Upcoming Concerts

Álvaro Torres - piano
Masa Kamaguchi - double bass
Francisco Mela - drums

Álvaro Torres’ trio is establishing itself as one of the most interesting proposals in contemporary jazz in New York.

“Masterfully unpredictable… Extraordinary.” — All About Jazz
★ ★ ★ ★

Backed by the iconic labels Sunnyside Records and Fresh Sound Records, they have released their fifth album, Mairena, and have performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the city, such as The Jazz Gallery and Mezzrow. They have also brought their original music to festivals in Spain and Mexico.

With a style that blends post-bop, improvisation, and elements of Spanish folklore, their music has received critical acclaim. Álvaro Torres has been described as “One of the great future promises of the genre.” — La Razón

Torres has collaborated with true New York legends such as Barry Altschul, Nasheet Waits, Tony Malaby, John Hébert, Chris Lightcap, Jeff Hirshfield, and Bill McHenry.

On this occasion, he is joined by the legendary drummer Francisco Mela and Japanese double bassist Masa Kamaguchi, both key figures on the European scene with a deep connection to New York jazz.

Betta Berodia - vocals
Gabri Casanova - piano/Hammond (15)
Javier Díaz - piano (16)
Dani Herrero - sax
Diego De la Torre - bass
Joan Guzmán - drums

A project led by Madrid-based singer Betta Berodia, with influences from Chicago, where she lived part of her musical experience. Accompanied by exceptional musicians, they offer a show full of African American music, with a touch of elegance and craftsmanship, thanks to the high quality of the musicians who make up this band and their exquisite repertoire.
Without a doubt, a black music performance made with respect and a lot of groove, ensuring that the entire audience enjoys their performances.

Luis Guerra - piano
Reinier Elizarde “El Negrón” - double bass
Rodrigo Ballesteros - drums
Inoidel González - sax

As part of the centenary of his birth, the extraordinary Cuban saxophonist Inoidel González, accompanied by his band, presents a special concert filled with sensitivity and virtuosity, paying a deep and moving tribute to the legendary John Coltrane. A unique evening for an unforgettable Sunday where the essence of pure jazz intertwines with a contemporary interpretation, celebrating the legacy of one of the most influential musicians of all time.

David John Herrington - vocals, trumpet
Héctor García Roel - guitar
Paolo Furio Marasso - double bass

Remembering Mr. Baker.
A tribute to the jazz legacy of Chet Baker and his melodic and emblematic song arrangements from the West Coast “cool” jazz genre of the USA.

Benny Sharoni - tenor sax
Luis Guerra - piano
Nicolás Cañete - double bass
Esteve Pi - drums

Tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni is an American bandleader, composer, and arranger who holds a prominent place on the international jazz scene. Sharoni, a straight-ahead performer who blends influences from the classic bop of Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, and Steve Grossman (among many others), spices his music with Latin rhythms and an energetic drive that delights audiences around the world.

He demonstrates a fervent skill that instantly elevates him above the rest, but that is only one element of his winning formula. Sharoni is also a performer committed to uninhibited expression, reaching audiences through taste, beauty, and infectious swing. Benny’s recordings, “Eternal Elixir” and “Slant Signature,” have captivated the hearts and ears of jazz listeners and critics, earning widespread acclaim in the jazz world.

First concerts of Café Central at La Cátedra del Ateneo.
Calle del Prado, 21, 28014, Madrid

Sheila Blanco - vocals
Federico Lechner - piano
Tomás Merlo - double bass
José San Martín - drums

The group was born as a musical laboratory to blend the worlds of Jazz and Tango, using some traditional tangos, some iconic jazz standards, and some original compositions created from the very spirit of this fusion.

For this new project, the very special guest soloist is singer Sheila Blanco, a versatile and highly talented artist, with a strong stage presence and deep knowledge of both jazz and tango.

The result is a program that brings together classic tangos, original compositions, and jazz standards, all with an innovative range of colors, where the voice is not limited to singing the lyrics but sometimes joins the improvisational celebration as another instrument. A unique, high-quality proposal that is also suitable for all audiences.

