Gonzalo Rubalcaba

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Gonzalo Rubalcaba (born May 27, 1963 in Havana, Cuba) is a Grammy Award-winning Cuban jazz pianist and composer.
One of the most important figures to emerge from Afro-Cuban jazz in the '90s, Gonzalo Rubalcaba is an extraordinarily versatile pianist able to blend disparate strands of Cuban and American jazz tradition into a fresh, modern whole. Born into a musical family in Havana on May 27, 1963, Rubalcaba began studying classical piano at age eight, honing his technique in that area for the next 12 years while playing around Havana by night. In 1983, he toured France and Africa with Cuba's longstanding Orquesta Aragon, and formed his own band, Grupo Proyecto, in 1985, the same year he was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie. In 1986, Rubalcaba played the Havana Jazz Festival with the American rhythm section of Charlie Haden and Paul Motian, and with Haden's support soon appeared at major international festivals like Montreal and Montreux.
Rubalcaba's early dates for Blue Note -- 1990's Discovery: Live at Montreux and the following year's The Blessing -- were instant classics, breaking him among American jazz audiences and showcasing his virtuosic technique and dense improvisations. Rubalcaba was finally able to play for American audiences beginning in 1993, including a star-making appearance at Lincoln Center, and soon emigrated from Cuba (though not to the U.S. right away; he eventually settled in South Florida in 1996). Rubalcaba recorded for several labels, including Blue Note, which was home to much of his best later work, including 1999's introspective Inner Voyage, 2001's Grammy-winning Supernova, 2004's Paseo, which offered new interpretations of old songs, and 2005's aptly named Solo. In 2002 Rubalcaba shared the title of Artist in Residence at the Montreal Jazz Festival with fellow pianist Chucho Valdés, and in 2003, as part of the Bele Bele Jazz Club series, issued Straight Ahead, re-releases of three separate recording sessions between 1986 and 1987. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Discography
Mi Gran Pasion (1987)
Live in Havana (1989)
Giraldilla (1990)
Discovery: Live at Montreux (1990)
The Blessing (1991)
Images: Live at Mt. Fuji (1991)
Suite 4 y 20 (1992)
Rapsodia (1992)
Imagine (1993)
Diz (1993)
Concatenacion (1995)
Flying Colors (1997) with Joe Lovano
Antiguo (1998)
Inner Voyage (1999)
Supernova (2001)
Inicio (2001)
Nocturne (2001) with Charlie Haden
Paseo (2004)
Land Of The Sun (2004) with Charlie Haden
Solo (2006)
Avatar (2008)
Appears on
Habana Vive (Tony Martinez)
Mafarefun (Tony Martinez)
Rendezvous in New York (Chick Corea)
Think Tank (Pat Martino)
Küba cazının 90’larda öne çıkan isimlerinden Gonzalo Rubalcaba, üstün piyano tekniği sayesinde Küba’nın farklı ritimlerini, Amerika’da şekillenen caz geleneğiyle modern bir şekilde birleştiriyor. Klasik piyano eğitimine Küba’da 8 yaşında başlayan Rubalcaba, 1985’te kendi kurduğu grubu Grupo Proyecto ile Dizzy Gillespie tarafından keşfedildi. Rubalcaba, ertesi yıl Havana Caz Festivali’nde, Charlie Haden ve Paul Motian’la sahne paylaştı. Sanatçı, Haden’in desteğiyle Montreal, Montreux gibi pek çok önemli festivalde yer aldı. 2001’de çıkardığı son albümü “Supernova” ile Grammy’ye aday olan Rubalcaba, dinleyenleri piyano tekniğindeki ustalığı ve kıvrak Latin doğaçlamalarıyla tanınıyor.

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This is a rare moment in music. Two of the greatest pianist of all time meet and play Chick´s most known tune: SPAIN. Incredible! Gonzalo has an amazing swing ( like Herbie Hancock, but on the Latin feel - He is superb! ), but Chick Corea is a Genius...his ways ( IMHO ), are too much deeper

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Autumn Leaves - Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio