Reminder: TONIGHT in San Francisco!

Don’t forget! Alfredo live in SF tonight at Yoshis San Francisco.
http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/1089

Alfredo Live in San Francisco

To Learn More, Click HERE And To Purchase Tickets, Click HERE

Tonight At The Highline Ballroom!

Join us tonight in New York for a special show at the Highline Ballroom. Performances by The Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Jon Batiste Band, Francisco Mela’s Cuban Safari, and McCoy Tyner Trio with Special Guest Gary Bartz. Doors at 6:00 PM and show at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $25.00. To view more information on this event, please click here.

To purchase tickets, please click here.

Highline Ballroom
431 W 16th St New York, NY 10011 
between 9th and 10th Ave 
(212) 414-5994

Join Us!

We’re thrilled to announce that on January 26th 2010, Alfredo will be performing at Yoshi’s in San Francisco. Doors open at 8:00 PM. You can buy tickets here. To view details on this upcoming performance, click here. 

Alfredo’s Performance At “Bienvenido Gustavo”

Photo Credit: Lawrence K. Ho, Los Angeles Times / October 3

Alfredo performed to a crowd of 18,000 Angelenos at the Hollywood Bowl for “Bienvenido Gustavo” on Saturday, October 3rd. Mentor Quincy Jones introduced Alfredo as the first performance of the evening. Alfredo performed ‘Crossing The Border,’ and ‘Mazurca en Glissando.’ The event also featured special performances by Herbie Hancock (with the Los Angeles County High School for the Jazz Arts Band), David Hidalgo & Taj Mahal (with Los Cenzontles), Andrae Crouch, and Flea (with the Silverlake Music Conservatory). At the later half of the night, the Expo Center Youth Orchestra performed “Ode To Joy” with Gustavo Dudamel conducting. Finally, Gustavo conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra as they performed an exhilarating rendition of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. To read more, click HERE.

Alfredo in the Los Angeles Times

Photo Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times published a 2-page article about Alfredo on the front page of yesterday’s (Saturday’s) Calendar section! To read the article, click HERE An excerpt from the article is below:

“Now, Rodriguez’s grace under pressure and talent for finding emotional truth in the split-second fall of a piano key has brought him to the verge of an improbable success story. The musician, who turns 24 on Wednesday, will be performing today at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the “¡Bienvenido Gustavo!” concert celebrating Gustavo Dudamel’s arrival as the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new music director…[Alfredo] is recording a debut album with Quincy Jones, the Grammy Award-winning composer, producer and musician who discovered Rodriguez at the Montreux Jazz Festival and has become his mentor, teacher and, Rodriguez says, “like a new father” to him… Since moving stateside, Rodriguez has been receiving loud ovations and praise from fellow professionals at such venues as the Monterey and Playboy jazz festivals. Jones says that when he first heard Rodriguez play three years ago “it knocked me on my booty, man!”…Some Los Angeles musical insiders, including Josh Groban and Alan and Marilyn Bergman, got a preview of Rodriguez’s talents during a showcase a couple of months ago at the Vibrato Grill Jazz. In his brief set, Rodriguez demonstrated his elegant yet explosive technique and command of an array of musical idioms.”— Reed Johnson ⋅ October 3, 2009

Mercury News Reviews Alfredo’s Monterey Performance

Mercury News”>

Photo Credit: Stuart Brinin Photography

“Young Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez sounds the way Monk might have sounded if he had been born in Chick Corea’s body and raised on a diet of Bach Chopin and Stravinsky in a Havana conservatory.” -Mercury News

Alfredo’s Monterey Jazz Festival Review by Jazz Observer

“It’s not easy to silence the outdoor Garden Stage crowd, but a hush fell over the ground within minutes, and for the next hour the quiet was broken only by enthusiastic applause… and the occasional airplane.” - The Jazz Observer

Review of Alfredo @ Monterey Jazz Festival

“Young Cuban pianist Rodriguez, playing on the Garden Stage in late afternoon, served notice that he is an emerging rising star worthy of note.

