David Navarro is a Cuban trumpet player based in New Orleans, who is at the forefront of the next generation of Cuban jazz musicians moving into the jazz spotlight. Known for his versatility, skill and charisma, Mr. Navarro won the prestigious 2017 Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington award and has performed with greats of Cuban music and Spanish language pop music including Emilio Morales, Bellita y su Jazztumbatá, El Niño y la Verdad and José Alberto “El Canario”. He is a member of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Adonis Rose & NOJO 7, Charlie and the Tropicales, Alexey Marti & AfroGumbo and plays regularly with many Latin dance bands, Mariachi ensembles and jazz groups around town.

Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez is one of the most exciting drummers in the world, having performed with jazz legends like Gonzalo Rubalcaba, McCoy Tyner, Michel Camilo and Roy Hargrove; rock stars like Carlos Santana and Stevie Winwood; pop stars like Alejandro Sanz and salsa icons like the late Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. He was born in Havana and trained under Enrique Pla, a founding member of the groundbreaking Cuban jazz funk roots super group Irakere. He has won Grammys for Roy Hargrove’s Crisol (1997) and Michel Camilo’s Live at the Blue Note (2001). He performed on several Grammy and Latin Grammy award winning albums including Carlos Santana’s Supernatural (1999); Alejandro Sanz’ No Es Lo Mismo (2003) and Eddie Palmieri’s Listen Here! (2005).

Horacio also has a long rich history with New Orleans music and notable New Orleans musicians. In the early and mid 1990’s he was spending a lot of time in New Orleans playing with Larry Baeder and Kip Hanrahan’s groups. During this time, he met Charles Neville and went on to tour extensively with Charles. He was part of Los Hombres Caliente and recorded on their albums “Vol. 3: New Congo Square” in 2001 and “Vol. 4: Vodou Dance” in 2003.
He currently tours with the Chucho Valdés Quartet. He is a mentor of David Navarro and is making this special appearance in New Orleans to pass the Cuban jazz baton to Navarro as he comes into his own as a bandleader.

The two join forces for a one-of-a-kind performance, presented in partnership with CubaNOLA.

Tonight’s engagement features:
David Navarro – trumpet, timbales, vocals
Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez – drums