Track Listing

1. Misa Popular
2. Tierra En Mano
3. Clandestinos
4. Llegó Cachaito
5. Así Baila Mi Madre
6. Congo Árabe
7. Zamazu
8. Suspiro
9. Ishmael
10. El Niejo
11. Mil Congojas
12. Triste Alegría
13. Zamazamazu
14. Dime Que No

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #104200 in Music
• Released on: 2007-05-08
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Following in the long lineage of great Cuban pianists, from Jorge Bolet to Gonzalo Rubalcaba, the brilliant young pianist Roberto Fonseca has been called "the most promising and important talent in Cuban music." On Zamazu, the former member of the Buena Vista Social Club -- he replaced Rubén Gonzalez after his departure -- distinguishes himself as a spectacular player, composer, arranger and bandleader. With bassist Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, Brazilian percussionist Carlinhos Brown, vocalist Omara Portuondo and Spain's flamenco guitar sensation Vincente Amigo.

From his thoughtful, Herbie Hancock-inspired harmonies on "Tierra En Mano" to his driving groove on the churning bata-fueled "Clandestino" to his exotic, Oriental flavored "Congo Arabe," Fonseca incorporates a wealth of musical influences on Zamazu. There's a touch of American gospel in the passionate title track, an undercurrent of infectious Brazilian groove along with a tinge of American funk on the spirited "Zamazamazu" and an elegant old school feel on the Cuban guajira "Dime Que No." The darkly alluring and introspective "Llego Cachaito," a showcase for the great Cuban bassist Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, is a delicate number that reveals Fonseca's sensitive side while the frantically uptempo interlude "Asi Baila Mi Madfre" is a knuckle-buster that showcases his prodigious keyboard technique. Clarinetist and longtime musical partner Javier Zalba helps conjure up feelings of melancholy and longing on the haunting "Suspiro" and "El Niejo" while Fonseca also turns in a dramatic son montuno reading of Abdullah Ibrahim's "Ishmael," which is augmented by eight-piece string section. And in one of the most emotionally charged moments on Zamazu, he teams with Buena Vista Social Club singer Omara Portuondo for a poignant reading of "Mil Congojas," a tune that Fonseca used to play as an intimage duet in concert with the late Ibrahim Ferrer up until the singer's passing in August, 2005.

Telegraph (UK), Mark Hudson, April 28, 2007
The dapper 31-year-old Cuban has a prodigious melodic fluency, a way of feeling his way into a tune and wringing every drop of emotion from it that is heard to superb effect on this first international solo release.

HARTFORD COURANT - USA
" ... during a solo, the piano player Roberto Fonseca drew huge applause after a series of flabbergasting runs up and down the keyboard"

Customer Reviews

Beyond Buena Vista....Sensuous, fresh, modern...
Fresh from producing, arranging and playing on Ferrer's posthumously released album of boleros Mi Sueño, Fonseca now delivers his fourth album, "Zamazu", a disc as innovative and exciting as "Mi Sueño" is dreamy and traditional.
With Fonseca posed, Justin Timberlake-style, on the cover in leather Byblos hat and black Agnès B coat (the Parisian designer became his self-appointed stylist after being blown away by a concert in France), "Zamazu" redefines Latin jazz with 14 wide-ranging but eminently spiritual pieces recorded in Havana and Brazil.
Most are original compositions: paeans to family, friends and Santeria, the Afro-Cuban religion that merges Catholicism and African beliefs and informs Fonseca's life. All are uplifting and beautiful, modern and outward-looking.
As a legacy of his international travels with Ferrer, "Zamazu" embraces sounds from elsewhere, feeding flamenco, Celtic or North African influences into a fluid and compelling personal style.
Buena Vista were keepers of the soundtrack to a long-isolated country and were celebrated for their traditionalism.
But Roberto Fonseca could pull up a piano stool at a jazz club anywhere in the world and trounce the competition with his gift for melody, virtuosity, invention.

This is what Latin jazz should sound like...!
An impressive album by Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca, who took over the piano chair in the Buena Vista Social Club after Ruben Gonzales left in '01. Fonseca draws on seemingly limitless styles and resources, and a soulful sense of melody that sets this album apart from many run-of-the-mill Latin jazz workouts: he plays with soul and sensitivity, exploring a rich emotional reservoir that will offer plenty of rewards to receptive listeners. If you're looking for new Latin jazz material that really does justice to both traditions (and doesn't just mash them together), check this album out!

Roberto Fonseca's a Talent
This is a lovely CD. Fonseca is so well trained as a pianist. His mother sings briefly (unfortunately) on the CD and she leaves you wanting more of her beautiful voice. The CD borders between classical and jazz and I love it. As a result of finding Fonseca, I have introduced my friends to him and I play him on my internet radio show, Jazz Workshop.