Cuban born vocalist Estrella Acosta is an accomplished and versatile singer-songwriter. Though she never stopped singing the folk songs of her motherland, she is equally at home embracing various Brazilian and jazz idioms. With her warm earthy voice she creates an energetic yet intimate and personal style, rooted in the sounds of her native Cuba.
She has left a travel footprint that truly makes her a citizen of the world. After completing a degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, she set out to pursue her musical dreams in a journey that took her to Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, New York City and, finally, Amsterdam, where she now resides.
Estrella has recorded six albums for the label eStar which have won international acclaim. Her debut album of original music was 'Navegando de la Habana a Rio' (1996), followed by 'Alma Guajira - Cuban Country Songs' (2003), nominated for a Dutch 'Edison' award. Her third and fourth albums featuring her Latin jazz quintet were 'Esquina 25' (2013) and 'Mujeres de Luna - Songs by Cuban Women Composers' (2017), with the Pavadita String Quartet and guests Orlando 'Maraca' Valle and Horacio 'El Negro' Hernández. In August 2020 she released 'Noche Cubana', a return to her traditional Cuban roots, with Carlitos Irarragorri on tres. 'Tierra’ (2023), her new album, features songs by female songwriters from the countryside of Cuba as well as her own compositions. This album has been nominated for a Latin GRAMMY® 2023.
Estrella has been a featured artist in several more albums. She was invited to bandoneon-player Carel Kraayenhof's project ‘Memorias de Cuba’, which included a CD recording for Universal Records and live concerts at a.o. Amsterdam's Concertgebouw with the Metropole Orchestra.
In 2015 she sang with an all star cast in a bilingual children's album produced by Ben Gundersheimer (a.k.a. Mister G) called 'Los Animales'. This album won a Latin GRAMMY.
Her festival appearances include the North Sea Jazz Festival, Curaçao Jazz Festival, Madison World Music Festival, World Music Chicago, and the Small Music Festival and Sunfest in Canada.
Estrella has performed with many great musicians, including Toninho Horta, Craig Handy, Edy Martinez, Ernestine Stoop, Leo Amuedo, and Jovino Santos Neto. In the Netherlands, she fronts ’Esquina 25’, a band of top international musicians who participate throughout the years in her various projects.
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Bio Nederlands
Bio Spanish
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