Perico Sambeat - sax
Mariano Díaz - piano
Reinier Elizarde “El Negrón” - double bass
Esteve Pi - drums

On this occasion, Perico presents a quartet formation accompanied by a selection of elite top Spanish musicians. This group performs original compositions by Perico as well as by the other members of the group, along with jazz standards and music from the Latin tradition, arranged for this formation. The music they perform, while clearly rooted in the jazz tradition, also contains influences from contemporary music, African music, and flamenco. The group features some of the most outstanding soloists of their generation, which guarantees rich and spontaneous music based on the continuous interaction of its four members. The result is a rigorous and innovative approach to blending different musical styles.

First concerts of Café Central at La Cátedra del Ateneo.
Calle del Prado, 21, 28014, Madrid

Ulf Wakenius - guitar
Ignasi Terraza - piano
Special guest:
Reico Fujisaki - vocals

The duo formed by Ignasi Terraza and Ulf Wakenius performs the music of the legendary Canadian pianist Oscar Peterson, following the celebration of his centenary, with a project that combines original compositions with pieces from the historic Peterson-Joe Pass duo.

The connection of these two musicians with Oscar Peterson is deep and personal. Ulf Wakenius had the privilege of being part of Peterson’s group during the last decade of his career, taking his guitar to stages around the world alongside the master. For his part, Ignasi Terraza has found in Oscar Peterson an inexhaustible source of inspiration since the beginning of his career, reflecting in his style the energy, creativity, and elegance that defined the Canadian pianist.

Together, these two exceptional musicians offer a vibrant and personal reinterpretation of Oscar Peterson’s universe, celebrating his legacy with their own singular voice and keeping alive the spirit of swing and improvisation that characterized him.

A unique opportunity to relive the magic of the Peterson-Joe Pass duo through two virtuosos who have embraced his legacy and projected it into the present. The concert will also feature the talented Japanese singer Reico Fujisaki, who will add her unique voice to the evening’s repertoire.

César Filiú Douglas - sax
Luis Guerra - piano
Reinier Elizarde “El Negrón” - double bass
Kike Terrón - percusión
Special guest:
Román Filiú - sax

Viaje a mi tierra

This concert is a journey back to my roots. A path through the sounds, memories, and traditions that have shaped the way I understand music.
I grew up surrounded by musicians, listening to stories that came from both far away and close to home — from Cuba, the Caribbean, jazz, and so many other musical traditions that speak to one another. Over time, I came to understand that these influences are not just references: they are part of my identity.

With this trio, I want to explore that personal territory. A space where Afro-Cuban tradition, the language of jazz, and the search for my own voice coexist. It’s not only about looking back, but about having a conversation with those roots from the present moment.

Viaje a mi tierra is, at its core, a return. A return to the sounds that shaped me, to the musical memory I inherited, and to the freedom to transform it.

Iván Sangüesa - piano
Roberto Pacheco - trombone
Javier Moreno - double bass
Gonzalo Maestre - drums
Fernando Sangüesa - sax

Their music blends the essence of blues, swing, funk, and Latin rhythms, appealing both to jazz lovers and to audiences drawn to other styles. The defining characteristic of this band is the strong connection they create with the audience during their concerts, making listeners feel part of the music at every moment.

Reinier “El Negrón” - double bass
Inoidel Gonzales - sax
Luis Guerra - piano
Rodrigo Ballesteros - drums

Reinier Elizarde, artistically known as “El Negrón,” is an acclaimed Cuban double bassist, composer, and producer based in Spain. Trained in the tradition of the Russian classical school and deeply influenced by Cuban popular rhythms, he has established himself as one of the most sought-after bassists on the international Latin jazz scene.

Among his distinctions is a Latin Grammy as a performer in 2021, along with several additional nominations that further affirm his prestige and artistic projection.

Condao, his first album as a bandleader, merges his Afro-Cuban roots with contemporary jazz and rock. The project also represents an intimate exploration of his creative universe through original compositions, presented at renowned festivals such as Dum Dum Jazz and Jazz en el Palacio.

