Roberto Fonseca, from San Miguel del Padrón to the Olympia in Paris

December 7, 2023

Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca is presenting his latest work 'La gran diversión' these days in several European countries, a work that according to him transcends strictly musical limits and immerses itself in the roots of Afro-Cuban sounds.

Fonseca, born in El Vedado but raised in San Miguel del Padrón, arrived this week at the prestigious Olympia theater in Paris, France, where he made history with the most native rhythms of the island channeled through his piano in that "great fun."

From his social networks, the Cuban artist thanked his audience and assured that "tonight's applause will be for everyone who together with me has fought to turn this dream into reality."

"Thank you for being there to encourage me, to support me when others tried to destroy my career (…) To those who this bothers, you see, I'm not alone. As my mother says 'If God is with you, who is against?'", the artist wrote alongside a short video outside the Parisian Olympia.

In the audiovisual, the pianist commented that he was going to "make this video very short but very important to me. What is happening here tonight is not only an achievement of mine, it is an achievement of my family, my people from San Miguel, from Cerro, from Guanabacoa, from Marianao, from La Lisa, of all the promoters who have helped me, of my mother Mercedes, my father Roberto, and my brothers Jesús and Emilio."

Furthermore, he expressed that "really this means many things. We are at the Olympia. We have done it. The most beautiful thing is that this is just the beginning. Roberto Fonseca at the Olympia in Paris," he concluded.

'La gran diversión' brings together 10 pieces, among which are "Baila Mulata", "Yanim", "Sal al Malecón", "Oyá", "Mercedes", and "Kinka Maché", among others.

With those titles, the artist shows the influence of Afro-Cuban beliefs in his musical identity, for which he has also brought together renowned names such as violinist Regina Carter, saxophonist Jimmy Yenks, bass player Yandy Martínez, and vocalist Clarence Bekker, among others.

Regarding this tour, the Dirty Rock portal spoke with Fonseca and stated that the album revives "that golden era of mambo or bolero in the dance halls."

And it is no wonder when Roberto Fonseca, despite his 48 years, is already one of the virtuosos of the piano on the island and one of the heirs to the rich musical tradition of the Buena Vista Social Club, a group with which he shared in more than 400 concerts.

"I come from the era of the Buena Vista Social Club and sometimes I feel I was born in the wrong era. Music had back in the 30s and 40s a sense of exploration, not of simply putting hearts on social media. In those days technology didn't exist, but there was musical intention that made up for that lack," the instrumentalist told the aforementioned media.

On his participation in Buena Vista, Fonseca recalled: "I came from funk, from jazz, and suddenly I encounter this giant," something that "changed my life."

Precisely that musical magic is what he seeks with his new album. "The new album seeks that vintage style," the artist clarified, considered by some media as "The Cuban Miles Davis."