Pianist, composer, and Artistic Director for Cuba’s Jazz Plaza Santiago Festival, Roberto Fonseca has toured the world’s most prestigious venues with Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® and the legendary Omara Portuondo. An artist of prowess and ideas, a musician with a questing jazz sensibility and deep roots in the Afro Cuban tradition, the Havana-born pianist released his ninth solo album, Yesun, in Fall 2019 on Mack Avenue Records. Combining everything from jazz and classical music to rap, funk, reggaeton and electronica, Fonseca is ripping up the rule book. He celebrates the rich musical traditions of the island’s past, with a vision of where Cuban music is headed in the future, entwining folkloric and modern sounds.
“Yesun is the album I’ve always wanted to make,” says Fonseca, “It presents a Cuba without borders. I’m building bridges between my Afro Cuban traditions and other styles of music I’ve absorbed over many years of touring this world. I’m taking Cuban music forward, always forward, without ever forgetting my roots.”
There’s a new generation of artists reinvigorating the Cuban music scene and Fonseca is at the forefront, leading this cultural renaissance.
HI-RES IMAGES
^ Photo Credit: Carles Roig
^ Photo Credit: Alejandro Azcuy
VIDEO
Roberto Fonseca – Yesun (Embed)
Roberto Fonseca – AGGUA (Official music video) (Enbed)
Asi Es La Vida Live (Embed)
Roberto Fonseca – Cadenas (Feat. Danay Suárez) (Embed)
BIOGRAPHY/PROGRAM NOTES
Biography: Download (doc)
Official Website: www.robertofonseca.com
Label: impulse!
CURRENT RELEASE
Yesun (Mack Avenue Records October 18, 2019)
PRESS REQUESTS
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arantza@montuno.com
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Roberto Fonseca WBGO
From WBGO 88.3FM Latin Jazz Cruise Latin Jazz Cruise: Roberto Fonseca Extends a Storied Afro-Cuban Piano Lineage on ‘Yesun’ By: BOBBY SANABRIA 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...
Posted Mar 15th, 2020
Listen to ‘Por ti’ on New Sounds
From New Sounds New Sounds #4324: New Releases, Jan. 2020 By: JOHN SCHAEFER “Hear new releases from the UK folk singer Sam Lee, Cuban pianist-composer Roberto Fonseca, and from banjo master Bela Fleck together with kora master Toumani Diabate. There’s Afro-Cuban chamber music from Cuban pianist and composer Roberto Fonseca, whose other influences, rap, funk, reggaeton and electronic music, also...
Posted Jan 31st, 2020
World Music Central Interviews Roberto Fonseca
From World Music Central INTERVIEW WITH CUBAN KEYBOARDIST AND COMPOSER ROBERTO FONSECA By: ANGEL ROMERO “Innovative Cuban musician and composer Roberto Fonseca has a new album titled Yesun. It is a project where he brings together a wide range of musical influences, such as Cuban traditions, jazz, classical music, funk, reggaeton and electronic music. Fonseca also used various keyboards aside...
Posted Nov 25th, 2019
Felix Contreras reviews Roberto Fonseca’s “Cadenas” for Weekend Edition
From NPR ‘Alt.Latino’ Playlist Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday “OK. This is pianist Roberto Fonseca. He’s originally from Cuba. And we featured him two weeks ago on the playlist. This is a track from his new album. It has lots of contemporary references and feelings. And we can call it jazz, but it’s so much more. This track is featured...
Posted Nov 10th, 2019
Roberto Fonseca, Yesun; One of Jazziz 10 Albums You Need To Know for October 2019
From Jazziz JAZZIZ Backstage Pass: 10 Albums You Need To Know for October 2019 By: BRIAN ZIMMERMAN “JAZZIZ editors Brian Zimmerman and Matt Micucci are back again with another episode of 10 Albums You Need To Know, this time for the month of October. This month’s list is scary good, featuring new music from guitarist Bill Frisell, saxophonist Kirk Whalum,...
Posted Oct 25th, 2019
Album Of The Week: Roberto Fonseca- ‘Yesun’
From Hi-Fi Trends Album Of The Week: Roberto Fonseca- ‘Yesun’ By: hifitr5_wp “This week’s Album Of The Week is a new Latin Jazz project from Cuban Jazz Pianist Roberto Fonseca. He’s a former member of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, and this is his ninth solo album. The project is called ‘Yesun,’ and it features a trio comprised of...
Posted Oct 23rd, 2019
Robert Fonseca’s Yesun Out Today!
“Havana-born pianist Robert Fonseca releases Yesun, his ninth solo album, on 18 October. ‘Yesun is the album I’ve always wanted to make,’ says Fonseca of a record that combines everything from jazz and classical music to rap, funk, reggaeton, and electronica, ripping up the rulebook along the way. ‘All my influences are here. All the sounds and vibes that make...