Victor Jones - drums
Darryl Hall - double bass
Sebastián Chames - piano

Victor Jones, drummer known for having been a member of the groups led by Stan Getz, Little Jimmy Scott, Chaka Khan, Michel Petrucciani, and Woody Shaw, has also performed with James Moody, Wynton Marsalis, among many others. Recognized as one of the most prolific and eclectic drummers in contemporary jazz, he appears on more than two hundred recordings and film soundtracks. A two-time Grammy nominee, Oscar winner, and Oscar nominee, Victor has in recent years been recording and performing with his own group, Culture-Versy, effortlessly blending Hip Hop, Urban Soul, Modern Jazz, and Funk. George Benson says: “Whether playing funk, rock or jazz, Victor Jones is one cat that gets it right.” He recorded the album Uno with Sebastián Chames alongside Curtis Lundy.

Darryl Hall is an American jazz bassist who has lived in France since 2004. Darryl has collaborated with many jazz luminaries, including Mulgrew Miller, Carmen Lundy, Hank Jones, Geri Allen, James Williams, Donald Brown, Stefon Harris, Regina Carter, Ravi Coltrane, Mary Stallings, and Robert Glasper, among others. While living in France, he has also performed with many European and American artists throughout Europe and Asia, including Cedar Walton, Archie Shepp, George Cables, Harold Mabern, Donald Brown, Kirk Lightsey, Dianne Reeves, Joe Locke, Willie Jones, Wayne Escoffery, Laurent de Wilde, Aldo Romano, and many more.

Sebastián Chames is a renowned Argentine pianist based in Madrid who has performed on numerous stages, including the Central, where his contributions have been celebrated on several occasions. His style combines technical virtuosity with musical sensitivity, bringing a distinctive touch to every collaboration.

Ramiro Obedman - sax and flute
Pascual Piqueras - trumpet
Richie Ferrer - double bass
Sir Charles - drums

The philosophy behind this project centers on jazz improvisations developed around repertoire written by some of the greatest classical composers of all time (Albéniz, Granados…). This repertoire will combine well-known pieces by these composers with lesser-known works, bringing attention to compositions that have been less frequently reinterpreted but are of equal musical value.

Drummer Carlos “Sir Charles” González has chosen an ensemble in which the voice of the double bass takes on a leading role. The musical arrangements of the project De Aquí are a perfect example of the roots-oriented jazz that has been so widely discussed in recent years.

Pedro Ojesto - piano
Román Filiú - saxophone
Nicolás Cañete - double bass
David Bao - drums

The music they perform follows the path that has been revealing a new step in the development of the marriage between these two borderland musical traditions, something that flamenco lovers, jazz enthusiasts, as well as all those who closely follow the vertiginous evolution of new music rooted in the fusion of deeply grounded traditions, within that platform of cultural interaction generated by jazz, will undoubtedly enjoy.

Manuel Machado - trumpet, flugelhorn
Yandy Martínez - double bass
Lino Lores - guitar, tres
Ramón González “El León” - percussion
Arahi Martínez - vocals

Heritage & Fusion
Two artists born in Santa Clara, Cuba come together to blend their roots with musical styles from Spain and Latin America, wrapped in the mantle of jazz and, in a natural way, achieving a fusion of feeling, rhythms, and virtuosity filled with messages and improvisation.

Arahi Martínez is a singer and composer who has performed at prestigious jazz festivals such as the San Javier Festival. She blends her family heritage of bolero feeling, traditional son, and rural Cuban music with jazz influences and Latin American roots.

Alongside her, Manuel Machado, trumpeter, composer, and producer with a broad international career, is recognized for his work in Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban music, flamenco, and contemporary fusion, sharing stages and projects with major artists and festivals both within and outside Spain.

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.

Joshua Edelman - piano
Rob Schneiderman - piano

Tribute to the Great Jazz Pianists

Joshua Edelman (Manhattan, 1954) and Rob Schneiderman (Boston, 1957) are two pianists with long and distinguished careers who experienced firsthand the golden age of jazz in New York during the 1970s and 1980s. Both are passionate researchers of the jazz tradition, as well as composers and performers with unmistakable musical personalities shaped by the experiences they lived in that environment.

