Gonzalo RUBALCABA - Images (Live at Mt. Fuji) 1991

Gonzalo RUBALCABA - Images (Live at Mt. Fuji) 1991

Jazz

The high-powered yet sensitive Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba teams up with the brilliant, strangely underrated bassist John Patitucci (who sticks to acoustic bass) and drummer Jack DeJohnette on this superior live set from the 1991 Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival. The repertoire is wide-ranging, with originals from each of the musicians, John Lennon's "Imagine," a powerhouse version of "Autumn Leaves," and "Giant Steps." A particularly strong effort from Rubalcaba, who by the early '90s had emerged as one of the top pianists in jazz.
By Scott Yanow. AMG.
**
As a composer and arranger of standards (mostly tangos nuevos), I got pleasurable cold shivers and goose pimples as I listened to Autumn Leaves- one of my favorite Jazz standards. Gonzalo Rubalcaba has an incredible capacity in breaking chords and an unbelievably fast brain. This CD is definitely one of my favorite Jazz records. ...and if Rubalcaba ever reads my tiny review: quisiera que sepas que sos EL MAGO DEL EBANO Y DEL AVORIO! Suerte ché! Si hubiera la posibilidad añadaría dos estrellas más en la valutación!
By Motty Levi.
**
Gonzalo Rubalcaba- (Piano),
John Patitucci- (Bass),
Jack DeJohnette- (Drums).
**
01. No Name 6:12
02. Imagine 7:23
03. Autumn Leaves 9:57
04. Peace And Quiet Time 7:58
05. Gaby 4:56
06. Joao 7:21
07. Ebony 9:08
08. Giant Steps 9:58
09. Mima 3:09
**
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Gonzalo RUBALCABA - The Blessing 1991

Gonzalo RUBALCABA - The Blessing 1991

Jazz

This was the first of Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba's recordings to appear in the United States, and it's a stunning introduction to his work. He's more than ably supported by Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette, with Haden's fundamentalist approach to the bass acting as a secure anchor to Rubalcaba's frequent flights of virtuosity and DeJohnette's polyrhythmic approach. With his deep roots in the rhythmic language of Cuban music, Rubalcaba brings a subtle and complex pulse to even his most reflective moments at the keyboard. He's also rooted in some of the more adventurous paths that jazz took in the 1960s, as that stellar rhythm section would suggest. It shows in the original approaches that he finds to Coltrane's "Giant Steps," Bill Evans's "Blue in Green," and Ornette Coleman's "The Blessing."
By Stuart Broomer. AMG.
**
Jack DeJohnette- (Drums),
Charlie Haden- (Bass),
Gonzalo Rubalcaba- (Piano).
**
01. Circuito 5:31
02. Sandino 4:57
03. Besame Mucho 7:43
04. Giant Steps 5:26
05. Sin Remedio,El Mar. 4:25
06. Silver Hollow 6:43
07. The Blessing 7:00
08. Blue In Green 6:50
09. Sinpunto Y Contracopa 5:06
10. Mima 3:07
**
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Gonzalo RUBALCABA - The Trio 1998

Gonzalo RUBALCABA - The Trio 1998

Jazz

Take a remarkable journey into the heart of jazz as premiere Afro-Cuban artist Gonzalo Rubalcaba brings together a percussionist trio as adept at bebop classics as they are at contemporary hits. Drawing largely from the classic catalog of bebop favorites, the trio offers a variety of familiar standards before launching into a playful jazz number that truly shows off their Afro-Cuban roots.
By Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide.
**
Gonzalo Rubalcaba- (Piano)
Brian Bromberg- (Bass)
Dennis Chambers- (Drums)
**
01. Maiden Voyage  (10:04)
02. Caravan  (10:29)
03. On Green Dolphin Street  (08:05)
04. Hot House  (09:23)
05. Yesterdays  (09:21)
06. Woody 'n' You  (13:33)
07. Manha De Carnaval (Black Orpheus)  (08:03)
**
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Gonzalo RUBALCABA - Discovery, Live at Montreaux 1991

Gonzalo RUBALCABA - Discovery, Live at Montreaux  1991  

Jazz    

One of the most exciting major-label debuts during the 1990s was Gonzalo Rubalcaba's Discovery, a trio date at the 1990 Montreux Jazz Festival with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian. Haden had discovered the young pianist during an appearance in Cuba several years earlier and was surprised at his level of development considering his extremely limited access to hearing jazz greats on record or in person. Rubalcaba's spellbinding take of Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't" only begins to hint at his virtuosity; in an up-tempo setting he segues from bop into Latin with flashes of the avant-garde in a breathtaking performance. The young man also contributed the lovely ballad "Velas," the alternately intense and playful piano solo "Prologo Comienzo," as well as a captivating tribute to his young son, "Joao." Both Haden and Motian provide strong support for Rubalcaba, who didn't just rest on the laurels of this highly recommended CD but followed up with several more top-notch CDs for Blue Note during the remainder of the decade.
By Ken Dryden.AMG.
**
It's hard to believe that this CD was released in 1991, as I listen to it now (2004) it seems like I just brought it yesterday. Thats how you know that you have a brillant piece of music. Almost 14 years old and you can still find something fresh about this amazing performance. In my opinion it is one of the best piano performances of all time, and mind you this is a trio date with the great charlie haden and paul motian who are icons in the field of jazz, but Mr. Rubalacaba could have been playing with Ben&Jerry and you would still walk away shaking your head at his total command of the Piano. The cuban pianist(Rubalcaba, Valdes etc...) bring a fresh and exciting rhythmic concept to the piano that really exposes it as a percussion instrument. This is a must hear for any piano enthusiast, jazz or classical.
By  Daryl Johnson.
**
Gonzalo Rubalcaba- Piano
Charlie Haden- Bass
Paul Motion- Drums
**
01. Well You Needn't (Live) 8:46  
02. Velas (Live) 6:10  
03. Prologo Comienzo (Live) 5:11  
04. First Song (Live) 9:41  
05. Once Around The Park (Live) 5:46  
06. Joao (Live) 6:50  
07. All The Things You Are (Live) 11:38
**
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Gonzalo RUBALCABA Trio - Diz 1993

Gonzalo RUBALCABA Trio - Diz  1993

Jazz

Although one might assume that having the title of Diz means that this set would be a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, only four of the nine selections were actually associated with the great trumpeter; the other numbers range from Bird and Bud Powell to Benny Golson and Charles Mingus ("Smooch"). Gonzalo Rubalcaba makes each of the jazz standards his own by reharmonizing the chord structures, playing in his own dense style and coming up with fresh new statements rather than just re-creating bebop. He is quite lyrical and somber on the ballads, makes "Donna Lee" unrecognizable, and (with the assistance of bassist Ron Carter and drummer Julio Barreto) modernizes all of the potential warhorses. This is a very interesting workout.
By Scott Yanow. AMG.
**
Gonzalo Rubalcaba- (Piano)
Ron Carter- (Bass)
Julio Barreto- (Drums)
**
01. Hot House Dameron 7:40
02. Woody 'N You Gillespie 6:57
03. I Remember Clifford Golson 4:47
04. Donna Lee Parker 4:25
05. Bouncing with Bud Powell 5:20
06. Smooch Mingus 5:59
07. Ah-Leu-Cha Parker 9:52
08. A Night in Tunisia Gillespie, Paparelli 4:51
09. Con Alma Gillespie 6:36
**
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