Musician and composer Yoel Diaz was born in Holguin, Cuba. After studying percussion, he taught himself piano and composition. In 1996, Diaz became musical director for Alfredo Morales' Chiquitin. The following year, he moved to Montréal, and soon found himself serving as opening act for the likes of Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri or Ray Barreto. Te llegó, his first album of original material, was released in 2003. Desde mi casa hasta La Habana came out three years later. A popular player, Diaz has collaborated with a host of artists, including Carlos Placeres, Alex Bellegarde, Lorraine Klaasen, the brothers Diouf and Luc De Larochellière. Encuentros came out in 2011, followed by Origen a year later.