Performer Notes

Personnel: Alfredo Rodriguez (piano).
Audio Mixers: Dave Way; Cristi n Robles; Humberto Gatica.
Recording information: Downtown Studios, New York, NY; Westlake Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Photographer: Anna Webber.
In 2006, the extraordinarily inventive, globally conscious Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez was selected to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival -- where he was invited to a gathering at the home of the festival's founder/director Claude Nobs, who asked him if he would play for Quincy Jones. Smitten ever since with the young virtuoso, Q not only calls him "one of the most prolific and gifted jazz pianists of the 21st century," but also developed Rodriguez's career and co-produced his rhythmically eclectic debut. Sounds of Space, whose sci-fi title reflects the dynamic personal adventure the pianist embarks on, launches with the multi-movement "Qbafrica," a swirl of hypnotic percussion, plucky bass, and colorful swatches of piano that draw from everything from Brazilian and African to Afro-Cuban and avant-garde jazz. This spirit of cultural unity finds its grounding in the much less frenetic, but still passionate ballad "Sue¤o de Paseo," a stroll through Havana featuring Ernesto Vega's lyrical soprano sax. Sometimes, titles are cleverly deceiving, as "Silence" is all boom and pluck, driven by throbbing basslines, bouncy percussion, and dark jumpy piano chordings and the title track is less esoteric than driving and hypnotic, with an insistent Latin groove under a whimsical, often spinning sax-piano duality. Another favorite is the frenetic joymaker "Cu-Bop," which celebrates Bud Powell and, for Rodriguez, reflects "how Bob would have sounded in Cuba if he had been born there." This is the kind of multi-cultural fusion that runs thematically through the set, although there are dramatic, off-the-point excursions such as "April," which is a self-contained ambient piano duet that blends jazz and classical tones in an unforgettable way. "Crossing the Border" is a frenetic recounting of a harrowing experience Rodriguez had when he first came to America -- and it's exciting that he found such powerfully percussive ways to express his gratitude for his shot at jazz stardom in the U.S. Jones' good instincts are the Latin jazz world's new good fortune. ~ Jonathan Widran

Fishpond works with suppliers all over the world to bring you a huge selection of products, really great prices, and delivery included on over 25 million products that we sell. We do our best every day to make Fishpond an awesome place for customers to shop and get what they want — all at the best prices online.

About Fishpond

You can earn a 8% commission by selling Sounds Of Space on your website. It's easy to get started - we will give you example code. After you're set-up, your website can earn you money while you work, play or even sleep! You should start right now!

Are you the Author or Publisher of a book? Or the manufacturer of one of the millions of products that we sell. You can improve sales and grow your revenue by submitting additional information on this title. The better the information we have about a product, the more we will sell!

Submit Information

Album: Sounds Of Space
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Qbafrica	More Info...	0:05
2)	Sueno De Paseo	More Info...	0:04
3)	Silence	More Info...	0:05
4)	Cu-bop	More Info...	0:04
5)	April	More Info...	0:06
6)	Oxygen	More Info...	0:05
7)	Sounds of Space	More Info...	0:04
8)	Crossing the Border	More Info...	0:06
9)	...Y Bailaria La Negra? (A Ernesto Lecuona)	More Info...	0:07
10)	Transculturation	More Info...	0:04
11)	Fog	More Info...	0:05

Album: Sounds Of Space
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Qbafrica	More Info...	0:05
2)	Sueno De Paseo	More Info...	0:04
3)	Silence	More Info...	0:05
4)	Cu-bop	More Info...	0:04
5)	April	More Info...	0:06
6)	Oxygen	More Info...	0:05
7)	Sounds of Space	More Info...	0:04
8)	Crossing the Border	More Info...	0:06
9)	...Y Bailaria La Negra? (A Ernesto Lecuona)	More Info...	0:07
10)	Transculturation	More Info...	0:04
11)	Fog	More Info...	0:05