Rolando Luna

Cuban pianist, arranger and composer. He is part of a wave of excellent pianists who in recent years have come to enrich the contemporary sound heritage of Cuba. Chucho Valdés has described Rolando Luna as an excellent prospect.

He studied classical piano at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. His creative talent and academic training provide him with refined technique and extremely solid concepts of composition and improvisation. His works synthesize elements of jazz, Caribbean music, concert music and Cuban music; both from the past and present, of which his modern tumbaos and incursions into genres such as danzón, chachachá and son are examples, enriched with varied formats.

Rolando Luna is already an established musician. Since he won the Jojazz competition for young talents in Cuba, the imminent launch of his artistic career could be predicted. Each new appearance at the keyboard or with his compositions results in a rewarding experience. He is one of those who reveal new paths when it was thought they had been exhausted. JoJazz Prize winner and substitute in major high-impact ensembles, his career is in constant ascent.

With Preludio a mi Rosa María he opened the doors to the world of jazz. From his first album, En la luna, more time passed than desired. Later with Alucinaciones, he was nominated for Cubadisco 2012.

Rolando Luna is fascinated by jazz, although this has not prevented him from substituting for another jazz musician, Roberto Fonseca, in the Buena Vista Social Club, which in its early days included the legendary Rubén González. This musician can be found in recordings with figures from trovadorismo, popular dance music and bolero.

But it was jazz that made him discover the piano, seeking paths, experimenting, playing by ear. That explains why when he plays Cuban music he mixes things. He started with Omara Portuondo's group, where he made his first musical arrangements. On his album Alucinaciones, Rolando Luna sought to mix Latin American music with European music, but with his Cuban style, his roots and influences. In this work he was supported by excellent young musicians such as Rodney Barreto, Oliver Valdés and Yaroldi Abreu.

Rolando Luna likes to accompany bolero singers, make albums of trovadorismo, popular or traditional music. Sometimes he likes it more than playing his own, although he works a lot on his own to feel satisfied. In recent times he has been seen as part of the CarHavana project, and also as guest pianist with the Buena Vista Social Club, where the young pianist has learned to play in their style, accompanying the renowned musicians Guajiro Mirabal, Cachaíto López, Manuel Galbán and Aguaje Ramos, on several international tours, as well as in the usual concerts at Plaza América, on the Cuban beach of Varadero.

Luna likes to perform all kinds of music and has recorded everything. One of his experiences was with the National Symphony Orchestra and Sergio Vitier.

Excellent improvisations and incredible solos, which he combines with very complex harmonizations. As a composer, his knowledge of Cuban music is notable, as is his mastery of jazz techniques.

On Luna's agenda there is also a tour through Cuba accompanying the prestigious singer Miriam Ramos, and he has collaborated with figures such as Amaury Pérez and Vania Borges.

Amaury has said: "It is not only his swift and agile hands, nor that ancestral creole wisdom he carries within him, it is above all his young heart that spills over the keys."

Awards and Recognition
1999 First Prize at the JoJazz Competition (Young Jazz Musicians of Cuba), awarded by a jury presided over by maestro Chucho Valdés.
2007: First prize of the Piano Solo competition (Switzerland).
2007: Audience Award at the Montreux International Jazz Festival (Switzerland).
2012: Nominated for Cubadisco.
2021: Cubadisco Grand Prize

Discography

2001: His debut CD En la luna (Roly), with the Unicornio label.