It's amazing to think that Cuba, a country shackled by an antiquated social model, could produce a musician as thoroughly modern as jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Yet the island state has always been a tantalizing mixture of musical cultures, blending European forms with African rhythms and a host of native influences. Born in Havana and educated at the much-lauded Amadeo Roldan Conservatory, Rubalcaba was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie in 1985 and burst onto the international jazz scene just two years later thanks to his work with former Ornette Coleman bassist and jazz pioneer Charlie Haden. Since then, the Cuban pianist has released six critically acclaimed discs, including his latest, Supernova, which earned him a Latin Grammy for Best Jazz Album. Gifted with an astoundingly fluid technique and a talent for crafting compositions that are as richly colored as his cultural heritage, Rubalcaba continues to redefine the face of contemporary jazz.
