Regarded as the Ambassador of 21st Century Cuban Music, Yusa is a Havana-born guitarist, bassist, vocalist, tres player, and composer. She relocated  to New Orleans in 2019 and has been spending time collaborating with many of the city’s most talented musicians. An original bandleader of popular Cuban bands Interactivo and Quasi Jazz, her compositions have earned her international acclaim, and her 5 albums have won her multiple awards, including BBC World Radio.

Mahmoud “Mood” Chouki is a Moroccan master guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator in New Orleans. His art draws influences from around the globe. Chouki teaches music at the Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans and is the music curator for the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). In 2021, Chouki composed the soundtrack for the Sundance Award winning film, “Ma Belle, Ma Beauty.” Chouki has been awarded 2020’s “Best Emerging Artist” by OffBeat Magazine and Gambit Weekly’s 2022 “Best World Music Artist” Award.

Tonight, Yusa and Chouki join forces for a special performance.