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Yosvany Terry
Born and raised in the Camaguey province of Cuba, Yosvany received his earliest musical training from his father, Eladio "Don Pancho" Terry, a violinist and Cuba’s leading player of the chekeré. Yosvany went on to study classical music, graduating from both the prestigious National School of Art (ENA) and Amadeo Roldan Conservatory.

While in Cuba, Yosvany was known for his musical innovation, performing with legends such as Chucho Valdez, Silvio Rogriguez, Fito Paez, and Cubanismo. Yosvany also formed the influential group, Columna B, which represented the new voice of young Cuban jazz players: “Columna B became this limitless work-shop, where everything could be tried and experimented with.  We learned how to polish and develop our craft in a very special and intuitive sense," comments Terry.  Columna B toured throughout the US and Europe, and in 1998 premiered their Inroads Commissioned-piece by Arts International (through the Ford Foundation) at the Stanford Jazz Festival.

Yosvany came to New York in 1999, and was immediately recognized as a "spectacular talent" in the jazz scene, playing with Roy Hargrove, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Douglas, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, and Avishai Cohen. “My move to New York represented an incredible time of growth as a musician. It gave me access to so much information and the opportunity to meet and work with talented musicians from all over the world." 

Always a student, Mr. Terry has absorbed and incorporated American jazz traditions with his own Afro-Cuban roots. His compositions and solo work range from the rhythmic and hard-driving avant-garde to sweet sounding lyricism. Yosvany Terry's voice and style are unique and complex, marrying Cuban and American musical traditions to create a new and exciting sound.

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