Jazz at HDM: Jazz Piano Solo I

Sir Simon Rattle called the Cuban Gonzalo Rubalcaba “the most gifted pianist on the planet.” In 1999, Rubalcaba—a multiple Grammy winner, pianist, and composer—was selected by Piano & Keyboard Magazine as one of the great pianists of the 20th century, alongside artists such as Glenn Gould, Martha Argerich, and Bill Evans. He has won three Grammys and four Latin Grammys and has been honored with numerous other awards, establishing him as a leading figure in the jazz world. Regarding his solo program, he writes: “Playing solo is a different journey than playing with a trio, quartet, or other ensemble. It is a great challenge, but it also offers many possibilities. What you can do with a piano is almost infinite. You have to find a way to make use of all these possibilities that present themselves, depending on what you want aesthetically and artistically in each moment. That requires being well-trained and knowing the instrument, the music, and yourself. If you don’t know yourself, you can’t continue to develop.”