Alfredo Rodríguez Pianists – Artists

A Cuban pianist with a distinctly Afro-Cuban style, in the line of Peruchín and Lilí Martínez. Alfredo Rodríguez played for twenty years in the Latin bands of New York and then found his own voice in Paris.

About

Alfredo Rodríguez was born on 25 October 1936 in Vedado, Havana, and studied at the Eduardo Peyrellade conservatory. His career as a musician only began in New York, where he moved in 1960. In 1961 Arsenio Rodríguez advised him to become a musician.

  • New York and Miami (1960–1982): he played in dozens of groups, among them Conjunto Sensación (debut on Swing, 1965), Joe Cuba, José Fajardo and Charanga 76. As a sideman he recorded with Justo Betancourt, Ismael Rivera, La Lupe and Celia Cruz. In 1980 he stood in with Tito Puente's Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble.
  • Paris (from 1982): with percussionist Carlos "Patato" Valdés he stayed in Paris and started his own group.
  • Back in Havana: in 1995 he recorded the first album of Cubanismo, Jesús Alemañy's big band, in Havana. It was his first time in Cuba since 1960. In 1996 he recorded Cuba linda there, his most acclaimed album.
  • Last years: with his group Acerekó (with Tata Güines and Changuito) he recorded Cuban Jazz. His last project was the Africando album Ketukuba. He died in Paris on 3 October 2005.

Style

Rodríguez was considered a disciple of Peruchín, a good friend of his, and admired Lilí Martínez, Arsenio Rodríguez's pianist. Like them he was also influenced by classical composers such as Debussy and Rachmaninoff. He never had commercial success, but critics and Latin jazz fans always praised his work.

Albums as leader

Sonido sólido (1983) · Monsieur oh la la (1985) · Cuba-New York-Paris (live, 1991) · Para Yoya (1993) · Cuba linda (1997) · Cuban Jazz (2002) · Oye Afra (2007)

📝 Sources