If only the other things in our lives could have the same feeling of total ease, effortlessness and joy of a Harold López-Nussa concert. How does everything in this band happen so naturally, or at least appear to do so? The 41 year-old Havana-born pianist sets a groove in motion…and they’re off.
It wasn’t just very pleasing to see a cajon drum, a Fender Rhodes and a couple of loud Hawaiian shirts on the Wigmore stage, it was also heartening to note that the hall was virtually full last night.
The quartet played a set (list below) including just a couple of the tunes from the most recent album “Timba a la Americana” which was López-Nussa’s Blue Note debut, “Mal du Pays” and “Terra Mia”, the latter with a wonderful intensity build from the band.
Bass duties last night were with the ubiquitous French player Thibaud Soulas (rather than Luques Curtis who is on the album), who always plays with a great positive spirit. The drummer is the pianist’s dynamic and energetic younger brother Ruy Adrián, and out front is the band’s secret weapon, an icon. Swiss-American Gregoire Maret‘s harmonica playing is of the most potently beautiful melodic sounds in the world. He told me part of his story recently when I was researching a sleeve note. He had been singing as a boy treble in Geneva. When his voice broke, he felt the need to play an instrument rather than sing. “I picked up the harmonica and I never looked back.” Last night Maret was heard to stupendous effect on “Lobo’s Cha”. Aren’t simple stories the best.
SET LIST
New Day/El Manisero… Harold López-Nussa /Moises Simón
Guajira…….. Ruy Adrien López-Nussa
Mal du Pays…Harold LN & Michael League
Gitanerías…… Ernesto Lecuona
Bonito y Sabroso….. Benny More
Why …………….. Gregoire Maret
Tierra Mia……. Ernan Lopez Nussa
Encore: Lobo’s Cha ……… Ernan Lopez Nussa
