Moscow Jazz Orchestra to debut in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, January 27 (ACN) The Moscow Jazz Orchestra, led by saxophonist Igor Butman, will perform for the first time in Cuba on January 30 and 31 as part of the Jazz Plaza 2026 Festival.

The concerts will take place at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano (Cuban Art Factory) and the National Theater of Cuba in Havana, the Russian Embassy to Cuba announced on its Facebook page.

These performances will mark the beginning of a Latin American tour, organized with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture and Rosconcert, which will also include performances in Brazil and Nicaragua, according to the organizers.

In Havana, the ensemble will perform a special program featuring works by Cuban composers and emblematic pieces of Russian jazz, with the aim of strengthening cultural ties and promoting artistic exchange between the two nations.

"For me, Cuba is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The skill of the local musicians, their mastery of rhythm, and their dedication are simply astonishing," declared People's Artist of Russia, Igor Butman.

The saxophonist reminisced about his participation in the International Jazz Day Gala Concert in Havana in 2017 and expressed his delight at returning with the full orchestra, which he described as a dream come true.

Founded in 1999, the Moscow Jazz Orchestra has toured hundreds of cities in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and boasts a discography of 18 albums, including "Magic Land," recorded with Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, John Patitucci, Stefon Harris, and Randy Brecker.

In the last five years, the group has performed over 500 concerts in Russia and in countries such as Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, India, China, Italy, France, and Turkey, establishing itself as one of the most prominent big bands on the international scene.

The specialized magazine JazzTimes described the orchestra as a "constellation of virtuosos," in recognition of its interpretive quality and its contribution to the development of jazz in Russia.