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Latin Jazz Cruise: Roberto Fonseca Extends a Storied Afro-Cuban Piano Lineage on 'Yesun'

Roberto Fonseca comes from a storied lineage of Cuban pianists.

That pantheon runs from Damaso Pérez Prado to Lilí Martínez to Chucho Valdés to Emiliano Salvador to dozens of others.

But Fonseca has also been influenced by American jazz pianists, like Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett; and pianists of Puerto Rican heritage, like Eddie Palmieri and Papo Lucca. Like many jazz musicians in his generation, he’s also a product of hip-hop.

All of those influences and more converged in Fonseca’s session on the Latin Jazz Cruise. He joined me in the WBGO studio with his trio, featuring Yandy Martinez González on bass and Ramses Rodriguez on drums. They performed music from their exciting new album, Yesún. Here is a video of the trio performing "Cadenas."

Personnel

Piano: Roberto Fonseca

Bass: Yandy Martinez González

Drums: Ramses Rodriguez

Production

Videography: Chris Tobin

Audio Mix and Video Edit: Corey Goldberg

Bobby Sanabria is an eight time Grammy-nominee as a leader, drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, documentary film producer, educator, activist, and bandleader. A native son of the South Bronx born to Puerto Rican parents, he has performed and recorded with such legends as Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, Dizzy Gillespie, Chico O’Farrill, Ray Barretto, Cándido, Henry Threadgill, Larry Harlow, and the Godfather of Afro-Cuban jazz, Mario Bauzá.