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Roberto Fonseca is one of the most charismatic Cuban musicians of his generation. The Buena Vista Social Club prodigy and Havana Cultura star has grabbed Cuban music by the horns and drawn it, hot, stylish and sultry, into the 21st century, and his live shows have been captivating audiences worldwide for more than a decade.

In place of his usual jazz quintet, with YO he develops a concept of a union between electro analogue and African instruments, Hammond organs and et n'goni lutes, congas and tamani drums, all together combined in a synthesis of Afro-Cuban groove and Griot tradition. As for his relationship to Africa, and to the Yoruba culture in particular, it plays an integral part in his family heritage. A connection which the pianist has chosen to deepen by inviting numerous African musicians to perform at his side, including Baba Sissoko, Sekou Kouyate and Fatoumata Diawara.

A total of fifteen musicians, instrumentalists and singers, participated in the production of YO. In addition to the aforementioned Africans and the Cubans Ramsés Rodríguez and Joel Hierrezuelo, two close collaborators of Fonseca’s for years, the versatility of the bassist Étienne M'Bappé and of guitarist Munir Hossn contribute to the richness of the project, which also included the Algerian star Faudel, the Senegalese singer Assane Mboup of the Orchestre Baobab and hip hop MC Mike Ladd. Finally, Gilles Peterson, a privileged partner of Fonseca’s since they met on the project Havana Cultura, naturally brings his expertise to the co-production of two tracks.

Fonseca is the first to admit that the fluidity of the sessions is to be credited to his manager and co-producer Daniel Florestano, who has guided him in selecting the right people... Amongst them the Californian producer Mikael Eldridge, aka Count, proved to be one of the most decisive. A true goldsmith of sound known for his work with DJ Shadow, Radiohead and the Rolling Stones, Count has spared no effort for his first non-Anglo-Saxon release.

UK tour:
Fri 23 March - Gateshead, The Sage
Sat 24 March - Manchester, RNCM
Mon 26 March - London, Barbican
Wed 28 March - York, Theatre Royal
Thu 29 March - Brighton, Dome
Fri 30 March - Bristol, St George’s
Sun 1 April - Birmingham, Town Hall