Recently, drawing from their extensive artistic journeys, Edelman and Schneiderman embarked on this reunion for two pianos, without any additional accompaniment. In this format, a deep and energetic jazz emerges, filled with swing, beauty, subtle communication, and an intense emotional connection with the audience.

Pepe Rivero - piano
Gastón Joya - double bass
Shayan Fathi - drums
Special guest:
María Berasarte - vocals

Piano y Trova is a declaration of faith in the musical legacy of Pepe Rivero’s native Cuba and in the ability of that music to transcend borders. Through Rivero’s piano, the trova tradition is revisited and brought into the realms of jazz and classical music.

The project invites audiences to rediscover a lesser-known repertoire such as the old traditional trova, born from both European and African influences. These are pieces that stand between the 19th and 20th centuries, such as “Tristeza” by Pepe Sánchez, dated 1883. It is a great tribute to trova, interpreted with the virtuosity of Rivero’s classical training and the freedom of jazz language.

Audiences will enjoy a very intimate concert featuring special guest María Berasarte, with whom he shares projects such as Delirio and Tribute to Federico García Lorca.

María Berasarte, known as “The Naked Voice,” is a singer acclaimed for her minimalist and deeply emotional interpretations, particularly connected to Portuguese fado, the genre to which she dedicated her first album Todas las horas son viejas, considered by Portuguese critics to be the best fado album recorded by a foreign voice. Throughout her career she has collaborated with renowned international artists and developed projects exploring fado, chanson, and her Basque roots, while currently presenting her latest album ESTADÍA.

Jim Kashishian – trombone, vocals
Benjamín Mitte – piano
Antonio Domínguez – double bass
Yevhen Riechkalov – trumpet
Raúl Rodríguez – drums

La Canal, with its five members, each contributing their own ideas, has developed not only a jazz style but a distinctive musical identity of its own, demonstrating enough drive and energy to spread the joy inherent in jazz in almost all its forms. Through their experience, La Canal conveys the essence of jazz perfectly and confirms their reputation as one of Spain’s most enduring jazz bands. Quite simply, they embody an enviable sense of dignity and musicianship.

Ariel Brínguez - saxophone
Daniel Oyarzabal - piano
Pablo M. Caminero - double bass
Borja Barrueta - drums

Not all great classical music composers naturally and spontaneously capture the attention of jazz musicians and their well-known interest in reinterpreting their works. Some, such as Bach, undoubtedly rank among the favorites. Jazz musicians seek certain compositional qualities that inspire them to undertake this challenging yet rewarding endeavor. This is precisely the case with the master Albéniz. As with jazz itself, his style constantly moves between colorfulness and improvisation, all enriched with a strong sense of rhythmic exploration.

Naturally, his harmonic and rhythmic connection with flamenco is unmistakable and, as is well known, flamenco and jazz have long enjoyed a fruitful coexistence. With all this in mind, the encounter between jazz and Albéniz becomes not only meaningful but deeply compelling. It is always exciting to be inspired by the rhythmic force and passion of the celebrated Asturias and Granada, or by the intimacy and elegance of the extraordinary Evocación. The journey has already begun.

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.

Román Filiú - saxophone
Gastón Joya - double bass
Georvis Pico - drums
Iván “Melón” Lewis - piano

With seven albums released, five nominations, and winner of the Latin GRAMMY® for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2021, pianist, composer, and music producer Iván “Melón” Lewis (1974, Cuba) is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation.

Widely recognized for his work with Cuban singer Issac Delgado, “Melón” has carried out remarkable work that has profoundly shaped the concept of piano performance in contemporary Cuban dance music.

Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Universidad del Sur (Mérida, Mexico), since 2003 “Melón” has led his own group, performing regularly on the world’s most important jazz stages and festivals, sharing the stage and billing with some of the genre’s most prominent figures.