Learn more


ROBERTO
FONSECA
Biography
Cuban
music
is
currently
thriving;
musicians
from
all
over
the
island
are
performing
on
the
world’s
most
famous
stages,
and
pianists
are
undoubtedly
the
stars
of
the
multi‐faceted
Cuban
musical
scene.
A
golden
generation
of
renowned
virtuosos,
displaying
incredible
technical
talents,
have
captivated
and
charmed
us.
However
in
the
last
decade
no
one
has,
until
now,
emerged
who
brings
together
virtuosity
with
technique
while
playing
music
that
is
imbued
with
such
passion.
As
his
unique,
instrumental
voice
stirs
the
emotions,
he
leads
us
through
different
landscapes,
constantly
entering
and
exiting
the
island,
with
no
destination
necessary.
Born
in
1975
(Havana)
into
a
musical
family,
Roberto
Fonseca
has
been
described
in
many
different
ways
(“The most promising and important talent in Cuban music”,
“A true revelation who stands out among pianists of his generation”)
and
he
remains
faithful
to
the
wish
he
has
had
since
the
beginning
of
his
career:
“I want my music to reach people who don’t know me, and I dream of one day becoming a point of reference for my audience…” Roberto
started
studying
piano
at
the
age
of
8,
though
his
initial
passion
was
percussion.
This
interest
from
such
an
early
age
would
clearly
influence
his
trademark
“percussive”
piano‐playing
style.
His
first
“job”
was
as
the
drummer
for
a
band
doing
covers
of
Beatles
songs
“We used to listen to Beatles music on the radio, with my mother, I played the drums as though I were one of them, I loved it”. At
the
age
of
14,
he
began
composing
his
first
compositions,
drawing
inspiration
from
the
Afro‐Cuban
genre, “At school we used to regard American jazz as a point of reference; I felt that my music would be a fusion of both genres … I liked lots of jazz musicians, such as Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, but also old American funk and soul classics”.
His
appearance
as
a
pianist,
aged
just
15,
was
a
revelation
at
Havana’s
International
Jazz
Festival;
he
completed
his
academic
training
as
both
pianist
and
teacher.
After
this,
his
desire
to
improve
and
learn
further
led
him
to
take
a
degree
in
Musical
Composition
at
Havana’s
Instituto Superior de Arte.
At
the
age
of
21,
guided
by
the
need
to
fuse
his
music
with
other
styles,
he
embarked
on
a
tour
across
Italy
with
singer
Augusto
Enriquez,
which
included
performances
on
the
state
TV
channel,
RAI,
“It was musically different, and made me realise even more that I always needed to search for my own path” A
year
later
he
crossed
paths
with
the
saxophonist
Javier
Zalba
(Irakere,
Cubanismo),
with
whom
he
formed
the
group
Temperamento.
This
was
the
beginning
of
a
15‐year
journey
that
would
include
the
recordings
‘Zamazu’
(2007)
and
‘Akokan’
(2009).
In
a
year
of
intense
creativity,
he
recorded
and
produced
his
first
album
with
Temperamento
‘En el comienzo’
(1998),
which
won
the
award
for
Best
Jazz
Album
at
the
Cubadisco
1999
festival;
he
co‐
www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial
produced,
arranged
and
played
on
Augusto
Enriquez’s
album,
‘Cuando yo sea grande’,
and
recorded
his
first
solo
album
‘Tiene que ver’
which
was
released
in
1999,
receiving
an
award
in
the
popular
Cuban
music
category
of
the
Trimalca
competition,
organised
by
UNESCO
.
His
second
solo
work
was
quickly
released,
and
in
2000
he
presented
‘No Limit’, recorded
and
produced
by
Roberto
for
Japanese
record
label
JVC.
The
same
year
he
composed
the
soundtrack
for
the
film
‘Black’,
by
French
director
P.
Maraval,
and
produced
the
record
‘Un montón de cosas’
for
the
Hip‐Hop
group
Obsesión.
