Jazz Of Cuba: ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ at Berlind Theatre At McCarter Theatre Center

Alfredo Rodriguez made his McCarter debut opening for Chucho Valdés in 2012. But this prodigiously talented Cuban has become a headliner in his own right and his pianism calls up images of Tatum, Jarrett, Monk, and Evans. Rodriguez moved to Los Angeles from Havana in 2009, taking just a suitcase filled with music, a sweater, and a pair of jeans. His albums are not just a collection of musical pieces, but tales told in a distinctive voice. In 2014’s The Invasion Parade, he revisited various Cuban musical traditions. And in his latest, the Grammy-nominated Tocororo (2015), his story is represented by the national bird of Cuba, which if caged, dies of sadness...

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Alfredo Rodriguez made his McCarter debut opening for Chucho Valdés in 2012. But this prodigiously talented Cuban has become a headliner in his own right and his pianism calls up images of Tatum, Jarrett, Monk, and Evans. Rodriguez moved to Los Angeles from Havana in 2009, taking just a suitcase filled with music, a sweater, and a pair of jeans. His albums are not just a collection of musical pieces, but tales told in a distinctive voice. In 2014’s The Invasion Parade, he revisited various Cuban musical traditions. And in his latest, the Grammy-nominated Tocororo (2015), his story is represented by the national bird of Cuba, which if caged, dies of sadness. In Rodriguez’ case, the bird represents the cross-pollination of his Cuban culture with all the other culture he’s experienced through his musical journey.

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