Upcoming Concerts

Germán Kucich - piano
Lucio Lupano - guitar
Javier Callen - double bass
Juanma Barroso - drums

Pianist Germán Kucich establishes himself as a remarkable musical architect at the helm of his new quartet, presenting a repertoire of original compositions distinguished by their maturity and sophistication.

A cohesive, elegant, and forward-thinking project. Kucich once again demonstrates his mastery in redefining contemporary jazz with a distinctive voice. Essential listening.

Jorge Vistel - trumpet
Luis Guerra - piano
Gastón Joya - bass
Rodrigo Ballesteros - drums

This project was born from the desire to revisit the traditional Cuban repertoire from a contemporary perspective. Through new arrangements, Jorge Vistel offers a renewed interpretation of iconic songs such as Chan Chan and Tres Palabras, exploring their structures, harmonies, and expressive possibilities within the language of modern jazz. More than a simple reinterpretation, the project seeks to delve into the essence of these works, respecting their original identity while placing them in a context open to improvisation and musical dialogue.

“Cuban Songbook” builds a bridge between tradition and contemporary creation, offering a personal and current vision of a universal musical heritage. In addition to the traditional Cuban repertoire, the project includes original compositions by Jorge Vistel, reflecting his voice and experience as a creator within today’s jazz scene.

Natalia Calderón - vocals
Sebastián Chames - piano
Elam Friedlander - double bass
Daniel González - drums

A project by singer, actress, and theatre producer Natalia Calderón and pianist and composer Sebastián Chames, featuring a repertoire dedicated entirely to the music of George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. They have been developing this program for more than seven years, earning an enthusiastic response from both audiences and venues. Over time, Natalia and Sebastián have continued to deepen their exploration of the music of Gershwin and Ellington while discovering new colors and nuances within the compositions of these two masters.
A regular performer at Café Central, Sebastián Chames has released four albums as a leader, all recorded in New York with top-tier lineups. He has appeared at Café Central alongside artists such as Jeremy Pelt, Greg Tardy, Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, and Steve Nelson.

Chloé Coussot - vocals
Anxo Martínez - trumpet
Sean Clapis - guitar
Benjamin R. Mitte - piano
Christian Pérez - double bass
Fer Lamas - drums

The Velvet Serenades bring their “swingin’ sweet jazz” proposal to Café Central in a special presentation concert. The sextet — made up of well-known musicians from Madrid’s jazz scene with extensive national and international experience — combines the melodic sweetness of 1920s sweet jazz with the lively swing of the decades that followed.

The result is a sophisticated and immersive performance, enveloping the listener in a velvety atmosphere that invites romance. With an aesthetic carefully crafted down to the smallest detail, the “Serenaders” promise to sweeten the evening, providing a soundtrack in the style of Midnight in Paris, featuring French songs and original arrangements of great swing and romantic jazz classics.

Raynald Colom - trumpet
Richard Krull - piano
Gastón Joya - double bass
Dani García - drums

Richard Krull’s trio is made up of musicians with long careers as leaders of their own groups and proven creative talent. They are seasoned performers and also three friends who have come together for this adventure.

They are joined by trumpeter Ray Colom, who has received numerous awards and distinctions throughout his career. These include the 2010 Premi Puig Porret for his album Evocación (the only jazz musician to receive this award), Best Jazz Album of 2010 from Cuadernos de Jazz for the same recording, Album of the Year 2005 from Enderrock magazine for his album My 51 Minutes, and Trumpeter of the Year in 2001, 2002, and 2004, awarded by the Association of Jazz and Modern Music Musicians of Catalonia.

María Zerpa - vocals
Ana San Juan - clarinet
Irene González - cello
Arturo Ballesteros - piano, composition

Odojazz’s repertoire is based on Arturo Ballesteros’ original compositions, Brazilian music, boleros, and jazz standards. The arrangements are meticulously crafted and precisely written, leaving little room for improvisation. The instrumentation, with vocals, clarinet, cello, and piano woven together in a contrapuntal texture, gives the group a refined and elegant sound reminiscent of chamber music. Blending classical and jazz elements, the quartet creates a style of remarkable beauty and freshness.

