Rubén González Pianists – Artists

One of the great Cuban pianists: together with Lilí Martínez and Peruchín, Rubén González forged the style of modern Cuban piano in the 1940s. Late in life he became world famous with the Buena Vista Social Club.

About

Rubén González Fontanills (Santa Clara, 26 May 1919 – Havana, 8 December 2003) started the piano at seven and graduated from the Cienfuegos conservatory at fifteen. He studied medicine for four years, but chose music after all. Together with Lilí Martínez and Peruchín he is said to have forged the style of modern Cuban piano in the 1940s.

  • Arsenio Rodríguez (1943–1945): he replaced Adolfo "Panacea" O'Reilly in Arsenio's conjunto. Arsenio told him: "just play your own style, whatever it is, but don't imitate anyone." Lilí Martínez came after him.
  • Pioneer of son piano: the early sextetos and septetos had no piano. It came in the late 1930s with the first conjuntos: Arsenio Rodríguez's, Alberto Ruiz's Conjunto Kubavana and Conjunto Casino. González played in the first two.
  • Havana and Venezuela: at the Tropicana (1948 to the mid-1950s), on tour in Venezuela with the charanga Orquesta América del 55, and from 1957 to 1962 in Venezuela itself.
  • Enrique Jorrín (1962–1987): for 25 years he was the pianist of the orchestra of Enrique Jorrín, the creator of the cha-cha-chá. After Jorrín's death he briefly led the orchestra and then retired.
  • Buena Vista (1996): in March 1996 he played on all the sessions at the EGREM studios in Havana. They produced A toda Cuba le gusta (Afro-Cuban All Stars), Buena Vista Social Club and his solo album Introducing… Rubén González, recorded live in two days. Wim Wenders' film (1998) made him famous worldwide.

Style

Besides son, González knew the danzón deeply. His improvisations have harmonic subtleties; his style has been called "romantic and angular", with strong lyricism and swirling arpeggios. Like Peruchín he was influenced by the jazz of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. That makes him one of the grandfathers of Afro-Cuban jazz. Eddie Palmieri is among the pianists he influenced.

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