Posted Oct 18th, 2019
WBGO on Roberto Fonseca’s new ablum Yesun
_From 88.3 FM WBGO.org Borderless New Music by Nduduzo Makhathini, Chano Dominguez, Mareike Wiening and More By: NATE CHINEN “Cuban pianist and composer Roberto Fonseca has been a force to reckon with since he was a teenager, and it has been 20 years since he released his first album. His latest, Yesun, is a supremely assured statement that takes the...
Posted Oct 11th, 2019
Roberto Fonseca discusses his new album, Yesun
From Afro Pop Roberto Fonseca discusses his new album, Yesun By: BANNING EYRE “Havana-born jazz maverick Roberto Fonseca has just released his ninth album, Yesun. It’s a bold extension of his work in Cuban music, with particular attention to its African roots. Afropop’s Banning Eyre reached Fonseca by WhatsApp in Barcelona, where he was preparing to launch a global tour...
Posted Oct 5th, 2019
Roberto Fonseca, “Yesun” one of Jazziz’s Albums You Need to Know
From Jazziz 10 Albums You Need to Know: October 2019 By: MATT MICUCCI “World-renowned pianist/composer Roberto Fonseca is a key figure of the global renaissance of Cuban music, celebrated for his unique combination of jazz and the sounds of the Afro-Cuban tradition. His ninth album as a leader, Yesun, presents 13 new original tracks. It is a trio effort with...
Posted Oct 1st, 2019
Video Premiere: ‘Aggua’ by Roberto Fonseca
From JAZZTIMES JT Video Premiere: ‘Aggua’ by Roberto Fonseca “JazzTimes is honored to present the premiere of the video for ‘Aggua’ by Roberto Fonseca, directed by Joseph Ros. The track appears on the Cuban pianist’s upcoming ninth album, Yesun, which will be released by Mack Avenue on October 18. Written by Fonseca, ‘Aggua’ features him on acoustic piano and overdubbed...
Posted Sep 6th, 2019
Roberto Fonseca at Ronnie Scott’s
From London Jazz News REVIEW: Roberto Fonseca Trio plus Enemy at the 2018 Ronnie Scott’s International Piano Trio Festival By: Sebastian Scotney As Fonseca himself has said in an interview, “I think that you can also create a harmonious atmosphere and find a very active and responsive audience in small venues.” And that is precisely what he did. He may...
Posted Aug 16th, 2018
Havana’s Symphony of Sound
From The New York Times Our last night in Havana we went to see the eternal Roberto Fonseca and his band Temperamento at the famous La Zorra y El Cuervo jazz club. To enter, you must wait in line before descending through a replica of a red British telephone booth into a small subterranean space. Mr. Fonseca and his bandmates...
Posted Mar 13th, 2018
Havana Time Machine: Roberto Fonseca
From PBS Havana Time Machine GREAT PERFORMANCES and Latino Public Broadcasting’s VOCES present Havana Time Machine. To see the Roberto Fonseca performance, start at the 29 minute mark in the video. To read more click here
Posted Oct 9th, 2017
Roberto Fonseca Performs on ‘The Experience With Dedry Jones’
From WTTW The Experience With Dedry Jones Host and creator of The Experience, Dedry Jones, talks with special guest, Roberto Fonseca. Roberto Fonseca is a dynamic Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban jazz pianist, composer, and producer. Fonseca has established his reputation as a creative bridge between traditional Cuban music and the sound of a new era. To watch the episode click here
Posted Aug 4th, 2017
The Experience with Dedry Jones Features Roberto Fonseca
From WTTW The Experience with Dedry Jones – Featuring Roberto Fonseca Airing August 3-6, Dedry Jones talks with Roberto Fonseca, the dynamic Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban jazz pianist, composer, and producer. The studio audience in WTTW’s intimate Grainger Studio also enjoys a live performance by the artist with a full band. To read more click here
Posted Aug 2nd, 2017
‘Weekend in Havana’ – Watch Full Episode
From PBS Weekend in Havana Join Geoffrey Baer as he travels to Havana, where dancers, musicians, architects and writers invite him into their lives to experience the color, culture and history of a beautiful and seductive city only recently re-opened to Americans. To read more click here
Posted Jul 19th, 2017
PBS: Weekend In Havana
From PBS “Weekend in Havana” premieres July 18, 2017 at 8/7c. Airing nationally on July 18th at 8:00PM on all PBS stations: Weekend in Havana (part of the PBS Summer of Adventure), which will feature Roberto Fonseca. To read more click here
Posted Jul 12th, 2017
Huff Post’s Best Albums Grammy’s Forgot
From The Huffington Post 40 That the Grammy Awards Forgot: 2016’s Best Albums From Around the World By: Daniel Rosenberg Beyoncé or Adele? That was the message from this year’s Grammy Awards, and the debate they’d like us to continue until next year’s ceremony. While ‘25’ sold millions, it was far from the best album of the year. 2016 will...
Posted Feb 20th, 2017
New Music From Roberto Fonseca!
Check out this new music video from Roberto Fonseca: Roberto’s album ABUC is available digitally worldwide and CDs release in the US this Friday! For more info visit www.imnworld.com/robertofonseca
Posted Dec 5th, 2016
Cuba: Music of a ‘New Era’
From Billboard Cuba: Music of a ‘New Era’ By: Judy Cantor-Navas Roberto Fonseca describes new album, ABUC — his first released on legendary jazz label Impulse! — as one that ‘tells people how Cuba was, how Cuba is and how Cuba will be.’ …On ABUC (Cuba spelled backwards), which came out on Nov. 17, Fonseca, a crack band and guests...
Posted Nov 29th, 2016
Roberto Fonseca: ABUC ‘” review
From The Financial Times Roberto Fonseca: ABUC ‘” review The pianist reimmerses in the musical history of his native Cuba and recreates 1940s big bands By: David Honigmann Roberto Fonseca has recently delivered sparkling collaborations with the Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara; this new record reimmerses the pianist in the musical history of his native Cuba. It opens with Ray Bryant’s...
Posted Nov 4th, 2016
Roberto Fonseca – ABUC album review: a thrilling sense of immediacy
From The Irish Times Roberto Fonseca – ABUC album review: a thrilling sense of immediacy By: Cormac Larkin Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca is doing with the music of his homeland what US pioneers like Robert Glasper are doing with jazz ‘” drilling down into the roots of the music, examining the influences that created the current generation, but doing it...
Posted Nov 2nd, 2016
Roberto Fonseca to Release ‘ABUC’
CUBAN JAZZ PIANIST ROBERTO FONSECA CELEBRATES THE MUSIC — AND MUSICAL HISTORY — OF HIS ISLAND HOMELAND ABUC set for release on October 28, 2016 For nearly two decades, Grammy nominated pianist Roberto Fonseca has been exploring and celebrating the music of his native Cuba. As a composer, producer, solo artist and collaborator with other Latin American music luminaries, he...
Posted Sep 1st, 2016
Fonseca and Diawara spark the Barbican!
From The Arts Desk By Thomas Rees *Fatoumata Diawara and Roberto Fonseca, Barbican The musical traditions of Cuba and Mali leave a capacity crowd in raptures* Though they may be separated by thousands of miles, Cuba and Mali share a common musical connection. Right at the heart of Cuban music lie rhythms from sub-saharan African and last night the two...
Posted Jun 1st, 2015
Roberto Fonseca headlining Miami Nice Jazz Festival celebration of Miami’s jazz roots!
From Miami Beach News MIAMI NICE JAZZ FESTIVAL has released the lineup of the international artists set to celebrate the event’s Miami jazz roots beginning on November 1 through 23. This the med, month long festival will bring jazz to some of Miami’s finest and most celebrated landmarks in a perfect fusion of music and history. As one of Miami’s...
Posted Oct 30th, 2014
Roberto Fonseca on tour in Chicago!
From Falls Church News-Press Press Pass: Roberto Fonseca By Drew Costley Robert Fonseca (Photo: Carlos Pericas) Latin jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca was surrounded by music from an early age. His father was a drummer, his mother is a professional singer and his two older brothers are also musicians who are internationally known. Fonseca, who has been playing the piano since...
Posted Oct 23rd, 2014
Roberto Fonseca and Fatoumata Diawara: finest fusion at WOMAD
From Morning Star A Perfect Opportunity to Discover Refreshingly Good Music BY: George Fogarty WOMAD has built up a well-earned reputation for consistently bringing together the hottest talents from all corners of the globe and this year was no exception…[it is] a great place for discovering new fusions… [T]he finest this year was Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca’s set with...
Posted Aug 6th, 2014
Roberto Fonseca, Pedrito Martinez looking to move Afro-Cuban music forward
From The Washington Post Roberto Fonseca, Pedrito Martinez looking to move Afro-Cuban music forward By Chris Richards For so many American eardrums, the story of Afro-Cuban music begins and ends with ‘Buena Vista Social Club.’ The beloved 1997 album ‘” and the 1999 documentary about the unlikely studio sessions that birthed it ‘” transformed a crew of forgotten Cuban maestros...
Posted Oct 7th, 2013
The Syncretic Sounds of Cuban Pianist Roberto Fonseca
From Chicago Reader The syncretic sounds of Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca By Peter Margasak On Sunday night the Buena Vista Social Club returns to Chicago with a concert at Symphony Center. Many of the all-star Cuban orchestra’s greatest voices have died since the group became an unexpected phenomenon starting in 1998’“including singer and tres player Compay Segundo, singers Ibrahim Ferrer...