His expressive face mirroring his moves on the piano, alternately grimacing, laughing, eyes closed, talking to himself, Rodriguez enthralled a capacity crowd with his prodigious talent.

And for a player with a reputation as a frenetic performer Rodriguez displayed a often-delicate touch, especially on a gorgeous version of the jazz classic “Body & Soul.”
-The Monterey County Herald

Review from Alfredo’s 2009 DJF Show

Check out the review of Alfredo’s recent appearance at the Detroit Jazz Festival on JazzPolice.com by clicking here.

An excerpt from the review follows:

“Alfredo Rodriguez, for me (and I suspect many others) the most pleasant surprise of the festival…Unlike any Cuban pianist I have heard, Rodriguez—the only artist I saw at the festival to perform solo– seemed more a melding of Bill Evans, Kenny Werner, Fred Hersch, even touches of Thelonious Monk in conception if not execution, hints here and there of his Cuban heritage… if Chopin had spent time in Havana. His rendition of “Body and Soul” was the most stirring keyboard version I can remember, and he arranged the unlikely nursery rhyme, “Frère Jacques,” as if always intended to be a beautiful jazz ballad. Technical brilliance tempered by touch and eloquent voicings, never bombastic, Alfredo Rodriguez hopefully will soon be playing in a club near you… and me.”

Review of Alfredo at the Detroit Jazz Fest

Check out the review of Alfredo’s recent appearance at the Detroit Jazz Festival on MLive.com by clicking HERE.

An excerpt from the review follows:

“When Alfredo Rodriguez ended his solo piano set Sunday afternoon at the Detroit Jazz Fest, many in the audience were pretty sure they had just witnessed genius in bloom…

This is how good he is. After jolting the audience at the beginning of his show, by the end we were leaning in, cocking our ears so as not to miss a note. As he played a quiet stanza, noise bled from a nearby stage, and we were reminded that, oh yeah, there’s a jazz festival going on. Alfredo had sucked us in to his world.”

Photo Credit: Michael Pitt

Alfredo @ The Detroit Jazz Festival 9/6/09

This Sunday, September 6th, please join us as Alfredo performs at the legendary Detroit Jazz Festival! Admission is free. For more information, visit: http://www.detroitjazzfest.com/

Review of Alfredo’s 8/10/09 Show at Vibrato

Don Heckman, a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, has written a review of Alfredo’s recent show at Vibrato. An excerpt of the article follows:

“It’s hard, in fact, to think of a jazz pianist since Art Tatum so capable of reaching across the complete range of the instrument’s expressive potential. In one tune, his crisp bebop lines recalled Bill Evans’ early playing on the George Russell mid-fifties Jazz Workshop album Other pieces suggested the melodic inventiveness of Keith Jarrett. And still others displayed a nascent style of his own, contrasting angular, leaping passages and thick harmonic clusters with sudden, unexpected arcs of lyricism.”

To read the full review, click HERE

Join Us!

Review of Alfredo’s New York Debut

A review of Alfredo’s New York Debut at the Jazz Standard has appeared in All About Jazz. The writer, Giovanni Russonello, wrote a wonderfully detailed description of Alfredo’s performance. An excerpt from the piece follows:

“The trio caught its stride—on a tune centered on stumbling. And stumble it did, but in just the right way. Drummer Dafnis Prieto began the Rodriguez composition “Oxygeno,” cast in halting 7/8 time, with a show-stopping solo that brought listeners to their feet. He found a groove, and Rodriguez and Flores fell in. Afterward, the pianist explained the idea behind “Oxygeno” as the synergy he feels between living—breathing, in this case—and music. “I try to make my music sound as if it has life, you know?” he said. “It’s called ‘Oxygeno,’ and it’s about that—it’s about respiration.” Each measure contains an even four beats (breathing easy) then a jerky three (gasping).

In his solo, Rodriguez varied his entrance points, and explored the different spots within a measure where a line might peak or truncate. Prieto dropped a savvy string of bombs on the bass drum as Rodriguez tumbled forward. After this song, an old abuela in the front row came to the side of the stage and whispered something in Rodriguez’ ear. Only the two of them know what she said, but it was clear she’d drawn a bit of invigorating oxygen from the vital music.”

