Born in Cuba and now based in Paris, Irving Acao is a saxophonist whose music radiates a jazz deeply informed both by Afro‑Cuban traditions and by the great voices of modern jazz, from John Coltrane to Charlie Parker. Spotted at an early age in his home country, he was chosen as the tenor saxophonist of the legendary band Irakere, a Grammy‑winning institution and cornerstone of Latin jazz, before fully entering the circuit of major international stages.

His powerful, intensely committed playing – often likened to that of Coltrane, a connection notably highlighted in a Blue Note feature that underlines the depth of his sound and his spiritual quest – has led him to share the stage with major figures such as Chucho Valdés, Roy Hargrove, Mike Stern, Ibrahim Maalouf, Michel Camilo, Danilo Pérez, McCoy Tyner, Changuito, Ivan Lins, Ray Lema, and Giovanni Hidalgo.

Based in France since the early 2000s, Irving Acao has multiplied collaborations across Europe, Latin America, and beyond, performing at leading festivals and venues and becoming one of the most in‑demand saxophonists on today’s jazz and Afro‑Cuban scene.

As a composer and arranger, he develops his own projects (quartet, quintet) while putting his saxophone at the service of ensembles such as El Comité, where he weaves together contemporary jazz with Cuban, African, Brazilian, fusion, and pop influences. Between Cuban heritage, the demands of modern jazz, and an openness to all forms of music, Irving Acao continues to pursue a resolutely international path, driven by a single obsession: making the saxophone a vehicle for emotion and freedom on stage.