“Those two years were really intense; I needed to express all the creativity that was inside me; I didn’t really know where it was all driving me to, because each idea I had led to a thousand others.” Roberto’s
life
changed
with
the
start
of
the
21st
Century,
not
only
because
he
released
his
third
album,
‘Elengo’, but
also
because
his
career
took
an
unexpected
turn.
“I went to the EGREM studios to record Angá Díaz’s album, invited by him, and when I got there I saw many people who were legends to me …, Rubén González, Cachaíto López, Guajiro Mirabal…… in two months my whole life changed” Shortly
afterwards,
he
was
invited
to
be
support
pianist
for
the
great
maestro
Rubén
González,
as
part
of
the
renowned
Orquesta
de
Ibrahim
Ferrer
and that
same
year
he
joined
the
management
company
Montuno.
“Wow, sharing the stage every night with Rubén González was a real dream; I’d just stay there hours, watching him play”.
A
dream
that
toured
all
over
the
world,
with
over
400
concerts,
promoting
Ibrahim
Ferrer’s
records
next
to
great
legends
such
as
Cachaíto
López,
Guajiro
Mirabal
and
Manuel
Galbán,
among
others.
Playing
at
the
most
prestigious
venues,
such
as
Frankfurt
Alter
Oper
(Frankfurt),
Palais
des
Congrès
(Paris),
Albert
Hall
(London),
Beacon
Theatre
(New
York),
Sydney
Opera
House
(Australia),
etc.
Not
a
single
review
of
Ibrahim’s
concerts,
from
South
America
to
Asia,
would
fail
to
mention
Fonseca’s
talent
and
his
magnetic
stage
presence.
Omara
Portuondo,
passionate
about
his
style,
invited
him
to
join
her
on
tour,
one
of
the
dates
was
the
Tokyo
Jazz
Festival
in
2002,
where
he
shared
the
stage
with
Herbie
Hancock,
Michael
Brecker
and
Wayne
Shorter:
“I couldn’t believe it, when Herbie Hancock himself called me to play with him, I did not sleep that night!!” After
such
a
period
of
intense
work,
touring
round
the
world,
working
on
different
recordings,
Roberto
realised
that
his
own
music
was
maturing.
He
dug
deep
and
began
to
compose
the
tracks
that
would
form
album
‘Zamazu’,
the
result
of
the
integration
of
all
his
influences;
Afro‐Cuban
music,
jazz,
classical
music
and
traditional
Cuban
music.
By
mid
2004
Ibrahim
Ferrer
embarked
on
a
project
that
would
be
the
climax
of
his
artistic
career,
a
record
and
a
tour
of
his
treasured
boleros, which
celebrated
the
singer’s
love
for
the
genre.
His
close
relationship
with
Roberto
and
the
trust
he
placed
in
his
musical
abilities
led
to
Roberto
taking
part
in
the
first
recordings.
He
arranged
and
co‐produced
the
work
in
the
EGREM
studios
in
www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial
November
of
that
same
year,
producing
over
10
songs
in
January
2005,
as
well
as
assuming
the
role
of
director
of
the
world
tour
“Mi
sueño:
A
Bolero
Songbook
Tour
2005”.
Ibrahim
Ferrer
used
to
say
“This ‘muchacho’, despite having a jazz background, gets me and respects my music, and ‐ boy, can the kid play…!” After
two
exciting
tours
with
this
project,
August
2005
was
a
time
of
great
pain
for
Roberto
when
Ibrahim
Ferrer
passed
away.
This
became
the
driving
force
behind
the
desire
to
finish
his
own
album
‘Zamazu’,
and
he
did
so
in
6
months.
He
invited
in
Alê
Siqueira,
one
of
Brazil’s
major
music
producers,
creator
of
great
projects
such
as
Tribalistas,
Flor
de
Amor
(Omara
Portuondo),
Infinito
Particular
(Marisa
Monte),
etc.
He
travelled
to
Bahia
for
the
pre‐production
stage
at
Carlinhos
Brown’s
studio,
and
added
the
finishing
touches
to
all
the
collaborations
on
the
album,
including
Brazilian
percussion.
