While many men and women approach their sixtieth birthday with visions of retirement, pianist and iconoclast Gonzalo Rubalcaba, with his perceptive ear for folk dance and dense improvisation, moves as far as possible from the idea of retirement and attains another peak of perfection on Borrowed Roses.
Unlike his previous head-turning, stylistic solo recordings—the Latin Grammy-winning Solo (Blue Note, 2005) and the spirit cleansing Fe Faith (5Passion, 2019)—Borrowed Roses contemplates popular song and standards.
Coming off yet another Grammy win for Skyline (5Passion, 2022), a highly distinguished trio outing with Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette, Rubalcaba, avowed that music, like imagination and creativity, is never a static thing. He focuses his formidable interpretative prowess on two melodic Billy Strayhorn gems, "Chelsea Bridge" and "Lush Life," centering the melodies within themselves, choosing not to buoy them with the rich harmonic accents which made the originals memorable. That is not to imply in any way that Rubalcaba's approach and playing is anything less than memorable.
Taken back to back, and guided by the lyrical flow, two George Gershwin classics, "Summertime" and "Someone To Watch Over Me," become of one piece, each glorying in the external (the season of the sun) and the internal (the season of longing). Perhaps not an original pairing (given the many times each has been performed down the decades) but certainly an inspiring one, and one which spotlights Rubalcaba's intricate delicacy and determination.
If it were not for the instant familiarity of Paul Desmond's game-changing "Take Five," this performance could be taken as one of the pianist's own time-defying compositions, his coordination and solo improvs holding court. More and more jazz players are recognizing the depth and durability of the John Lennon-Paul McCartney songbook, guaranteeing future years of great music; the pianist takes his place among the true interpreters, translating the emotional core of "Here, There, and Everywhere" with a clarity which a surviving Beatle might marvel at. Rubalcaba muses and expands on Chick Corea "Windows;" conjures and calls onBill Evans with "Very Early," and closes the regal Borrowed Roses with the hushed elegance of Sting's understated ballad "The Shape of My Heart."
By Mike Jurkovic
September 24, 2023
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/borrowed-roses-gonzalo-rubalcaba-top-side-music
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Mientras que muchos hombres y mujeres se acercan a su sexagésimo cumpleaños con visiones de jubilación, el pianista e iconoclasta Gonzalo Rubalcaba, con su perspicaz oído para la danza folclórica y la densa improvisación, se aleja todo lo posible de la idea de la jubilación y alcanza otro pico de perfección en Borrowed Roses.
A diferencia de sus anteriores grabaciones estilísticas en solitario -el ganador del Grammy Latino Solo (Blue Note, 2005) y el espirituoso Fe Faith (5Passion, 2019)- Borrowed Roses contempla la canción popular y los estándares.
Tras ganar otro Grammy por Skyline (5Passion, 2022), un distinguido trío con Ron Carter y Jack DeJohnette, Rubalcaba afirma que la música, como la imaginación y la creatividad, nunca es algo estático. Centra su formidable destreza interpretativa en dos gemas melódicas de Billy Strayhorn, "Chelsea Bridge" y "Lush Life", centrando las melodías en sí mismas, eligiendo no animarlas con los ricos acentos armónicos que hicieron memorables a las originales. Esto no significa en absoluto que el enfoque y la interpretación de Rubalcaba no sean memorables.
Tomados espalda con espalda, y guiados por el flujo lírico, dos clásicos de George Gershwin, "Summertime" y "Someone To Watch Over Me", se convierten en una sola pieza, cada una glorificando lo externo (la estación del sol) y lo interno (la estación del anhelo). Quizá no sea una pareja original (dadas las muchas veces que se ha interpretado cada una a lo largo de las décadas), pero sin duda es inspiradora y pone de relieve la intrincada delicadeza y determinación de Rubalcaba.
Si no fuera por la familiaridad instantánea de la revolucionaria "Take Five" de Paul Desmond, esta interpretación podría tomarse como una de las composiciones del pianista que desafían al tiempo, con su coordinación e improvisación en solitario. Cada vez más músicos de jazz reconocen la profundidad y durabilidad del cancionero de John Lennon-Paul McCartney, lo que garantiza años futuros de gran música; el pianista ocupa su lugar entre los verdaderos intérpretes, traduciendo el núcleo emocional de "Here, There, and Everywhere" con una claridad que podría maravillar a un Beatle superviviente. Rubalcaba reflexiona y se explaya sobre "Windows" de Chick Corea; evoca e invoca a Bill Evans con "Very Early", y cierra el regio Borrowed Roses con la silenciosa elegancia de la discreta balada de Sting "The Shape of My Heart".
Por Mike Jurkovic
24 de septiembre de 2023
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/borrowed-roses-gonzalo-rubalcaba-top-side-music
gonzalorubalcaba.com ...
1. Chelsea Bridge
2. Summertime
3. Someone To Watch Over Me
4. Take Five
5. Here There and Everywhere
6. Windows
7. Lush Life
8. Night and Day
9. In A Sentimental Mood
10. Very Early
11. Do It Again
12. Shape of My Heart
Credits:
Gonzalo Rubalcaba: piano.
Title: Borrowed Roses | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Top Side Music
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