Rolando Luna: One Night Only on Papirøen

Rolando Luna: One Night Only on Papirøen Nova Concerts Series welcomes one of Cuba’s leading contemporary pianists to Copenhagen, in collaboration with Cena Viva. With Rolando Luna, a melody rarely stays where it began. It opens, changes direction and becomes a conversation between Cuban rhythm, jazz, classical language and the freedom of improvisation.
On Friday, 4 September 2026, Nova Concerts Series welcomes the Cuban pianist to Copenhagen for a one-night-only performance at The New Music Hall, inside 25hours Hotel on Papirøen. The concert is presented in collaboration with Cena Viva.
A longtime collaborator of Omara Portuondo and former pianist with Buena Vista Social Club, Rolando Luna has contributed to more than 200 recordings throughout his career. He won both the Piano Competition and the Audience Award at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Behind those credentials is a musician with an unusual ability to move between forms while keeping the music open, rhythmically alive and deeply his own.
“Rolando is one of the most important Cuban pianists working today. There is a deep knowledge in his playing, and each concert takes shape in the moment, note by note,” says Abel Alazo, founder and curator of Nova Concerts Series. “This is a rare opportunity to hear him in Copenhagen, close enough to follow every turn in the music.”
For this performance, Luna will be joined by bassist Yasser Pino and percussionist Eliel Lazo, two Cuban musicians who have become central figures in Copenhagen’s music scene. Together, the trio brings three distinct musical voices into a shared language built around rhythm, listening and improvisation.
Brazilian singer, composer and researcher Sabrina Brazzil joins them as a special guest. Her presence brings the collaboration with Cena Viva into the music itself, creating an encounter between the Cuban trio and a Brazilian voice.
The collaboration brings together two Copenhagen-based cultural platforms interested in how music travels between countries, artistic communities and new audiences. Nova Concerts Series hosts Rolando Luna and leads the artistic presentation. Cena Viva brings its experience in the international circulation of Brazilian artistic work.
For this one night, 25hours Hotel opens its doors to the collaboration. Located on Papirøen and surrounded by Copenhagen’s harbour, The New Music Hall offers a setting shaped around gathering and hospitality. The close setting brings the audience near the musicians as the exchange between Luna, Pino and Lazo unfolds, with Sabrina Brazzil entering the music for two songs. It all happens in a single night on Papirøen.
Line-up Rolando Luna, piano Yasser Pino, bass Eliel Lazo, percussion Sabrina Brazzil, special guest vocals
Concert info Date: Friday, 4 September 2026 Doors: 7 pm Concert: 8 pm Venue: The New Music Hall, 25hours Hotel Location: Papirøen, Copenhagen
About Nova Concerts Series Nova Concerts Series is an independent cultural platform based in Copenhagen. Founded and curated by Abel Alazo, Nova presents original music across jazz, improvisation and diasporic artistic perspectives, creating encounters between international artists, musicians based in Denmark and Copenhagen audiences.
About Cena Viva Cena Viva is a Copenhagen-based cultural curatorial platform dedicated to the international circulation of Brazilian artistic projects. It works with artists whose practices can enter into dialogue with contemporary and international contexts. More information: https://cena-viva.com
Press contact Abel Alazo Nova Concerts Series [email protected]