Ritmo y Voz: Afro-Cuban Jazz Ignited
Ritmo y Voz brings the soul of Santiago de Cuba to Keys Jazz Bistro with an explosive fusion of Afro-Cuban traditions and dynamic vocals. Led by Einar "Tito" Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice channel the spirit of his hometown, this ensemble weaves together the deep-rooted sounds of Rumba, Timba, Changüí, and Batá into a high-energy tapestry pulsing with history and innovation.
Leliebre Nuñez brings formidable credentials as former musical director of Teatro de la Danza del Caribe in Santiago de Cuba since 2003, with international experience in groups like Obbatuke and CubaCaribe. Now based in Oakland, he teaches Afro-Cuban music while performing with the mastery of traditional percussion and the sacred batá drums.
Guitarist Kai Lyons adds his contemporary jazz sophistication to the Cuban rhythms. A San Francisco-based educator at Cal State East Bay and California Jazz Conservatory, Lyons has performed with legendary artists including Mike Clark and Donald Harrison from Herbie Hancock's Original Headhunters. His guitar work seamlessly bridges jazz and Latin traditions, as evidenced in his performances at venues like Bird & Beckett and Mr. Tipple's.
Completing the rhythm section are bassist Ernesto Kindelan Mazar and the renowned JUNO Award-winning drummer Ernesto Cervini. Cervini, a prominent figure on Canada's modern jazz scene, brings his melodically-conscious drumming and sophisticated approach that balances hard bop traditions with contemporary innovation through his work with the Ernesto Cervini Quartet and ensemble Turboprop.
The collective draws from their collaborations with torchbearers of the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions including Omar Sosa and John Santos, promising an electrifying performance where ancestral rhythms meet modern jazz sensibilities. Expect the power of dynamic vocals layered over intricate percussion, guitar lines that dance between jazz sophistication and Cuban fire, and rhythms that invite both deep listening and movement.