Miguel Ángel Cortés - guitar, vocals
David Sanz - piano, saxophone
Christian Pérez - double bass
Andrés Freites - drums

Can you imagine a concert where you can sing along to every song?

Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart were jazz icons of the 1930s and 1940s, renowned for their entertaining live performances, where audiences laughed and delighted in shows filled with humor and surprises.

Slim Slam Tribute invites audiences not only to experience the jazz of that era, but also to sing along with the band on the infectious, offbeat choruses that made this legendary duo famous for decades.

Víctor Correa - trombone, vocals, percussion
Lola Santiago - vocals, percussion
Juan Ortiz - piano
Mario Carrillo - double bass
Fran Gayo - drums

This project explores the universality of what makes us human, showing how folklore is born from the land—a land that has always been there and will continue to endure, constantly giving rise to something new through my own experience in Castilla, Spain and my study of its traditions.

The chosen medium is movement through the body of Pau Arnal; the setting is music, and within it, rhythm, cycles, patterns, and the “pregón” (traditional street call) bring the ancestral to life.

All of this is viewed through the lens of the present, looking toward the future, keeping the flame alive while adding fresh fuel to the fire.

Abe Rábade - piano
Pablo M. Caminero - double bass
Bruno Pedroso - drums

Abe Rábade Trio is one of the most established and acclaimed ensembles on the Spanish jazz scene. Founded by Galician pianist and composer Abe Rábade in Boston in 1996, the group later relocated to Galicia, where it developed a distinctive musical language that blends the jazz tradition with influences from folk music and contemporary composition.

Since 2008, the trio’s permanent lineup has featured Abe Rábade (piano), Pablo Martín Caminero (double bass), and Bruno Pedroso (drums). Together they have released some of their most celebrated albums, including Zigurat, A Modo, Versons, Tránsitos, Once, Doravante, and SORTE, while performing at leading venues and international festivals across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, including the Monterey Jazz Festival in the United States.

The trio’s music is distinguished by its balance between composition and improvisation, the exceptional interplay among its members, and a constant exploration of new sonic possibilities, always grounded in a deep respect for melody, rhythm, and collective creativity. Throughout its career, the group has received numerous accolades, including the 2006 Spanish Jazz Album of the Year award for Playing on Light.

Susana Ruiz - vocals
Jacob Sureda - piano
José Vera - double bass
Mario Carrión - drums

This quartet brings its project to Café Central for a special concert. Made up of well-known musicians from the Madrid jazz scene with extensive national and international careers, they combine the jazz and soul of the genre’s finest years. They are seasoned performers and close friends who have come together for this adventure, presenting a carefully selected repertoire of elegant songs for the audience to enjoy.

The result is a sophisticated performance, immersing listeners in a lively atmosphere that invites them to have fun. The music of Randy Crawford, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald… will be featured.

Leo Minax - guitar, vocals
Germán Kucich - piano
Toño Miguel - double bass
Marc Pinyol - drums

Leo Minax is undoubtedly one of the leading names among Brazilian musicians of his generation. He has lived in Madrid for many years and has released eleven albums of original music, exploring different line-ups and artistic approaches. His career has been closely associated with artists such as Toninho Horta, Vitor Ramil, Javier Ruibal, Miguel Poveda, Ronaldo Bastos, Suso Saiz and Moska, among many others, as collaborators or co-writers. His music has also been recorded by Jorge Drexler, the Brazilian singer Joyce Moreno and the Spanish artist Ana Belén.

“Leo does it organically, and the rhythmic complexity, the refined music that flows from his guitar and his flawless performance, is almost imperceptible. The absurdly poetic lyrics flow like water down the throat of the ears. His current work undoubtedly reaches the maturity of that artistic quest. Together with the luminous rapport of his acoustic trio, he presents a stimulating sound, full of creative adventure.”

