Eliel Lazo

Eliel Williams Lazo Linares (known as Eliel Lazo or Gods Hands) (born 1 November 1983 in Havana) is a Cuban percussionist, songwriter, composer, producer, jazz, rock, Latin and pop musician living in Denmark. Eliel is one of the most unique percussionist of these times. In 2011, he received the Danish Music Awards (DMA World) for his album "El Conguero" (Stunt Records). He won also the "International Percussion Percuba Prize". During his career, he collaborated with musicians such as Oscar Valdes, Chucho Valdes, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer, Wayne Shorter, Michel Camilo and Bands such as Diakara, Habana Ensemble, DR Big band, WDR Big band, BBC Big band The Savage Rose, The Antonelli Orchestra, Mikkel Nordsø Band and others. In 2008, the newspaper Havana Times labelled him "one of Cuba’s top percussionists".

Eliel Lazo began playing at an early age, egged on by his family. He studied at Oscar Valdes’ school of percussion (former singer and percussionist, of Irakere band). In 2003, at the age of 19, Eliel won the PERCUBA International Percussion Prize. Lazo first visited Denmark in 2004 on an invitation from the Danish Radio Big Band. Other invitations followed. Soon Denmark became a base on his travels around the world, and in 2007 he made Copenhagen his home. He has played with musicians such as Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdes, Changuito, Tata Guines, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer, Oscar Valdes, Carlos del Puerto, Airto Moreira. He has also played with Cuban bands Diakara, Klimax and Habana Ensemble. He has worked with the Danish Radio Big Band, The Savage Rose, The Antonellie Orchestra, Blanco Y Negro, Mikkel Nordsoe Band, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Tip Toe Big Band, WDR Bigband from Germany, and BBC Bigband from The UK. In 2004 Lazo recorded his first album Art Ensemble of Habana with Commodo Depots records from Japan. He then released his first recording with Stunt records, Blanco Y Negro, which was done in Cuba. His third album El Conguero, also with Stunt records, was awarded the Danish Music award best album of the year in the world music category. Lazo played on Mikkel Nordsoe 7 Steps to Heaven and Diving in space for 3 decades - Hanne Boel The Shining of sings - the Danish Radio Big Band Cuban Flavor and Spirituasl, where he is featured as percussionist and vocalist. His playing is also featured on the Cubadisco CD Andante of Cesar Lopez Y Habana Ensemble and Kylie Minogue Kiss me once. He performed in the American movie about Cuban music Music Under the Radar. He has taught at conservatories in Cuba, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden. Eliel's last CD is call Eliel lazo and the Cuban funk Machine featuring American tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and a lineup of Cuban, Danish and Swedish musicians. This CD is a tribute to the 70s funk and Cuban Songo. The inspiration is coming from bands such as Irakere, the Head hunters, The Meters and specially Los Van Van. The CD was nominated to the 2015 Cuban Grammys Cubadisco and was nominated for two Danish Grammys (Danish Music Awards) World and Jazz. The CD was dedicated to master Jose Luis Quintana Changuito and Juan Formell (August 2, 1942 - May 1, 2014)