A
date
was
fixed
for
the
album’s
recording
‐
January
2006
‐
as
well
as
a
place
–
Havana.
And
so,
in
barely
5
days
in
January,
Roberto
recorded
hours
of
music,
a
creative
output
reminiscent
of
the
classic
jazz
sessions.
Several
musicians
were
included
in
the
line‐up
for
this
fabulous
album
and
several
collaborations
closed
the
3‐year
creative
cycle;
Carlinhos
Brown,
Cachaíto
López,
Omara
Portuondo,
Vicente
Amigo,
Toninho
Ferragutti,
and
friends
such
as
Javier
Zalba,
Omar
González,
Ramsés
Rodríguez
and
a
further
twenty
or
so
musicians
were
involved.
All
were
witnesses
to
a
Roberto
Fonseca
seeking
to
connect
the
most
sensitive
touch
on
the
piano
to
the
melody
and
forces
of
rhythms
that
amalgamate
the
principal
musical
cultures
of
America,
Brazil
and
Cuba
with
those
of
the
African
continent.
Compositions
of
a
beauty
that
touches
the
sublime,
with
lyrics
of
imagination
that
inform
the
aesthetics
of
the
album,
a
place
where
virtuosity
submits
to
emotion.
Later
that
year,
he
produced
the
Japanese
singer
Asa
Feeston’s
album
and
collaborated
as
a
musician
on
other
albums,
such
as
the
Brazilian
percussion
group
Timbalada.
Together
with
Nick
Gold
from
the
World
Circuit
record
label,
he
co‐produced
what
would
have
been
Ibrahim
Ferrer
next
album,
one
that
he
he
recorded
just
before
passing
away.
It
was
released
in
2007
under
the
name
of
‘Mi
Sueño’
(My
Dream).
This
album
was
nominated
at
the
Latin
Grammy
Awards
2007
for
Best
Traditional
Tropical
Album.
In
the
month
of
July,
during
the
summer
festivals
in
Europe,
he
shared
the
stage
with
Bebo
and
Chucho
Valdés
at
Jazz
in
Marciac
and
composed
the
song
“Latin in Marciac”
which
the
Festival
used
for
the
opening
and
closing
of
its
main
concerts.
He
also
discovered
that
his
music
can
create
new
possibilities:
meeting
fashion
designer
Agnès
B
was
the
start
of
a
relationship
of
mutual
admiration.
Their
rapport
first
emerged
when
Roberto
began
wearing
her
creations
for
all
his
performances,
and
took
shape
when
Roberto
played
live
for
the
Agnès
B
fashion
show
in
Paris
in
July
2006.
February
2007
saw
the
launch
of
his
album
‘Zamazu’
which
has
received
great
reviews
worldwide.
He
has
toured
and
presented
the
album
at
some
of
the
most
prestigious
festivals
worldwide,
such
as
Montreal
Jazz
(Canada)
and
Umbria
Jazz
(Italy)
amongst
others,
and
the
public
was
left
spellbound
by
www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial
his
incredible
talent.
‘Zamazu’
has
been
a
tremendous
success
and
has
shown
that
Roberto
is
a
composer
who
has
a
unique
style
and
an
unmistakeable
way
of
playing.
2008
was
a
year
full
of
work
and
experiences
that
inspired
Roberto’s
new
compositions,
one
being
Columbia
Pictures
choosing
the
track
‘Llegó
Cachaito’
from
the
‘Zamazu’
album
for
the
Will
Smith
film
‘Hancock’.
And
he
also
played
on
Omara
Portuondo
‘Gracias’
album,
this
recording
was
awarded
the
Latin
Grammy
for
Best
Contemporary
Tropical
Album.
Each
situation,
person
and
culture
from
the
countries
that
he
has
visited
have
been
a
source
of
inspiration.
Roberto
is
very
thankful
for
what
he
has
received
and
he
dedicated
his
new
album
to
all
the
people
that
have
welcomed
him
with
open
arms.
His
following
album
“Akokan’
means
heart
in
Yoruba.
