3x Grammy-nominated Axel Tosca is a highly talented Cuban jazz pianist and composer who has gained recognition for his virtuosic performances and innovative compositions that blend elements of jazz, classical music, Hip-Hop, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Born in Cuba in 1983, Tosca grew up in a prestigious musical family. His mother is the renowned Cuban Trova singer Xiomara Laugart and his father is Cuban folk singer-guitarist Alberto Tosca. Introduced to guitar at age four, Tosca was also playing piano by age seven and soon joined his parents on stage playing his first show at Casa de las Americas. Along with performing with his parents, he attended music school. One of his beloved teachers was Miriam Valdez, the daughter of Cuban piano legend Bebo Valdez and sister of Chucho Valdez. This first-class education enabled him to gain a wide range of experiences. Tosca has since become a sought-after performer, collaborator, and session musician, working with a diverse range of musicians and groups including jazz greats like Roy Hargrove and Steve Turre, Dennis & Swing, the Afro-Cuban All-Stars, Bobby Carcases, Teresa Garcia Caturla, Jose Miguel Crego, and more. Along with classical music, jazz, and Latin traditions, he also discovered hip-hop and played with The Roots when they toured Cuba. While in Cuba Tosca not only played with these legends but had won multiple piano competitions before moving to the United States in 2005 as part of the Havana Nights revue that played for two years at the world-famous Stardust Casino and Resort, in Las Vegas. His education did not stop there and he soon enrolled in jazz at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Now based in New York, he has earned plaudits playing in clubs as a solo artist as well as with (U)nity, a richly cross-pollinated jazz band in which he is a founding member.

In 2015 Tosca was featured in the documentary “Cu-bop CUBA~New York music documentary” directed by Takahashi Shinichi, winner of The 23 Pan African Film Festival- Official Select, The 15 DC Caribbean Film Festival selected 'The Opening Night', The African Diaspora International Film Festival selected Best Of ADIFF 2015 and the United Latino International Film Festival- Official Selection.

In 2016, he released his debut album, the eponymous Axel Tosca.

Included were guest appearances by his Mother, vocalist Xiomara Laugart, trumpeter Keyon Harold, saxophonist Ron Blake, drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, bassist James Genus, percussionist Luisito Quintero, and others. In 2019 Tosca, a former founding member of (U)nity, performed to a sold-out audience at Tokyo's Blue Note.

Axel is also passionate about education and has participated in  

Clinics, workshops, and seminars at The University of Jalapa Mexico, Universidad De Puerto Rico, Costa Rica University, Nueva School San Mateo, California, LEEP Dual Language Academy-NY, Boggs School- MI, Stevens Institute of Technology, and NYU.

Currently, Tosca has worked with George Clinton, BeBe Winans, The Clark Sisters, DJ / Producer / Remixer's Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, The Martinez Brothers and David Morales, Stretch & Bobbito, Mae-Sun, Steve Gadd, Ray Chew, Lenny White, Pino Palladino, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jocelyn Brown, Karren Wheeler, Monique Bingham, Godwin Louis, Josh Milan, Anane Vega, Lisa Fischer, Robert Glasper, Josh Milan, Carlos Alomar, J Balvin and Bad Bunny. 

Known for his technical proficiency, soulful playing, and innovative approach to jazz, Tosca continues to push the boundaries of the genre and inspire audiences around the world with his music.

There is no limit to this visionary pianist. 

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