Jazz Articles about Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Avatar

by Luis T. Martinez
June 6, 2008

Having matured and no longer needing to prove his chops to others or himself, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba has turned his attention to ensembling and orchestration, and in no other work is this more evident than Avatar. Only after multiple listens does it become clear how the compositions are driving the improvisations and not the other way around, and how the Cuban-born pianist/composer manages a wonderful balance between freedom, interpretation, and restraint, between composition, orchestration, and the soloing of his band ...

Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Avatar

by J Hunter
May 8, 2008

Listening to Avatar--pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba's first release since 2006--is kind of like eating unshelled lobster: It takes hard work and a will of iron to get to the meat. And while that meat may be succulent to some, the taste may not be for everybody.

The problem originates with the “shell" that surrounds most of the seven tunes on Avatar. Rubalcaba gets some terrific performances from his quintet, and does his usual stellar job at the piano. Unfortunately, there was ...

Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Avatar

by Jay Deshpande
March 8, 2008

Although his sound is as blazing and inspiring as ever, Gonzalo Rubalcaba's new album may mark something of a departure. Recorded at the famed New York studio of the same name, Avatar provides listeners with a unique melting pot of songs and styles, while also implying new freedom and possibility for the renowned Cuban pianist. Only one of the seven tunes on this album is a Rubalcaba original, but the majority are written by his bandmates. The virtuosic turn that ...

Ithamara Koorax: Brazilian Butterfly

by Chris M. Slawecki
February 12, 2007

Except for two ballads--the cosmopolitan “Carinhoso with her Brazilian jazz fusion compatriots Azymuth, and Herbie Hancock's title track--Ithamara Koorax's ninth album is her most adventurous release. It seems constructed to honor legendary Brazilian vocalist Flora Purim and her husband/bandleader/percussionist Airto. This Brazilian Butterfly soars and flutters while multiple percussionists (often as many as four on the same song, most often led by the late and legendary Dom Um Romão, with Koorax frequently flailing away among them) knit together, pull apart, ...

Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Solo

by AAJ Italy Staff
April 20, 2006

Quest'ultima incisione in solitudine di Gonzalo Rubalcaba è complementare a quella precedente (Paseo), pervasa dai caldi, trascinanti colori del latin jazz. I due CD possono essere elevati a simbolo delle cifra stilistica del pianista cubano, oscillante da sempre tra un approccio adamantino allo strumento e la ricerca di una espressività muscolare ed astratta. Rispetto all'adesione distesa nei confronti della forma-canzone, è proprio l'incedere sghembo ed informale a lasciare il segno più incisivo nelle quindici tracce di quest'ultimo disco, interamente caratterizzato ...

Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Solo

by David Miller
March 11, 2006

In recent recordings, Gonzalo Rubalcaba has reined in his considerable chops to pursue a more introspective direction, and Solo is a natural step in this direction. As the title hints, the recording finds Rubalcaba alone at his piano, ruminating. In this setting the pianist is more introspective than ever, frequently using silence as his means of expression. The only problem is, it doesn't necessarily work. Rubalcaba has always worn his Afro-Cuban influences on his sleeves. This album ...

Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Solo

by Mark Corroto
March 6, 2006

The metamorphosis of Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba has taken a gifted player from a fiery caterwauler to a nimble, introspective musician. His early recordings were fueled by youthful enthusiasm and the encouragement of the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette. Like his musical compatriot, the French phenom Jackie Terrasson, he has talent on loan from the jazz gods.

Twenty years later and now in his early forties, Rubalcaba reveals a more introspective side, one he ...