To read the full article click HERE.

Quincy Jones Presents: Alfredo’s New York Debut

Alfredo Performs @ Bienvenido Gustavo!

Alfredo is performing at the FREE concert, Bienvenido Gustavo!

Gustavo Dudamel’s inaugural season as Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic kicks off on Saturday, October 3 at the Hollywood Bowl with ¡Bienvenido Gustavo!, a Target Free Community Concert. This unprecedented event celebrates the arrival of Gustavo Dudamel, the talented, young Venezuelan conductor, to his new home, the city of Los Angeles.

The first half of this free community event features young local ensembles, rising stars and established names who have served as role models for the next generation of musicians in their communities. The evening culminates with Gustavo leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, plus fireworks!

4pm – 8:30pm
-Andrae Crouch with an all-ages gospel choir
-Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) with the Silverlake Conservatory Ensemble
-Herbie Hancock with the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Band
-David Hidalgo and Taj Mahal with Los Cenzontles
-Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez
-YOLA – EXPO Center Youth Orchestra, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel (BEETHOVEN Ode to Joy)
-Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel (BEETHOVEN Symphony No.9)
-Plus Fireworks!

For tickets and more information, please visit/click: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/bienvenido/bienvenido.cfm

Limited Time! Ticket Specials @ Newport Jazz Fest

4th of July Special Fan Offer
$20 Discount on Fort Adams General Admission Tickets

Don’t miss Alfredo Rodriguez on August 9th at George Wein’s Jazz Festival 55 — Celebrating 55 years of jazz at Newport, RI, a tradition started by George Wein, who founded the first American jazz festival in Newport in 1954.

The celebration continues with a special 4th of July ticket offer to fans: 
$49 General Admission single-day tickets for Fort Adams State Park events on Saturday and Sunday, August 8 & 9 (tickets regularly $69). This limited time offer expires July 17, and can be redeemed only online with special discount code: JULY4. Limit of 4 tickets per promo code.

To take advantage of this offer, or for more information, visit:

http://www.jazzfestival55.com/pr_artist-fan-0704.html

Playboy Jazz Festival

There are quite a few reviews of Alfredo’s performance on Sunday that have appeared on the web over the past couple of days, but Alfredo was particularly humbled by the words of Don Heckman, a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times. Heckman, on his blog wrote:

“Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, discovered by Quincy Jones, is an astonishing talent. At 23, he revealed the same sort of technical virtuosity that has been present in other jazz pianists trained within the arts structures of socialist societies. But what he has done with that technique is uniquely his own. Performing a set of mostly original material, he called up images of a youthful Art Tatum, leavened with an off-center, Thelonious Monk point of view, spiced with the surging rhythmic passions of his homeland. Rodriguez’s version of “Body and Soul” can only be described as memorable – a brilliant rediscovery of a piece that seemed, long ago, to have given up all its riches.”

Thank You

“It was an absolute honor to play at The Playboy Jazz Festival tonight-one of the most important and prestigious jazz festivals in the country. Thank you again to Darlene Chan, Hugh Hefner, Quincy Jones, Nathan East and Francisco Mela.”

For those of you who missed tonight’s performance, make sure to check out Alfredo at Vibrato Grill Jazz here in Los Angeles, on August 12^th. Check out the details on Alfredo’s show page.

Alfredo featured in LA Times, La Opinion, Gibson News

This Sunday, Alfredo will make his debut public performance since defecting from Cuba less than 5 months ago at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the  31st Annual Playboy Jazz Festival. The show starts at 2pm, and Alfredo’s set will begin at 3pm — immediately preceding one of his most important mentors and influencers — Wayne Shorter.  We’re thrilled  to share that The Los Angeles Times, La Opinion and Gibson News have reported on Alfredo and his  performance this Sunday. Below are some excerpts from what the articles said about Alfredo.

