So many wonderful Cuban musicians are performing in Seattle in the next few months, I've started to refer to it as the "Cuban Invasion," and I'm excited to be introducing you to their music on Jazz Caliente.
Let's start with the pianist known affectionately in Havana as "Robertito": Roberto Fonseca. He's at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley Monday April 16 and Tuesday April 17.
Roberto made his debut at the Havana's Jazz Plaza Festival at age 15. He says he's glad he grew up in 1980s Havana, and in a home that provided a diverse musical environment, including a mother who was a singer and dancer, a drummer father, and brothers who played a wide variety of instruments and styles.
Robertito was inspired by the music of his heritage as well as the jazz greats; specifically Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett and Ray Bryant. He toured the world with the Buena Vista Social Club and learned much from those seasoned masters of authentic Cuban music.
His latest album ABUC (that's Cuba spelled backwards), is wild journey through today's Cuba, where the past is never far behind and the future looks and sounds incredibly exciting. Fonseca and crew celebrate the "now" with joyous abandon.
This week on Saturday Jazz Caliente, we'll hear a selection from Roberto Fonseca's 2006 album Zamazu.
Watch this space in coming weeks for more information about Seattle's Cuban Invasion by the likes of Daymé Arocena, Jesus Alemañy's Cubanismo, Pedrito Martinez, Kiki Valera's La Serenata Cubana, and Dayramir Gonzalez.
Jazz Caliente airs Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. The show is hosted by Robin Lloyd and produced by KNKX Public Radio.
