Home » Jazz Musicians » Alejandro Vargas Rodriguez

Alejandro Vargas Rodriguez

AlejaNdrO VaRgAs Rodríguez (Cuba, 1980) Pianist and composer graduated in the University of Arts in Cuba. He started his musical studies at the early age of 6, reciving lessons from great musicians having as teachers great music masters such as Joel Rodríguez Milord, Ulises Hernández or Harold Gramatges, till he graduated as piano concertist at the University ISA (Instituto Superior de Arte) in La Habana. He completed his studies with different seminars with musicians like Herbie Hancock, Chucho Valdés, Danilo Pérez or Jorge Luis Prats. He has participated in various projects and albums as a jazz pianist and composer. He has played with prestigious groups such as Irakere, Pupi and Los que son Son, Chucho Valdés, Maira Caridad Valdez, Orlando (Cubajazz), Roman Filiu and also with world wide known artists like saxofonist Donald Harrison, trumpet player Steve Turre, singers Ugia Pedreira, Diana Fuentes or Lucrecia and also at José Luis Gutiérrez's project. He has traveled to several jazz festivals around the world with their projects Oriental Quartet, Alejandro Vargas Trio, duo with L.A.R. Legido and also as a solo pianist. Alejandro Vargas has participated at numerous festivals in Ecuador, Brasil, Spain, Norway, Portugal,Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Switzerland.

At the age of 20 he recorded his first phonograph recording, “Calor”, for an English independent record label, having in charge the musical direction and arrangements of Benny Moré compositions. In that same year participates in the Festival Jazz Plaza thus beginning his career as jazz while attending college.

In Havana, he formed his first jazz trio and participates en 2001 in the Jojazz competition where he obtained the 1st Prize. I n 2 0 0 3 h i s musical band Alejandro Vargas and Oriental Quartet is official to the catalogue of professional excellence in the Popular music company, one of the most recognized in the country. Thus begins the international tours traveling to Jazz festivals. His album “Trapiche” recorded in 2007 was awarded as the best jazz jazz album of the year in Cubadisco contest (2008), conducted annually by the Institute of Music in Cuba.

As one of the young Cuban Jazz more recognized in the country, the aesthetic that works in his compositional speech feeds popular root through the Eastern body, taking this expression to Cuban jazz scene. Always ready to explore new horizons, he experiments with a wide range of styles from abstract to traditional where jazz standards and popular Cuban music are taken to the aesthetic of free improvisation. He has also worked on extended techniques with traditional instruments, integrating different objects which enrich his musical language and performance, creating a unique sonority. Now his band Alejandro Vargas Trio follows this line sweating between the contemporary musical vanguard and the afrocuban aesthetic. He became a Professor of harmony and Popular Piano at the University of Havana (ISA) between 2006 and 2008. In this same period is also composer attached to the school international of cinema of San Antonio de los Baños, where he works as a composer for audio visual and documentary work.

Read more

Tags

6
Album Review

Alejandro Vargas: AMa AZa LaNdO

Read "AMa AZa LaNdO" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Music seems to be a matter of play as much as craft for Alejandro Vargas Rodríguez. The Cuban (now Spain-based) pianist shows plenty of chops throughout this whole recording, but they're often equalled or surpassed by the spirit of almost childlike joy that runs through it, as evidenced by the freeform playfulness of the track titles. (The title AMa AZa LaNdO, for example, is itself a playful anagram of “A Mano Alzada"--meaning something that's done freehand.) The piano work is ...

Read more articles
Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

AMa AZa LaNdO

Self Produced
2016

buy

AMa Aza LANdo

Unknown label
2014

buy

Miniaturas de Eugenio...

Central Folque
2013

buy

Oceanía

Unknown label
2010

buy

Opersuite

Unknown label
2010

buy

Trapiche

Colibri
2008

buy

AMefriKa

From: AMa AZa LaNdO
By Alejandro Vargas Rodriguez

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.