What
was
most
difficult
was
choosing
the
tracks
to
include
on
this
album.
“All the music that I compose is a part of me, and having to choose has been really difficult…”
On
‘Akokan’
(2009)
Roberto
wanted
to
bring
the
magic,
strength
and
improvisation
from
a
live
show
into
the
studio.
With
a
quartet
formation
and
accompanied
by
his
band,
the
one
that
he
has
been
playing
with
during
those
last
12
years,
and
being
the
record’s
producer,
Roberto
encouraged
creativity
and
chemistry
amongst
the
musicians.
On
‘Akokan’
one
finds
a
pure
Roberto
Fonseca.
There
are
also
two
very
special
collaborations
from
artists
that
Roberto
admires,
artists
that
have
very
different
styles:
Mayra
Andrade,
the
Cape
Verdean
singer
who
wrote
the
words
and
sings
on
‘Siete
potencias’,
and
Raul
Midon,
the
American
guitarist,
wrote
‘Second
Chance’.
On
this
track
Roberto
did
the
arrangements
and
Raul
accompanied
him
on
guitar.
In
comparison
to
‘Zamazu’,
on
this
album
the
piano
is
the
true
protagonist
with
some
incredible
piano
solos
and
a
different
way
of
playing,
one
enriched
by
many
experiences
and
the
desire
for
us
to
feel
his
passion
for
life
and
music
as
the
driving
force
of
each
piece.
Again,
this
album
was
well
received
by
the
international
press.
At
the
beginning
of
2009,
the
‘Zamazu’
score‐book
was
released
and
Roberto
embarked
on
a
short
tour
in
Australia
and
New
Zealand,
with
a
date
at
the
prestigious
Sydney
Opera
House.
After
‘Akokan’
international
release,
Roberto
embarked
on
the
album’s
promotional
tour.
Supported
by
the
same
quartet
that
recorded
the
album,
they
played
at
some
of
the
most
important
festivals
and
venues
in
Europe.
For
the
first
time
in
a
number
of
years,
Roberto
returned
to
the
USA
in
early
2010
to
promote
the
album’s
North
American
release
and
he
also
supported
the
legendary
Cuban
singer
Omara
Portuondo.
In
June
2010,
the
Cuban
director
Jorge
Fuentes
presented
‘Temperamento’,
a
documentary
on
the
band
that
Roberto
and
the
saxophonist
Javier
Zalba
formed.
It
shows
some
historical
moments
of
the
group
and
at
the
premiere
of
the
documentary
in
Havana
over
thousand
people
attended
and
the
band
also
played
live.
Roberto
also
co‐produced
‘Havana
Cultura’
a
new
project
with
the
British
DJ
Gilles
Peterson.
This
album
brings
together
the
best
of
a
new
generation
of
Cuban
musicians
on
a
double
album
representing
the
up
and
coming
musical
talents
from
Afro
Jazz
to
Hip
Hop,
Funk,
reggaeton
and
R&B.
www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial
During
the
summer
of
2010,
this
project
went
on
the
road
and
performed
at
various
festivals
in
Europe.
The
Times
of
London
gave
the
show
a
four
star
review.
In
Autumn
2010,
a
special
‘Live
at
Marciac’
CD‐DVD
was
released
internationally.
The
recording
took
place
in
August
2009,
during
Roberto’s
sixth
performance
at
the
French
jazz
festival,
and
clearly
shows
the
dynamic
musical
dialogue
between
Roberto
and
his
musicians.
During
the
past
months
Roberto’s
touring
schedule
has
taken
him
to
South
Africa,
Paris,
Brazil
and
Colombia,
and
when
not
on
the
road
he
has
been
working
on
latest
album,
‘YO’,
which
will
be
one
of
his
most
daring
album
to
date.
With
recording
sessions
in
Paris
and
Havana,
on
this
recording
Roberto
explores
new
sounds
and
dimensions
blending
traditional
acoustic
instruments
with
elements
of
electronica.
