Yelsy Heredia is a double bassist born in Guantánamo, Cuba and based in Madrid, Spain. His music blends changüí, Latin jazz, world, and Cuban tradition, with a contemporary approach that elevates his roots through a modern lens.
Trained in Cuba, Heredia was awarded First Prize and the Performance Mastery Award at the Amadeo Roldán Competition in 1994. Since then, he has built a solid career as a performer, composer, and artistic director.
His discography includes Guantánamo Changüí (2010), Recovecos (2012), Camino a Maisí (2014), Lo Nuestro (2019), and Los Mismos Negros (2024). In 2025, he releases Cachao Vive, recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami—a tribute to the Cuban bass legacy. Highlights include “Ay Mamá Inés” and “Babalú,” featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Roberto Vizcaíno Jr., and Daniel Palacio.
Heredia draws inspiration from Cachao, Bebo Valdés, Javier Colina, and Avishai Cohen, and has collaborated with artists like Chucho Valdés, Diego El Cigala, Pedrito Martínez, and Harold López-Nussa.
He won the Composition Prize at the Changüí Festival for “La Voz de Yateras” and has performed at iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Berlin Philharmonie, Teatro Real (Madrid), Olympia (Paris), and Mexico’s Auditorio Nacional. He was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2019 and 2025 for Best Traditional Tropical Album.
