Roberto Fonseca & Vincent Segal Unite for Intimate Duo Album Nuit Parisienne à la Havane, out January 30 on Artwork Records
Celebrated Cuban pianist and French cellist deliver a stripped-down musical dialogue that bridges classical influences, Afro-Cuban traditions, and contemporary improvisation.
Acclaimed Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca and renowned French cellist Vincent Segal join forces for the first time on Nuit Parisienne à la Havane, releasing January 30, 2026 on Artwork Records. Both artists have built international careers by defying categories: Fonseca from his early years with the Buena Vista Social Club™ to collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Fatoumata Diawara, Baba Sissoko, Giles Peterson among others; Segal with projects ranging from Cesaria Evora to Ballaké Cissoko, Elvis Costello, Ibrahim Maalouf, Matthieu Chedid among others. This landmark duo recording is no exception, as Fonseca and Segal deliver an intimate, finely crafted encounter that bridges worlds.
Recorded spontaneously over five days, Nuit Parisienne à la Havane presents a captivating dialogue between piano and cello, balancing carefully composed material with moments of inspired improvisation. The album showcases the remarkable sensitivity, versatility, and adventurous curiosity of two master musicians known for moving freely between musical styles. In this inspiring set you can hear them diving into Cuban tradition while playing with classical forms, melodic improvisation, and exploring a number of modern sensibilities.
“I have a very strong influence from classical music, especially from Bach and Chopin,” Fonseca explains. “The intention was to create a sound world where passion prevails and to share a sonority that may be new to many listeners, a tribute to the great composers of classical and universal music, but in an original way.”
The album’s title reflects Fonseca’s deep connection with Paris, a city where he would love to live. For Segal, his Parisian night is “made of memories from the jazz clubs where, at 20, I would listen in the cellars to Alain Jean-Marie, Art Farmer, Chet Baker, Eddie Louiss… It’s the smell of croissants, the Seine from Pont Marie with swans sleeping like icebergs, the cries of tipsy night owls, and then the first song of the blackbird.”
The collaboration came naturally after years of knowing each other. “We had known each other for years, but had never really taken the time to get to know one another,” Segal recalls. “Roberto suggested playing his composition ‘Rumbo a Tí,’ and we played it with great pleasure, we share a common musical culture.”
What emerged is an album that evokes the early 20th century era when Spanish classical music and Cuban rhythms blended to create Danzón and Danzonete, while maintaining a contemporary edge. The recording required no preparation, the two artists simply sat down and began to play, creating what Fonseca describes as “several short films, each with its own story.”
“Through atmospheres and melody, I simply try to take everyone who listens on a sonic journey,” Fonseca says. “To make them feel a deep sense of spirituality linked to a strong desire to compose melodies that remain both in the mind and in the heart.”
The album features singles “Rumbo a Tí,” “Nuit Parisienne,” and “Soul Kiss,” each showcasing the profound communication between the two musicians. For Fonseca, every piece holds equal importance: “All the songs are my favorites. Each one tells a story… and all of them are part of my life. You can feel a very deep communication and connection between the two instruments.”
Fonseca reserves special praise for his collaborator: “Above all, his human quality and kindness are so beautiful, and that’s the reason his musical universe is so special. He has the gift of expressing and communicating in a unique and masterful way through his sound world.”
Taking the listener through a variety of genres, from Cuban rhythms of various eras to French chanson, classical music, African rhythms, and Eastern inspirations, this album highlights these artists’ skill to strip down every piece to its essence and bring to life their significance and meaning. Therefore, the album should be experienced in the spirit of a concert: close the door, take your time, and let yourself be carried away by the cathartic frequencies of this delicate and insightful dialogue.
Nuit Parisienne à la Havane is both a culmination of Roberto Fonseca’s diverse musical journey and a testament to the power of spontaneous musical dialogue. The album arrives as a pure, spiritual, and emotional statement from two master musicians at the height of their creative powers.
Nuit Parisienne à la Havane will be available on January 30, 2026 on Artwork Records.
Tracklist
- Rumbo a Tí (Roberto Fonseca)
- Soul Kiss (Vincent Segal & Vic Moan)
- Nuit Parisienne (Roberto Fonseca)
- Paciencia Es Lo Que Hay Que Tener (Roberto Fonseca)
- Un Homme Qui Dort (Vincent Segal)
- Day (Roberto Fonseca)
- Violoncelle Pointe Noire (Vincent Segal)
- Free (Roberto Fonseca & Vincent Segal)
- La Mar Quieta, Tú y Yo Pensando (Roberto Fonseca)
- Interlude Piano Silence Sound (Roberto Fonseca)
- Te Extraño (M.C.A) (Roberto Fonseca)
Tour Dates
Nov 20 – Scene National, Niort, France – SOLD OUT
Nov 21 – Théâtre national, Orléans, France – LAST TICKETS
Dec 15 – You & The Night & The Music, Salle Pleyel, France
Dec 20 – Duc des Lombards, Paris, France
Jan 30 – Jazz Plaza, Havana, Cuba
Feb 08 – Le Châtelet fait son jazz, Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France
Feb 11 – Novoměstská Radnice, Prague, CZ (TBA)
Feb 13 – Moods, Zurich, CH (TBA)
Mar 21 – Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans, France