Ruy Adrian López Nussa

Ruy Adrian López-Nussa is one of the most remarkable young percussionists in the jazz world today, and SJW is thrilled to have him and his twin brother Harold join the faculty this summer. The López-Nussa twins have a telepathic connection that many jazz musicians develop when they play together for many years, but the López-Nussa twins have a much deeper connection that makes their performances mind-blowingly creative. Their virtuosity and mastery of Afro-Cuban traditions combined with their electric personalities make them a musical force unlike any other. And you can study with them at SJW!

Ruy was born on August 30th, 1986, Havana City. He begins his elementary music studies at the age of eight years old at the Manuel Saumell Conservatory. He studies two specialties: piano and percussion. In 2009 he graduates from ISA (Higher Art Institute) in the specialty of percussion.

His ability, virtuosity and versatileness allowed him to play, during his young but plentiful carrier, with prestigious musicians and bands of a very assorted musical universe. We can mention Bobby Carcacés, Ernan López-Nussa, David Sánchez, Sthepon Harris, Christian Scott, Gregoire Maret, Pedrito Martinez, Santiago Feliú, Harold López-Nussa, Roberto Carcaces, Joao Donato, Grupo Mezcla, Habana Ensemble, Lázaro Valdés, Ogguere, Raúl Paz, Haydee Milanés, David Torrens, Julito Padrón, Aldo López Gavilán Junco, etc.

In 2008, he played at one of the most remarkable stages of Classic world, the major saloon of Tchaikovski Conservatory at Moscow together with Frank Fernandez and The Symphony Orchestra of Moscow.

He has performed not only in the main stages in Cuba but also at relevant international events, Jazz Festivals and the most important Jazz Clubs around the world, together with Harold Lopez Nussa Project: Montreal Jazz Festival, Marciac Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz a Juan Les Pins, Cully Jazz Festival, Jazz sous les Pommiers, Jazz in Orleans, Satin Doll of Bordeaux, Archeo Jazz, South Son 31 Jazz Festival in Toulouse, Les Coleurs du Jazz, Jazz a Vienne, Barranquijazz, Martinique Jazz Festival New Port Jazz Festival, Marathon du Jazz, Music Do Pará Festival in Brasil, Vortex and Sunside, Monterrey Jazz Festival, Heineken Jazz Festival, Jarasum Jazz Festival at South Korea and Tokio Jazz Festival; Blue Note New York, Tokio and Beijing, Cotton Club Tokio, New Morning Paris, SF Jazz Center, Blue Whale L.A, Ronnie Scott, Jazz Standard, among many others.

He has also been performing for the last 15 years, with the virtuous Cuban piano player, Aldo Lopez Gavilan, in amazing stages concerts during the season of the Royal Ballet of London with the talented dancer Carlos Acosta, at Lincoln Center of NYC together with Joshua Bell, Dave Mathew and The Chamber Orchestra of Havana, Cornegie Hall of NYC, Lunario National Auditorium Mexico City, etc.

Moreover, he has made incursions in the movie world. In 2010, he composed with Harold Lopez Nussa the music of El Camino de las Gaviotas, a cartoon produced by Cuba and Brazil. In 2011, he also composed with Harold Lopez Nussa the music of Fábula, a Cuban film by Lester Hamlet. In 2014, he composed the music of the Cuban documentary El Tren de la Linea Norte and in 2019, the music of El Último Balsero, Cuban- American film.

In 2011, he has been endorsed by Sabian Cymbals and in 2018 by Canopus Drums.

In 2020, he released his first CD-DVD, as a single composer Dos Lenguajes, under Bis Music label, together with a lot of important Cuban artists as guests. Lopez- Nussa wins Cubadisco Prize for Best First Work 2020-2021. Early 2021, he also wins the IV ‘Tete Montoliu’ Jazz Composition Contest, sponsored by SGAE, among other 151 composers, with his work ‘A Lyle’, an ode to American jazz pianist and composer Lyle Mays.