Gonzalo Rubalcaba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gonzalo Rubalcaba
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Rubalcaba at the Miami International Film Festival in 2015
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | May 27, 1963 Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | Jazz, Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, jazz fusion, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Associated acts |
|
Gonzalo Rubalcaba is a famous Cuban jazz pianist and composer. He was born on May 27, 1963. He is known for his amazing piano skills and for creating beautiful music.
Contents
Growing Up with Music
Gonzalo Rubalcaba was born in Havana, Cuba. His full name is Gonzalo Julio González Fonseca. He grew up in a family where everyone loved music! His father, Guillermo Rubalcaba, and his grandfather, Jacobo Rubalcaba, were also musicians. Gonzalo decided to use his great-grandmother's last name, Rubalcaba, for his music career, just like his father and grandfather did.
His Musical Journey
Early Tours and Bands
Gonzalo started his musical journey early. In 1983, he traveled to France and Africa with a group called Orquesta Aragón. A couple of years later, in 1985, he started his very own band called Grupo Proyecto.
Making Music: Albums and Collaborations
Gonzalo Rubalcaba has released many albums as a leader and with other musicians. He has worked with many famous jazz artists. These include Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Charlie Haden. He has created a lot of different kinds of jazz music.
Albums as a Leader
Here are some of the albums where Gonzalo was the main artist:
- Mi Gran Pasion (1987)
- Live in Havana (1989)
- Discovery: Live at Montreux (1990)
- The Blessing (1991)
- Images (1992)
- Suite 4 Y 20 (1993)
- Diz (1993)
- Rapsodia (1994)
- Imagine: Live in America (1994)
- Flying Colors (1997)
- Antiguo (1998)
- Inner Voyage (1999)
- Supernova (2001)
- Paseo (2004)
- Solo (2005)
- Avatar (2008)
- Faith (2010)
- XXI Century (2011)
- Suite Caminos (2015)
- Tokyo Adagio with Charlie Haden (2015)
- Charlie (2015)
- Skyline with Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette (2021)
- Borrowed Roses (2023)
Albums as a Sideman
Gonzalo has also played on albums with other artists:
- With Ignacio Berroa: Codes (2006)
- With Ron Carter: Mr. Bow-tie (1995)
- With Juan Luis Guerra: Bachata Rosa (1990)
- With Chick Corea: Rendezvous in New York (2003)
- With Dave Holland: The Monterey Quartet: Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (2009)
- With Al Di Meola: Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody (2011), Flesh on Flesh (2022)
- With Richard Galliano: Love Day (2008)
- With Charlie Haden: The Montreal Tapes: with Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Paul Motian (1997), Nocturne (2001), Land of the Sun (2004)
- With Katia Labèque: Shape of My Heart (2009)
- With Pat Martino: Think Tank
Awards and Recognition
Gonzalo Rubalcaba has won many important awards for his music. These awards show how talented he is as a musician and composer.
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are very famous awards for music. Gonzalo has been nominated many times and has won several Grammys!
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Rapsodia | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group | Nominated |
| 1997 | "Agua de Beber" | Best Jazz Instrumental Solo | Nominated |
| 2000 | Antiguo | Best Latin Jazz Album | Nominated |
| 2002 | Supernova | Best Latin Jazz Album | Nominated |
| 2002 | Nocturne (as producer) | Best Latin Jazz Album | Won |
| 2002 | "Oren" | Best Instrumental Composition | Nominated |
| 2005 | Land of the Sun (as producer) | Best Latin Jazz Album | Won |
| 2016 | Suite Caminos | Best Latin Jazz Album | Nominated |
| 2021 | Viento y Tiempo - Live at Blue Note Tokyo | Best Latin Jazz Album | Nominated |
| 2022 | Skyline | Best Jazz Instrumental Album | Won |
Billboard Music Awards
The Billboard Music Awards celebrate popular music.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Supernova | Latin Jazz Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2007 | Solo | Latin Jazz Album of the Year | Nominated |
Latin Grammy Awards
The Latin Grammy Awards are for music made in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. Gonzalo has won several of these too!
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Supernova | Best Latin Jazz Album | Won |
| 2005 | Paseo | Best Instrumental Album | Nominated |
| 2006 | Solo | Best Latin Jazz Album | Won |
| 2008 | Avatar | Best Instrumental Album | Nominated |
| 2022 | Live in Marciac | Best Tropical Traditional Album | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Gonzalo Rubalcaba para niños
