Grammy winner Gonzalo Rubalcaba tears it up at Jazz Alley

Cuban jazz virtuoso Gonzalo Rubalcaba does things on the piano that nobody else can. He’s been referred to by other musicians as “one of the fiercest” and “freaky [in a good way.” The only other way to describe him and his crazy piano playing is to go to any gig he’s at and watch him fly. The Gonzalo Rubalcaba Quintet (Yosvany Terry-reeds, Michael Rodriguez-trumpet, Matt Brewer-bass, and Marcus Gilmore-drums) will head this way to a series of Jazz Alley sets, March 25-28, $24.50 cover.

Born and raised with the richness of Cuban culture in 1963, and surrounded by an insanely gifted musical family and friends of, Rubalcaba crafted his love for country with the jazz artists that would come in and out of his life—whether they visited his father at home or whether he listened to them on the radio and record player. Names like Frank Emilio, Peruchin, Felipe Dulzaides, Thelonius Monk, Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey unknowingly helped shape this musician – he was gifted in both drums and piano, but chose the later to focus on while training in classical music – until he was ready to show the world his own, intense, textured, wild and free chops.

With a few significant, prominent festivals and recordings under his belt, Rubalcaba began to develop his signature style, only further nurtured and recognized by Blue Note Records through 11 albums, a Latin Grammy for “Supernova” (“Jazz Album of the Year”), eight Grammy noms, a 2001 SFJAZZ Leaders Circle Laureate Award, a 2002 Artist in Residence at Montreal Jazz Festival (with Chucho Valdez), and endless possibilities.

For more info on the Jazz Alley gig, call (206) 441-9729, or visit 2033 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121.