Roberto Fonseca Cortés

Since the beginning of his musical career in the early 1990s, Cuban-born multi-instrumentalist Roberto Fonseca has clearly stated his mission: "I want my music to reach people who don't know me, and I dream of becoming a point of reference for my audience one day".

Although still very young – by the standards of jazz, hip-hop, world music or any other genre – Fonseca has maintained a clear focus on the mission that has already brought him worldwide recognition.

The British newspaper The Guardian is among other world media that have recognized Fonseca's immense talent by highlighting him as "a fabulous pianist, composer and orchestra conductor with a gift for melody that eclipses his more celebrated peers" in the same way it proclaimed him as "one of a new generation that can transcend musical boundaries through pure quality".

Born into a family of musicians in Havana, Cuba, in 1975, young Roberto originally became interested in percussion, but began playing piano at age 8 (this interest in percussion would define his style on piano, something that continues to be the case to this day).

His first relevant musical work was as drummer for a band that covered Beatles songs. He began composing at age 14, inspired by Afro-Cuban music. "At school, we looked a lot to American jazz as a point of reference", Fonseca recalls. "I felt my music would be a fusion of both genres. I liked many jazz musicians, like Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, but also American funk and soul classics."

His appearance at the Havana International Jazz Festival at the tender age of 15 was not only a revelation for the audience, but also the launching platform toward a musical education that resulted in a degree in musical composition from the Higher Institute of Art. But the degree was only the beginning of his educational process. After university he considered all paths as an opportunity to combine his style with different ones in order to create something greater than the sum of its parts. ... and he presented it to audiences different from his Cuban origins.

At age 21, he embarked on a tour of Italy with singer Augusto Enríquez, which included performances on RAI, the state television channel, and introduced him to audiences far beyond his Cuban origins.

Shortly after the Italian tour, Fonseca joined saxophonist Javier Zalba to form Temperamento, a group that became his creative platform for the next 15 years, beginning with the release of the album "En el Comienzo" in 1998. The album won the Best Jazz Album award at the Cubadisco Festival 1999."

"En el Comienzo" was followed by three solo albums in rapid succession – "Tiene Que Ver" (1999), "No Limit" (2000) and "Elengó" (2001). Between these projects, he also composed the soundtrack for Black, a film by French director P. Maraval, and produced "Un Montón de Cosas", an album by hip-hop group Obsesión.

In 2001, he joined Ibrahim Ferrer's Orchestra for a worldwide tour that recorded more than 400 performances across Europe, the United Kingdom, South America, Australia, Asia and almost every corner of the globe. Directed by Ferrer (a disciple of the legendary Cuban collective Buena Vista Social Club, which surprised the world 5 years earlier) the Orchestra tour placed Fonseca alongside legendary figures such as Cachaíto López, Guajiro Mirabal, Manuel Galbán and many others. The visit marked the beginning of a lasting and fruitful relationship with several members of BVSC.

Fonseca's relationship with Ibrahim was strengthened in the years following the tour. When Ferrer decided to record his cherished collection of boleros, he counted on Fonseca as arranger and co-producer of the album. "Mi Sueño: A Bolero Songbook" was released in early 2005 and accompanied by a worldwide tour. The album turned out to be Ibrahim's last work, and undoubtedly one of his best albums, before his death in August 2005. Despite the painful loss, Roberto established himself as a creative bridge between traditional Cuban music and the sound of a new era.

In this sense, he caught the attention not only of an enthusiastic audience but also of veteran musicians. Omara Portuondo (another member of the legendary Buena Vista) invited him to join her on tour, giving him the opportunity to share stages with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Wayne Shorter. An intense tour and multicultural exposure planted the seeds for his next work titled "Zamazu". A monumental recording, made in 2007, that brought together more than 20 musicians and managed to fuse integrated elements of his diverse influences: Afro-Cuban, jazz, classical music and traditional Cuban music.

Among the musicians featured in this diverse and ambitious recording are Portuondo, Zalba, Carlinhos Brown, Vicente Amigo, Ramsés Rodríguez and many others. After the release of Zamazu, Fonseca had the opportunity to present an intense repertoire at some of the world's most prestigious festivals in front of spellbound audiences. "Llegó Cachaíto", one of the tracks on Zamazu, is part of the soundtrack to the film Hancock, Will Smith 2008.

