BORN IN: november 1st. 1983

LIVES IN: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

DRUMMING SINCE:  12 years old

BIGGEST INFLUENCE(S): Irakere, Los Van Van from the 70s, Cuban popular, jazz and folkloric Music.

FAVORITE ALBUM YOU PLAYED ON: Eliel lazo – El Conguero

FAVORITE ALBUM YOU DID NOT PLAY ON: 1979 live album **IRAKERE** from band IRAKERE

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Winning prestigious PERCUBA International Percussion Prize at the age of 19

BIOGRAPHY:

Eliel Lazo began playing at an early age, egged on by his enthusiastic family. He studied at Oscar Valdes’ school of percussion (former singer and percussionist, of Irakere band). In 2003, at the age of 19, Eliel won the prestigious PERCUBA International Percussion Prize. Eliel Lazo first visited Denmark in 2004 on an invitation from the Danish Radio Big Band. Other invitations followed. Soon Denmark became a stable base on his travels around the world, and in 2007 he made Copenhagen his home. He has played with musicians such as Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdes, Changuito, Tata Guines, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer, Oscar Valdes, Carlos del Puerto, Airto Moreira. He has also played with Cuban bands Diakara, Klimax and Habana Ensemble. He have worked with the Danish Radio Big Band, The Savage Rose, The Antonellie Orchestra, Blanco Y Negro, Mikkel Nordsoe Band, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Tip Toe Big Band. Also WDR Bigband from Germany and BBC Bigband from The UK. In 2004 Eliel Lazo recorded his first album ”Art Ensemble of Habana” with Commodo Depots records from Japan. Then he released his first recording with Stunt records ”Blanco Y Negro” which was recorded in Cuba. His 3rd album ”El Conguero” also with Stunt records, was awarded with The Danish Music award best album of the year in the world music category. You can find Eliel’s playing on Mikkel Nordsoe ”7 Steps to Heaven” and ”Diving in space for 3 dacades” – Hanne Boel ”The Shining of sings” – the Danish Radio Big Band ”Cuban Flavor” and ”Spirituasl”, where Eliel is featured as percussionist and vocalist. His playing is also featured on CUBADISCO award winning CD, ”Andante” of Cesar Lopez Y Habana Ensemble and Kylie Minogue ”Kiss me once”. He performs in the American movie about Cuban music ”Music Under the Radar”. He has taught at conservatories in Cuba, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden. Eliel’s last CD is call ”Eliel lazo and the Cuban funk Machine” featuring American tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and a line up of Cuban, Danish and Swedish musicians that make this album very unique. This CD is a tribute to the 70s funk and Cuban Songo. The inspiration is coming from bands such as Irakere, the Head hunters, The Meters and specially Los Van Van. The CD was nominated to the 2015 Cuban Grammys CUBADISCO and is nominated to 2 Danish Grammys (Danish Music Awards) World and Jazz. This CD is dedicated to master Jose Luis Quintana ”Changuito” and Juan Formell (august 2, 1942 – may 1st, 2014)

FAVORITE SABIAN CYMBAL: 18″ HHX Evolution Crash

SABIAN SET UP:

18″ HHX Evolution O-Zone Crash

18″ HHX Evolution Crash

17″ AAX X-Treme Chinese

16″ AAX El Sabor Picante Hand Crash

16″ HH Thin Crash

12″ HHX Evolution Splash

10″ HHX Evolution Splash