaborated with Natalia Lafourcade, performed at Carnegie Hall, and worked with artists from Aloe Blacc to La Santa Cecilia, Lucía represents a new generation of Latin jazz artists who see no boundaries between traditions, creating music that honors the past while pointing boldly toward the future.