That same year, Fonseca collaborated on the album Gracias by Omara Portuondo, a recording that won the Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Tropical Album of 2009. Zamazú was something difficult to surpass, but Fonseca found a way to bring the magic and energy of his live performances to the studio with Akokan. The album is a quartet recording featuring special collaborations from guest artists such as Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade and American guitarist Raúl Midón.

2010 was no less hectic and ambitious for Fonseca. He collaborated with director Jorge Fuentes on the filming of Temperamento, a documentary that tells the story of the band that Fonseca co-founded more than a decade before. That same year, Fonseca organized and co-produced Havana Cultura with British DJ Gilles Peterson. A double album bringing together the best of a new generation of Cuban musicians (more than 60 in total) specialized in Afro-jazz, hip-hop, funk, reggaeton and R&B rhythms.

At the end of that same year, he releases Live at Marciac, a CD-DVD that captures Fonseca and his band's live performance at one of their appearances at the Festival the previous year. As he has progressed, Fonseca has developed an aesthetic sense that extends beyond music. This became more evident when he developed a professional relationship with French fashion designer Agnés B. Their relationship first emerged when he began using her designs during his performances, and deepened when he performed live at her fashion show in 2006 in Paris.

Furthermore, Fonseca's music has been used in Internet advertising for Elle, Tiffany and marketing campaigns. His latest solo work YO has been nominated for a GRAMMY® in the Best Latin Jazz Album category. Apart from his occasional forays into the fashion world, Fonseca keeps music in a paramount place among his priorities.

In 2014 he combined a series of solo concerts, robertoSOLOfonseca throughout France and Russia; as well as a brief trio tour of the United States. But undoubtedly the most relevant collaboration of the year was the summer tour with Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara. From that intense encounter, in 2015 the album At Home (Jazz Village) was released following their performance at the Jazz in Marciac Festival.

ABUC is the title of his new album released in 2016 under the legendary impulse! label; the eighth he releases solo with the famous impulse! label.

The album reveals another of his facets: Roberto Fonseca is a storyteller. Combining roguish rhythms with forceful winds, woven with references, memories and contrasts, ABUC is a kaleidoscope of dance colors where Roberto narrates a story: the magnificent and rich compendium of Cuban music, from yesterday to today.

His mother Mercedes Cortés Alfaro, professional singer (recorded the song Dime que no from the album Zamazu), as well as his two older brothers; Emilio Valdés (drums) and Jesús "Chuchito" Valdés Jr. (piano) are also two internationally prestigious musicians.

Solo Discography
Roberto Fonseca: Tiene Que Ver (1999)
Temperamento: En el Comienzo (1999)
Roberto Fonseca: No Limit (2001)
Roberto Fonseca: Elengo (2001)
Roberto Fonseca: Zamazu (2007)
Roberto Fonseca: Akokan (2009) Enja Records
Roberto Fonseca: Live in Marciac (2010)
Roberto Fonseca: Yo (2012)
Roberto Fonseca: Abuc (2016)
Collaborations
Black P. Marabal Soundtrack (2000)
Cuando Yo Sea Grande – Augusto Enriquez – 1998 (Egrem)
Cachaíto – Orlando Cachaíto López – 2001 (World Circuit Records)
Felicidad – Asa Feeston – 2002 Inter Records Co Ltd
Buenos Hermanos – Ibrahim Ferrer – 2003 (World Circuit Records)
Guajiro Mirabal – Guajiro Mirabal – 2004 (World Circuit Records)
Flor de Amor – Omara Portuondo – 2004 (World Circuit Records)
Angá Echumingua – Angá Díaz – 2005 (World Circuit Records)
Javier Zalba – Javier Zalba – 2006 (Colibrí)
Timbalada – Carlinhos Brown – 2006 (Candyall Music)
Ibrahim Ferrer – Mi sueño 2007 (World Circuit Records)
Absolument Latino song Zamazamazu 2007
Gracias – Omara Portuondo – 2008 (Montuno / Harmonia Mundi)
Omara & Maria Bethânia – 2008 (Biscoito Fino)
Etxea – Kepa Junkera – 2008 (Warner Music Spain)
Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura New Cuban Sound - 2009 (Brownswood Recordings)
Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura Remixed - 2010 (Brownswood Recordings)