Havanna Express. Hot Tropical Nights.

Sebastian Schunke Trio

Contemporary jazz and Cuban rhythms

Sebastian Schunke – piano

Marcel Krömker – bass

Diego Piñera – drums, percussion

What does Cuban jazz sound like in the 21st century?

The Sebastian Schunke Trio demonstrates how the tradition of Cuban jazz continually reinvents itself. The concert focuses on Sebastian Schunke’s original compositions as well as works by prominent Cuban jazz pianists. The trio blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with modern jazz, free improvisation, and influences from the Berlin jazz scene to create a sound all its own.

Sebastian Schunke is one of Europe’s most innovative jazz pianists. For many years, he has been deeply engaged with Cuban music, drawing on it to develop a distinctive style that bridges Havana and Berlin. He has collaborated with Chucho Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera, David Murray, Ignacio Berroa, and other international jazz greats, among others. He has received numerous international awards for his albums. In addition to his work as a pianist and composer, Schunke—who holds a doctorate in law—is also active in research and teaching.

Marcel Krömker is one of the leading bassists on the Berlin jazz scene and can be heard in numerous international jazz and crossover projects.

Diego Piñera is one of the outstanding Latin jazz drummers in Europe. The German-Uruguayan studied in Havana, won the ECHO Jazz Award in 2017, was honored with the German Jazz Prize in 2023, and uniquely blends Cuban rhythms with modern jazz.

With this concert, our journey takes us not into the past, but into the present: The Sebastian Schunke Trio impressively demonstrates just how vibrant and adaptable the tradition of Cuban jazz remains to this day.

🎟 Tickets: Eventbrite

💶 Admission: €15 / €10

www.jazzamhelmholtzplatz.com

Supported by the Jazz 2026 project grant from the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.