Chico Amaral

Lara Vizuete - vocals
Juan Sebastián Vázquez - piano
Ernesto Larcher - double bass
Daniel García Bruno - drums

Singer, composer and performer Lara Vizuete presents Cuando no quede nada, a project that explores new sonic landscapes through a musical language that blends contemporary jazz, Latin American music and a distinctive experimental sensibility.

The compositions, shaped by a profound social perspective, address contemporary issues through poetry, creating an intimate and committed repertoire. Through textures built with ostinatos and loops, the project places the expressiveness and versatility of Vizuete’s voice at the forefront.

At Café Central, Lara Vizuete will be joined by Juan Sebastián Vázquez on piano, Ernesto Larcher on double bass and Daniel García Bruno on drums. Together they form a quartet that balances improvisation, sonic experimentation and song, bringing to life a performance of remarkable sensitivity and expressive depth.

Mario Siles - vocals, banjo
Anxo Martínez - trumpet
Charlie Díaz - clarinet
Víctor Correa - tuba
Andrés Freites - washboard

Barba Dixie Band takes us on a journey to the golden age of jazz in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century.

Using the original instrumentation of the style, they perform a wide variety of classic tunes from the period. From energetic, syncopated street parade music that brought the carnivals of Bourbon Street to life, to deeply rooted Louisiana blues that echoed along the steamboats of the Mississippi.

Beatriz Moreno - vocals
Lucio Lupano - guitar
Gastón Joya - double bass
Juanma Barroso - drums

Strongly influenced by vocalists such as Shirley Horn, Ernestine Anderson, Carmen McRae, Betty Carter and Abbey Lincoln, Beatriz Moreno offers a personal approach to a carefully selected repertoire. Through the possibilities of the quartet format, arrangement and melodic improvisation, she creates an organic musical narrative that fully explores the story each song has to tell.

Gregory Groover Jr - saxophone
Xavi Torres - piano
Max Ridley - bass
Andreu Pitarch - drums

Born in New York and raised in Boston, Gregory Groover Jr is one of the most outstanding tenor saxophonists of the new generation of jazz musicians. A composer, bandleader and educator, his music combines a deep respect for tradition with a distinctive, energetic and contemporary voice.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied with masters such as Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Miguel Zenón, Dave Liebman and Danilo Pérez, Groover has established himself as a prominent figure on the international jazz scene. He has performed at festivals across the United States, Latin America, Europe and Africa, and has collaborated with some of today’s leading jazz musicians.

Following the success of Lovabye (2024), he presents Old Knew, his new album for the prestigious Criss Cross Jazz label. Featuring original compositions, the recording confirms his artistic maturity and his ability to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz.
Gregory Groover Jr - saxophone
Xavi Torres - piano
Max Ridley - bass
Andreu Pitarch - drums

Born in New York and raised in Boston, Gregory Groover Jr is one of the most outstanding tenor saxophonists of the new generation of jazz musicians. A composer, bandleader and educator, his music combines a deep respect for tradition with a distinctive, energetic and contemporary voice.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied with masters such as Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Miguel Zenón, Dave Liebman and Danilo Pérez, Groover has established himself as a prominent figure on the international jazz scene. He has performed at festivals across the United States, Latin America, Europe and Africa, and has collaborated with some of today’s leading jazz musicians.

Following the success of Lovabye (2024), he presents Old Knew, his new album for the prestigious Criss Cross Jazz label. Featuring original compositions, the recording confirms his artistic maturity and his ability to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz.

Arahi Martínez - vocals
Manuel Machado - trumpet
Luis Guerra - piano
Santi Greco - bass
Ramón González - percussion
Moisés Porro - drums

Manuel Machado is one of the leading Latin jazz trumpeters in Spain. His distinguished career includes performing with the legendary band Irakere, led by Chucho Valdés, as well as collaborations with renowned artists such as Celia Cruz, Bebo Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera, Steve Turre, Joaquín Sabina, Joan Manuel Serrat, José Mercé, and Rocío Jurado.

