“Gorgeous melodies, far-flung harmonies and rampant
polyrhythms…Applying ultra-modern jazz sensibilities and a
virtuosic vocabulary to the classical and vernacular genres he
mastered as a child prodigy in Havana, Rubalcaba is on a mission to
fix Afro-Cuban music where it belongs, among the most prominent
constellations in the sky.”
–Howard Mandel (Liner notes, Super Nova)
Blending
the traditions and innovations of American and Cuban jazz,
41-year-old pianist/composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba has consistently
validated the promise of his prodigious youth, from his “discovery”
by Dizzy Gillespie to his collaborations with Charlie Haden to his
highly acclaimed recordings and performances with his own bands. As
the JVC Festival reigns in Manhattan in late June, Rubalcaba presents
a very special two-night show of solo piano at Jazz Standard, June
27-28, followed by 4 more nights with his touring Trio (June 29-July
2).
In
Havana, Rubalcaba was literally born into the traditions of
Afro-Cuban music. His father Guilhermos helped introduce the
cha-cha-cha and still leads Charanga Rubalcaba; his grandfather
composed "El Cadete," the well-known processional that the
grandson included on his Grammy-winning Blue Note recording,
Supernova. Young Gonzalo Rubalcaba studied piano from
age eight, and for the next twelve years he continued his studies of
the American, European, Russian, and Hispanic classical traditions at
Havana’s famed Amadeo Roldan Conservatory, while also playing and
absorbing the indigenous themes and rhythms of Havana. In 1983, he
toured France and Africa with Orquesta Aragon, and two years later
formed his own band, Grupo Proyecto and came to the attention of
Dizzy Gillespie. In 1986, Rubalcaba played with Charlie Haden and
Paul Motian at the Havana Jazz Festival, beginning a long
relationship with Haden that led to appearances at international
festivals, including Montreal and Montreux, and several recorded
collaborations, including the highly acclaimed, Grammy-winning
Nocturne (2001,Verve) and the newly released Land of the
Sun (2004, Verve), a tribute to Mexican composer, Jose Sabre
Marroquin.
A contract with
Blue Note introduced Rubalcaba to American audiences with such early
gems as Discovery: Live at Montreux, The Blessing
(1991), and his tribute to his early mentor, Diz (1994), all
recorded in Canada due to barriers at the time preventing Cuban
artists from traveling in the U.S. After
intensive lobbying by the National Endowment for the Arts and Wynton
Marsalis, among others, he was one of the first Cubans
"unblocked" by the U.S. State Department. Following
a well-received performance at Lincoln Center in 1993, Rubalcaba
emigrated to the Dominican Republic and moved to Florida in 1996.
Blue Note celebrated his American studio debut with Imagine
(1995), and three years later released an all-Cuban quartet outing
(Antiguo) and a duet recording with Joe Lovano, Flying
Colors. The highly acclaimed Cuban trio recording, Supernova,
followed in 2001.
Known for his
technical virtuosity, multi-layered improvisations, and original
compositions that draw upon his global influences, Gonzalo
Rubalcaba’s 2005 release, Paseo, explores Cuban traditional
melodies and rhythms in the modern jazz vernacular. Relying entirely
on original compositions, Paseo revisits some works from his
earlier Blue Note recordings, Rapsodia (1992) and Antiguo
(1998). And now Rubalcaba has released his ninth recording for Blue
Note, Solo.
Joining Gonzalo
for the final four nights of his Jazz Standard residency will be
masterful young bassist Matt Brewer and drum titan Jeff “Tain”
Watts, who recently formed the rhythm section for Greg Osby’s
acclaimed Channel 3. Very busy with a list of young artists in
New York, Brewer has also played with Dan Gottlieb,
Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, and Bobby Watson. Watts is
one of the leading drummers of his generation, a lynchpin in Branford
Marsalis’ quartet.
Those lucky
enough to attend the solo and/or trio sessions with Gonzalo Rubalcaba
can eagerly anticipate “a tour of his world,
a space in jazz unlike any other" (Boston Herald), “…an
absolute clinic in ebony and ivory gymnastics" (Oakland
Tribune). Noted the Los Angeles Times, "More than
almost any pianist since the passing of Bill Evans, [Rubalcaba] truly
has the capacity to make his instrument sing.”
Gonzalo
Rubalcaba will perform solo piano June 27-28; he will appear with his
trio June 29-July 2. The Jazz Standard is located at 116 E. 27th
Street in Manhattan; tickets and information at www.jazzstandard.com.
Great dining as well as great music!
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Thursday, 08 January 2009
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