In the June 9th 2009 issue of La Opinion, Alfredo got a pretty special testimonial in the story titled, “Padrino para debut-Alfredo Rodríguez llega al Playboy Jazz festival bajo ala de Quincy Jones” (by Martha Sarabia of La Opinion) :

“I saw (Alfredo Rodriguez) for the first time in Switzerland when he was 20 years old, three years ago. I couldn’t believe he was playing as well as he was. And you never forget when somebody plays that well. He is very special and I do not say that easily because been I have been surrounded by the best musicians in the world my entire life and he is one of the best.”  — Quincy Jones

On June 8th 2009, in the article titled, “Cuban Piano Prodigy Takes U.S. by Storm,” Gabriel J. Hernandez of Gibson News reported:

“Cuban piano sensation Alfredo Rodriguez had a feeling he could find success playing music in the United States. He just didn’t think it would happen so fast.”

In the  article, “Playboy Jazz Festival plays to wide audience,” in the June 10th 2009 issue of The Los Angeles Times, writer Christ Barton noted:

Part of the fun of a festival like Playboy is a sense of discovery, and amid all the familiar faces on this weekend’s bill is Alfredo Rodríguez, a 23-year-old Cuban pianist who defected in January and will make his U.S. festival debut Sunday. Discovered by über-producer Quincy Jones at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 2006, Rodríguez wowed a SXSW crowd with a brief performance earlier this year…Rodríguez feels honored to be playing what he views as one of the biggest, most important jazz festivals in the country. When asked who he’s most looking forward to seeing, Rodríguez doesn’t hesitate.

Alfredo in the News

Today, we’re very excited to announce that Reuters picked up an article on Alfredo. In the article by Gail Mitchell of Billboard, Alfredo talks about his partnership with Quincy, his musical roots and his upcoming performance at the 31st Playboy Jazz Festival. After 5 months of living in the States, Alfredo has had the special opportunity of developing his musical career with Quincy Jones.  The Reuters article mentions:

“Rodriguez will appear June 14 at the Playboy festival at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, joined by Nathan East on bass and fellow Cuban Francisco Mela on drums. Between recording and negotiating a label deal for his debut album, Rodriguez is slated to perform at other jazz festivals this summer, including Monterey and Newport.”

To view the article, click here.

Alfredo Performs at AMPAS Tribute to The Bergmans

Alfredo had the honor of performing with Patti Austin at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences Tribute to Alan and Marilyn Bergman at the Samuel Goldwin Theatre, hosted by Quincy Jones. Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman have developed a vast an prolific career in the music industry as songwriters, lyricists, composers and authors. The Bergmans have written many famous songs including “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?“, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” and “Windmills of Your Mind.” Alfredo had the honor of being introduced by Quincy Jones as he accompanied the legendary singer, Patti Austin. The duo performed a piece from The Bergmans collection of work, titled, “The Girl Who Used To Be Me.”

Alfredo In NYC

We are thrilled to announce that Alfredo is taking his first trip to New York City! Alfredo will have the pleasure of visiting the legendary Village Vanguard and Jazz Standard to see The Barry Harris Trio and Chris Potter’s Underground-two artists that Alfredo looks up to very much. Alfredo is visiting New York City to play at The First Annual Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium this Wednesday.

Update: Additional Performances Added!

We’re excited to report that Alfredo will be performing more this year! You can view the new dates here, or by simply clicking the “Shows” link above this page. The dates include performances at The Playboy Jazz Festival, The Newport Jazz Festival, The Detroit Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz Festival and The San Francisco Jazz Festival. We look forward to seeing you there!

SXSW Recap: Reviews

During the Playboy Jazz Festival press conference, Alfredo was fortunate enough to receive wondeful reviews from the press. After having performed at Quincy Jones’s keynote address at SXSW and at the Elephant Room, Alfredo has been warmly received by SXSW-goers too. In “My SXSW Experience: Day 2 (Music Publishing & Quincy Jones) Creative Loafing’s“, Creative Loafing commented on Alfredo as a “former Cuban national, now defected and a bad ass piano player.” Prefix Mag was there to report on Alfredo’s performance in “SXSW MIssive: Day 2“. ”Rodriguez himself played an impassioned, stunning arrangement on the waiting Steinway grand. A great way to start the afternoon!” Savvant Music was there to see Alfredo perform at both the SXSW Keynote address and the Elephant Room. Savvant Music announced: “Get ready for it, because Quincy Jones has a new protégé, Alfredo Rodriguez – a pianist so intense, so beautiful and so emotive you never, ever want the music to stop.” We were humbled by Anny’s words from Savvant Music, who commented on Alfredo’s Elephant Room performance as:

“amazing improvisational skills and beautiful artistic soul. Part of Rodriguez’ genius is his ability to be so playful and simple interspersed with moments of exquisite emotional intensity.  He takes a melody and weaves it in and out of harmony and discord while maintaining the pure integrity of the melody and the feel of the song.”

At the end of Alfredo’s encore performance at The Elephant Room, Quincy Jones stood up to say some very inspirational words about Alfredo: “this young man makes me even happier than I already am to be alive” and finally adding “This is what music is about.” Alfredo was also kindly referenced (out of the hundreds of artists that could have been mentioned) by The New York Times, in their SXSW article. Stay tuned for more!

Capitol Studios Recording Session with Q

Last week, two remarkable things took place in the world of Alfredo Rodriguez: He recorded a series of songs at the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood; and Quincy Jones attended the session to produce Alfredo’s songs. The session took place in Studio A of Capitol Studios, which holds more than 50 years of recording history. Alfredo used studio gear courtesy of Harman International. You can check out a slideshow of the Capitol Studios recording session below:

SXSW

Alfredo just got back from the 2009 SXSW Music Festival where he performed as part of Quincy’s Keynote address with talented young singer Bianca Ryan. We will have the full report including press coverage and video footage shortly, but we wanted to share a very special video with you from the end of Alfredo’s show later that night at the Elephant Room. Check out what Quincy says at the end of the encore performance… and we have to point out that the encore was completely improvised on the spot… enjoy!

Interview with Alfredo

Alfredo Rodriguez is the newest member of the Quincy Jones musical family. He defected from Cuba just 5 weeks ago—leaving behind his friends and family to come pursue a better life in America and to work with Quincy Jones. Some of you have probably seen some of the recent press on Alfredo (Variety, Entertainment Tonight), but today we caught up with the 23-year-old pianist and got some insight about his journey, his current disposition, and about some of the things that are important to him.

Playboy Jazz Festival Lineup

Alfredo’s performance at the Playboy Jazz Festival will be among performances by some of his idols and predecessors. One of which will be Wayne Shorter, of the Wayne Shorter Quartet. Alfredo will be performing at the Playboy Jazz Festival on Sunday, June 14th 2009 with the following line-up (in no particular order):

The Anat Cohen Quartet

The Dave Holland Big Band

King Sunny Ade

Monty Alexander’s Jazz & Roots

Oscar Hernandez and the Conga Room All-Stars

Wayne Shorter Quartet (w. Brian Blade, John Patitucci and Danilo Perez)

Patti Austin

Kenny G

(Sunday festival opens with the North Hollywood High school Jazz Ensemble (directed by Jonathan Kenion)

For more information, check out Alfredo’s “Shows” page.

Playboy Jazz Press Conference

Variety, Billboard Business News, The Hollywood Reporter, La Opinion and Entertainment Tonight Online have all reported on Alfredo’s introduction at the Playboy Jazz Festival Press Conference, which took place at the Playboy Mansion on Wednesday. Quincy Jones introduced Alfredo before he played for the audience and associated members of the press. Quincy noted that Alfredo has the potential to be “one of the most prolific jazz pianists of the 21st century.” Alfredo played his original songs “Crossing The Border” and “April” -both of which brought the crowd at the press conference to a standing ovation. You can watch these videos on our Videos page. Alfredo will be performing at the Playboy Jazz Festival, on Sunday, June 14th at the Hollywood Bowl.

Welcome!

Welcome to the new home of  Alfredo Rodríguez, the Cuban jazz pianist.
Click on the links above for Alfredo’s bio, concert schedule, photos,
videos and other content.