Leading his quintet, he presents a concert where jazz, Cuban music, and improvisation come together in a vibrant and deeply expressive performance.

Special guest vocalist Arahí Martínez brings elegance and emotion to the evening with her outstanding voice.

An unmissable opportunity to experience the excellence of Latin jazz and the magic of live music.

Javier Elorrieta - vocals
Lorenzo Moya - piano
Richie Ferrer - double bass
J. R. Callejas - saxophones
Antonio Calero - drums

“I had dreamed of carrying out this project for a long time: the fusion of French music and jazz. I believe that ever since I studied at the French Lycée in Madrid, I have been drawn to the music of our neighboring country. Understanding the wonderful, poetic, and profound lyrics of Brel, Brassens, Aznavour, Bécaud, and many others made me appreciate this kind of music so deeply that these songs have remained faithful companions throughout my life. Everything began to take shape years later, when I formed a group specializing in French pop songs, performing as guitarist and singer with songs by Dutronc, Nino Ferrer, Johnny Hallyday, etc. Later came a long period devoted to Anglo-American music, especially rock and blues, always forming bands and performing live. My encounter with the world of images as a film director and producer also came through music. First by composing film scores and music for advertising. Later, as a director, I composed many of the main themes for my own films as well as for those of other filmmakers. With the making of these albums, I return to my musical roots. I have devoted all my determination and effort to creating a delicate and romantic work that I hope will not disappoint its listeners. Albums to relax and experience the sweet nostalgia of love.”

Javier Elorrieta

Paloma Antara - vocals
David Sanz - sax
Joseph John McEvilly - piano
Tom Jackson - double bass
Andrés Freites - drums

“Jazz cannot be explained — it must be felt!” In A Tale of New Orleans, the stage is transformed into a living map of the early 1900s. This project is a complete cultural immersion that intertwines live music with the story of a city unlike any other in the world.

We invite you to explore the myths, legends, and sounds that shaped the most influential genre in history. A sonic journey designed for those who seek to understand the origins of the magic behind this extraordinary musical tradition.

Yuvisney Aguilar - composer, director and timbales
Gito Maleta - piano
José Raúl Machado - double bass
Carlos Cano - flute
Ángel Herrera - congas

Special guests:
ATLANTICA Cultural Diplomacy Ambassadors:
Idania Valdés - vocals
Amadito Valdés - timbales
Yelena Lafargue Choir - choral ensemble representing Spain at the World Peace Choral Festival, Vienna 2026

In this new edition, presented within the framework of the Ateneo Chair, “The CUBintage” emerges as an artistic experience of high cultural value, where Cuban music engages in dialogue with memory, interpretative excellence, and contemporary cultural diplomacy.

“The CUBintage” serves as an ambassador project of the golden age of Cuban music from the 1950s and 1960s, paying cultural and musical tribute through a blend of tradition, sophistication, rhythm, and glamour. Inspired by legendary masters such as Bebo Valdés, Israel “Cachao” López, and Pedro Justiz “Peruchín,” the quintet reconstructs with contemporary sensitivity a distinctive style that shaped the history of Latin music.

The evening will feature the exceptional participation of singer Idania Valdés and timbalero Amadito Valdés, internationally recognized artists connected to the historic Buena Vista Social Club, witnesses and bearers of a living musical heritage. Their presence reinforces the unique character of a project that not only performs, but embodies a living memory of Cuba’s musical legacy. Also joining the event is the Yelena Lafargue Choir, a choral ensemble distinguished by its artistic excellence and selected to represent Spain at the 2026 World Peace Choral Festival in Vienna. Their participation adds a symbolic and universal dimension to the gathering, strengthening the spirit of cultural dialogue, peace, and international cooperation.

“The CUBintage” is more than a concert: it is a celebration of Cuban musical heritage and its living projection into the present; a stage production that transcends music to become an act of cultural memory, artistic elegance, and connection through art.