About the Author:

Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio

(Bio)
With
Gonzalo Rubalcaba on Piano
Ignacio Berroa, Drums
Armando Gola, Bass
At
Birdland
315 West 44th Street, NYC
212.581.3080
www.birdlandjazz.com
See Other Birdland Reviews
Gianni Valenti, Owner
Andy Kaufman, Business Manager
Tarik Osman, Manager

By Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
October 1, 2003

(See January 11, 2003 Gonzalo Rubalcaba Review at Iridium) The Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio is known for its fascinating fusion of Jazz and Latin rhythms. The lead piece in this second set allowed Ignacio Berroa to ignite the clave beat, with tiny taps on the metal sides of his drum. Ignacio often makes the tiniest part of his drums sound like full metal instruments. This group was all business, with a mellow, dark, and moody second piece, heavily influenced by Armando Gola's bass. Ignacio used his brushes here to full effect. Gonzalo Rubalcaba brought evocative and elegant tones to a repetitive rhythm, with Armando's bass blending into a similar theme. Armando picked up his bass guitar for the next piece, a fused Jazz-Salsa. This work had Cuban motion (See Salsa dancing at You Should Be Dancing Studio), and Gonzalo's energized and electrifying keyboard overrode this imaginary dance floor, as Ignacio's clave caught up with Gonzalo's jazz. Meanwhile, Armando's bass guitar added quite a contemporary tone.

In the next piece, Armando returned to his larger bass with full resonance and dynamism, supported by Ignacio's exciting Latin percussion, replete with the highest and lowest sounds imaginable. The following and more flowing song, begun with somatically tugging tones, suddenly turned Latin, with Cha Cha and upside down jazzy Swing. Ignacio and Gonzalo switched leads, using whistles, a wild keyboard, a sensational Salsa, and then melted all these rhythms into a brand new tone, a contemporary fusion of Salsa and Jazz. Gonzalo Rubalcaba is one of a kind, and he has assembled the perfect Trio to tempt new audiences and transform the NY Jazz Scene with very current creations.

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Tarik as Bartender
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower

Armando Gola at Leisure
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower

Armando at the Bass
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower

Ignacio Berroa, Drummer, and Colleague
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower

Gonzalo Rubalcaba at His Piano
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower