Alfredo Rodriguez Trio

Sunday, August 14, 2011 | Magnolia San Jose Rep Stage | 6pm

A young pianist of astonishing virtuosity and imagination, Cuban-born
Alfredo Rodríguez calls up images of legendary jazz pianists like Keith Jarrett, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans and his compatriot Chucho Valdés. Schooled in the rigorous classical conservatories of Havana, Rodríguez’s riveting artistry is informed as much by Bach and Stravinsky as by his Cuban and jazz roots.

Discovered at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2006 by Quincy Jones, Rodríguez’s star has risen rapidly. Since arriving in the US in 2009, Alfredo has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, the Detroit, Newport, San Francisco, North Sea, Umbria and Vienna jazz festivals, as well as in important jazz rooms such as Ronnie Scott’s, Sculler’s, Yoshi’s, Jazz Standard, The Blue Note and Jazz Alley. Alongside Latin piano legends Michel Camilo and Eddie Palmieri, he performed on Larry Rosen’s record-breaking JAZZ ROOTS series. Alfredo’s first album Sounds of Space, featuring original material and produced by Quincy Jones, will be released worldwide on Jones’ Qwest Records in Fall 2011.

San Jose Jazz' audience were given a preview of Rodriguez and his trio at this year's Winter Fest, when The Mercury News' Richard Scheinin noted "what was impressive was the ease of the playing, everything diamond-hard and precise, without giving up the soulfulness." Rodriguez' trio features two stellar players who emerged from the Puerto Rican Jazz scene. Drummer Henry Cole has played with such Latin jazz luminaries as Giovanni Hidalgo, Bobby Valentin, Anthony Carrillo, Dave Valentin, and Paoli Mejias. Award-winning bassist Ricardo Rodríguez (no relation) played in Puerto Rico with many of the giants of Latin jazz, including Ray Barretto and Chuchito Valdez. After moving to New York in 2004, he's been recognized as a hot new talent, performing with David Sanchez and Miguel Zenón and recording with Branford Marsalis and Joe Locke.

alfredomusic.com
myspace.com/alfredorodriguezmusic

Photo Credit: Chuck Gee