Axel Tosca is a pianist, producer and artist, known for his genre-bending mix of jazz, Latin, and timba music. Born in Cuba in 1983, Tosca grew up in a prestigious musical family: His mother is renowned trova singer Xiomara Laugart and his father, folk singer-guitarist Alberto Tosca. With a first-class education in music, Axel gained experience playing with groups like Dennis & Swing, the Afro-Cuban All-Stars, Bobby Carcases, Teté Caturla, and Jose Miguel Crego. 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, Axel 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. He then enrolled in jazz at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Now based in New York, Axel 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 2016, he released his debut album, the eponymous “Axel Tosca” with guest appearances by his mother, trumpeter Keyon Harrold, saxophonist Ron Blake, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, bassist James Genus, percussionist Luisito Quintero, and others. He has worked with several legendary artists, including George Clinton, BeBe Winans, and Louie Vega.
Axel Tosca