‘YO’
pays
homage
to
Cuba
and
it’s
African
roots
whilst
bringing
it
bang
up
to
date.
Again
Roberto
works
with
Gilles
Peterson
as
well
as
other
producers
from
around
the
globe.
This
album
will
be
released
in
the
Spring
2012
and
will
be
accompanied
by
a
European
tour.
www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial
PRESS
QUOTES
“…His latest collection of originals features his knockout touring band and guest vocalists, but remains steeped in the razor‐sharp rhythms and sultry emotions of Cuban musical tradition.” The
Financial
Times
“…it’s a heartbeat for contemporary Afro‐Cuban life.” The
Times
“…His piano playing is muscular and quicksilver, percussively rhythmic and floating melodic.”
London
Evening
Standard
“…From that point it became very clear that this band was anything but predictable, and their set was absolutely, wonderfully gripping.”
The
Arts
Desk
“A fabulously gifted pianist, composer and band leader... a gift for melody that outshines more celebrated peers...one of a new breed who can transcend musical boundaries through sheer quality”
The
Guardian
www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial
“A genre‐busting tour de force… the lyricism of his playing recalls Herbie Hancock but he can animate the courtly dramas of Cuban tradition... a joyous poignant offering”
The
Observer
“The man has soul” The
Sunday
Times
“Thrilling energy” Uncut
“Rather special, even by Cuban standards”
The
Guardian
“An elegant line and an unhurried feel for time and space. Fonseca is a star.”
The
Independent
On
Sunday
“Sensuous, fresh, modern ‐ Roberto Fonseca brings the piano dazzlingly to life” The
Daily
Telegraph
“Mesmerising. A joy”
Straight
No
Chaser
DISCOGRAPHY “En el Comienzo” TEMPERAMENTO ‐ 1998 (Egrem) “Tiene Que Ver” ROBERTO FONSECA – 1999 (Egrem) “No Limit” ROBERTO FONSECA – 2000 (JVC Japan) “Elengo” ROBERTO FONSECA – 2001 (Egrem) “Zamazu” ROBERTO FONSECA – 2007 (Enja Records) “Akokan” ROBERTO FONSECA – 2009 (Enja Records) “Live at Marciac” ROBERTO FONSECA – 2010 (Enja Records) COLLABORATIONS “Cuando Yo Sea Grande” – Augusto Enriquez – 1998 (Egrem) “Black” ‐ P. Marabal ‐ Soundtrack (2000) “Cachaíto” – Orlando Cachaito López – 2001(World Circuit Records) “Felicidad” – Asa Feeston – 2002 Inter Records Co Ltd “Buenos Hermanos” – Ibrahim Ferrer – 2003 (World Circuit Records) “Guajiro Mirabal” – Guajiro Mirabal – 2004 (World Circuit Records) “Flor de Amor” – Omara Portuondo – 2004 (World Circuit Records) www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial
“Angá Echumingua” – Angá Díaz – 2005 (World Circuit Records) “Javier Zalba” – Javier Zalba – 2006 (Colibri) “Alegria Original” – Timbalada – 2006 (Candyall Music) “Ibrahim Ferrer” – Mi sueño ‐ 2007 (World Circuit Records) “Absolument Latino”song Zamazamazu ‐ 2007 “Gracias” – Omara Portuondo – 2008 (Montuno / Harmonia Mundi) “Omara & Maria Bethânia” – 2008 (Biscoito Fino) “Etxea” – Kepa Junkera – 2008 (Warner Music Spain) RECORD PRODUCTIONS “Un montón de Cosas” – OBSESION – 1999 (Egrem) “Mathew Stoneman” – Matthew Stoneman – 2006 “Sharing2” – ASA FEESTON – 2006 (Gate Records Inc) “Perla” – ASA FEESTON – 2006 (Gate Records Inc) Co‐Producer “Ibrahim Ferrer” – Mi Sueño ‐ 2007 (World Circuit Records) “Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura” – 2010 (Brownswood Recordings) www.robertofonseca.com
http://www.facebook.com/RobertoFonsecaOfficial