CUBAN pianist, composer and band leader Roberto Fonseca will play York Theatre Royal on Wednesday, direct from performing with his band at the Barbican in London and on the Sage stage at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival.

He will make no distinction between concerts, whatever the size of hall.

“For me, there is no contrast, because a concert is not dependent on the venue. It’s dependent on the music,” says Roberto, on the phone from a Paris hotel earlier this week.

“It can be really huge or small, or it can be the most famous hall in the world, that doesn’t matter. The thing that’s more important is the spirit of the music. We try our best, even in the street.

“The people who are there, wherever we’re playing, they just want to listen to the music, which is an international language.”

Roberto, who cut his teeth as a Buena Vista Social Club prodigy, now leads the new generation of Cuban musicians, and on his new album, Yo, he takes that status further as he brings together 15 singers and musicians from Algeria, Senegal and other African nations to create an Afro-Cuban sound.

The likes of Baba Sissoko, Sekou Kouyate, Fatoumata Diawara, Faudel Amil and Assane Mboup feature on a record that blends traditional acoustic instruments with electronica and Fonseca’s Latin jazz.

“It was my agent who made everything possible,” says a grateful Roberto. “The most beautiful thing about working with them all was that even though we didn’t know each other from before, the music made us a really tight family.

“Making this music, it was like I was reborn, as this album was something I wanted to do from a long time ago. It was a really spiritual album to record and it’s like it’s the start of a new era.”

The album was recorded in Paris, where it was easiest to assemble the assorted African musicians.

“The most important thing was the atmosphere and the spirit, rather than worrying about the songs,” says Roberto.

“When we got to the studio, I let the musicians play and listened to all the ideas they brought with them, as my intention was to get the ambience and make more spontaneous recordings.”

The willingness to experiment, the encouragement to be creative, took him back to his fledgling days in the Buena Vista Social Club.

“For me, working with Ibrahim Ferrer, Cachaito Lopez and Guajiro Mirabal was so influential,” says Roberto. “They believed in me and taught me the real flavour of Cuban music.

“On this new album, you will feel this atmosphere but in my own way because I really learned how traditional music, but at the same time I’m a guy who likes to break rules.”

Roberto has always felt drawn to the music of Africa.

“Africa is amazing. They have so much music, you need a century to hear it all,” he says. “It’s incredible how many styles they have, but you need to live with them to realise why they each play like that.”

He travelled to South Africa for the first time in January.

“For me, man, I was really excited as I was going to the land of my roots. I was going to the land where everything started,” he says. “When I was about to set off, I said the first thing I’d do was kiss the ground on landing, and that was a really emotional moment.”

Roberto’s cherished wish is to make an album in Africa, not in one country but around the continent, with various African musicians. “It will happen,” he says, half in prayer. “But first I have to prepare for that, and I will be open to any kind of African musician to play with.”

• J-Night presents Roberto Fonseca at York Theatre Royal on Wednesday at 7.30pm, supported by Ayanna. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk