Alfredo Rodríguez: I Need Music to Quench My Thirst

August 27, 2019

# Love is the Pretext of Life

Love is the pretext of life, José Martí wrote, and feeling identified with that statement is, perhaps, what has driven young Alfredo Rodríguez over the last ten years of his life. And always. The love for music, for that immeasurable happiness that playing the piano offers him, for that inexhaustible inspiration that carves ideas into his mind every minute... "It's like drinking water, I need music to quench my thirst. As long as there is music in my life, there will be Alfredo Rodríguez for a long time," he told me in a recent contact established through social networks.

I believe him and I understand him, because when you have the fortune to find what motivates you to wake up each day, nothing can be stronger. Sometimes difficult decisions are made, like changing your place of residence and thus moving away from family, but the path of self-realization and enjoyment is not always exempt from sacrifices. The unforgivable thing is that, in the end, it's not worth it.

This is not the case. This young man stopped being long ago "the son of…", not out of contradiction or detachment, but because he managed to distinguish himself in the musical world, with talent, with charisma and with that wonderful stroke of luck that life gave him.

"Quincy Jones is a legend and to say today that more than my mentor, he is my friend, is a great privilege. It has been great fortune for a young man like me to have met him and to have changed my life because of him. I met him in Switzerland during a festival and he became one of the most important reasons for making the decision to live in the United States with the desire to pursue my dream in music. Quincy is a legend, he is one of the people who knows the most about art and other aspects of life. He knows many people, he has lived many important moments and having his support in my work has been vital."

Spreading Cuban music wherever he goes, Alfredo Rodríguez composes and frequently performs alongside Munir Hossn on bass and Michael Olivera on drums, in a trio format. However, he very much enjoys adding other artists in collaborations that later, as has happened with Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martínez, can become an album.

Tocororo (2016) is an excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with his musical work, because it confirms his Cuban roots while opening doors to become known with all the influences he has gathered during his study and professional development. But before that came Sounds of Space (2012), The Invasion Parade (2014) and after The Little Dream (2018), before the most recent album Duologue (2019).

It was during the recording of the album The Invasion Parade that Pedrito Martínez and Alfredo Rodríguez established a connection, although they remained apart for a time until reuniting at the Jazz Standard in New York and the 2017 tour, when they debuted as a duo.

The union between one's folkloric style and the other's classical approach (who has confessed his passion for the drums) became melodic magic, and under the gaze of Quincy Jones the album Duologue flourished, under the Mack Avenue Records label, with which they have toured in Europe, Asia and the United States. It includes the titles "África", "Estamos llegando", "Cosas del amor", "Flor", "Jardín soñador", "Mariposa", "Yo volveré", "El Punto Cubano", an upbeat version of Michael Jackson's Thriller and the theme from the classic video game Super Mario Bros 3.

"From the beginning, my collaboration with Pedrito has been very exciting. We share energies, passion for what we do and respect for one another. After ten years playing with my trio, this idea generated changes, a shift in my work that I value as positive and I have loved it.

"In September I'm going to France to do some concerts with a Franco-Lebanese trumpeter, Ibrahim Maalouf, who was my guest on a couple of songs included in my album Tocororo, and in October I'm starting a tour through Europe with the Cameroonian singer and bassist, Richard Bona, who also appeared on my album. Later, with Richard I will do another tour through Latin America and with the drummer Taylor Gordon from New Orleans. They will be very interesting experiences in which I will feel like an ambassador of Cuban music to the world again."

The also arranger and music producer advances that in 2020 he will continue with trio format performances, will continue composing "and enriching a project I've been working on for a while based on creating music for symphonic orchestra."

"I really want to play in Cuba, for people to feel what I do there. I know there are many Cubans who follow my work through social networks. It is a blessing that it is so. I have been fortunate because many of my videos have gone viral and some people who have attended one of my concerts have later told me that they felt interested in my work because of what they saw on Youtube, on Facebook, on Instagram... It has been very good for me to achieve that communication with people through that avenue.

"But I would love to bring that work that is enjoyed on social networks to Cuba, with my project, or the way that Pedrito and I are defending... I'll have some opportunity, I'm waiting for it."