MAS Presents: Germán López

MAS Presents is honored to welcome acclaimed Canarian musician Germán López, one of the foremost players of the timple, the small five-string instrument native to the Canary Islands, for a rare Denver performance. Born in Gran Canaria, López began performing publicly at a young age and has since dedicated his career to expanding the possibilities of the timple while remaining deeply connected to the musical traditions from which it emerged. His music moves fluidly between folk, jazz, Latin, and contemporary influences, creating performances that feel both rooted in place and open to the wider world. There is a warmth and immediacy to López’s playing that makes even unfamiliar musical traditions feel welcoming. Whether performing intimate solo passages or expansive ensemble works, he approaches the timple not simply as a folk instrument, but as a living and evolving voice capable of extraordinary nuance, virtuosity, and emotional depth. Over the years, López has brought his music to audiences across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, performing at venues including Lincoln Center and SFJAZZ and collaborating with internationally renowned artists such as Richard Bona, Paquito D’Rivera, Lila Downs, and Aymée Nuviola. His Grammy-nominated album Alma further expanded his global reach while remaining deeply connected to the cultural traditions of the Canary Islands. At the center of López’s work is a spirit of cultural conversation — music that honors ancestry while embracing curiosity, movement, and exchange. His performances invite listeners into a sound world that feels at once intimate, expansive, and profoundly human.   RIYL: Paco de Lucía, Richard Bona, world folk traditions, Mediterranean acoustic music, Latin jazz, acoustic instrumental virtuosity, global roots music