Posted Sep 28th, 2013
Roberto Fonseca Engages Audience at Highline Ballroom
from The New York Times For Some Songs, the Audience Is Included Roberto Fonseca at the Highline Ballroom By Nate Chinen During his encore at the Highline Ballroom on Monday night, the pianist Roberto Fonseca did what any gracious Cuban entertainer typically does with a New York audience: he struck a note of inclusion. Leading his band into a traditional...
Posted Sep 25th, 2013
Buena Vista Social Club’s Barbarito Torres
From Nuvo Buena Vista Social Club’s Barbarito Torres By Kyle Long I can’t think of a contemporary band that could convincingly carry on after losing three of its most talented members. But legendary Cuban supergroup Buena Vista Social Club have done exactly that and seem to be doing so with ease. The prodigious skills and larger-than-life personalities of Compay Segundo,...
Posted Sep 25th, 2013
Live in New York: Roberto Fonseca
From New York Daily News Live in New York: Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca By Jim Farber Roberto Fonseca opens his new album on the attack. In a cut called ‘‘80s,’ the acclaimed Cuban jazz musician races over his keyboard, firing it with the percussive flair of ’70s jazz-fusion. Munir Hossn’s electric guitar mirrors his aggression, but it’s the beats of...
Posted Sep 20th, 2013
Editor’s Pick: Roberto Fonseca
From Downbeat Roberto Fonseca, Yo By Bobby Reed Already a significant commercial and critical success in Europe (where it was released in 2012), Roberto Fonseca’s album Yo has just been released in the United States. The Cuban keyboardist is a terrific example of what makes 21st century improvised music so exciting: Fonseca is part of a generation of musicians who...
Posted Sep 12th, 2013
YO
From Concord Music Group Roberto Fonseca to Release ‘YO’ on Concord Jazz August 27, 2013: An Album at the Crossroads of Jazz, Traditional Music and Soul In the span of less than fifteen years and numerous solo and collaborative recordings, Cuban-born pianist and composer Roberto Fonseca has established himself as one of the most innovative and charismatic musicians of his...
Posted Aug 27th, 2013
Roberto Fonseca: Touring with Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club
From BWW Music World Roberto Fonseca to Embark on U.S. Tour with Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club Next Month By: Music News Desk Cuban-born pianist and composer Roberto Fonseca’s new album Yo will be released August 27 on Concord Jazz. In celebration Fonseca will tour the U.S. with Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, as well as performing his own headlining...
Posted Aug 19th, 2013
Roberto Fonesca “Hot at Scott’s”
From Jazzwise Magazine Jazz breaking news: Roberto Fonseca hot at Scott’s By: Matthew Wright It was the warmest night of the year so far, when the heat hung still in the air, every Soho crevice melting in the furnace, and Ronnie Scott’s excellent air conditioning gave one more reason to confirm it as the coolest spot in town. Thus it...
Posted Jul 18th, 2013
Positive Notes: Interview with Roberto Fonseca
From Marie Claire Positive notes The Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca begins European tour By: Laila Bonazzi Roberto Fonseca says the word “music” twenty times a minute. And for the former piano prodigy of the Buena Vista Social Club there are only two types: “The good and the bad. If you ask me what I listen to, then I confess that...
Posted Apr 10th, 2013
Cuban Pianist Roberto Fonseca Explores His African Roots
From RFI Cuban Pianist Roberto Fonseca Explores His African Roots By: Alison Hird Cuban pianist takes West Africa to the Caribbean. “It was my dream to work with African musicians”, says top Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca. The dream has become reality with Fonseca’s third album Yo. The virtuoso pianist, composer and producer, formerly with Buena Vista Social Club, exlores...
Posted Jul 11th, 2012
Roberto Fonseca: Le Futur Anterieur
Robert Fonseca is in the May issue of So Jazz Music Magazine! To read the article click here
Posted May 25th, 2012
Roberto Fonseca : piano libre
From: Les Inrocks Musicien surdoué, le pianiste Roberto Fonseca revient avec un album impressionnant, qui ouvre pour de bon les frontières de la musique à Cuba. By: Yannis Ruel C’est en 2005 que le Cubain Roberto Fonseca rejoint pour la première fois nos platines, grâce à sa participation au disque Echu Mingua de son regretté compatriote le percussioniste virtuose Miguel...
Posted Apr 19th, 2012
Yo
Press Release When Roberto Fonseca plays, the music seeps from every pore in his body, at times on stage he stands and hammers the piano as if it were a percussion instrument or he grabs a drum and transforms his group into a comparsa ‘” the Cuban carnival groups that parade the streets once a year ‘” and gets the...
Posted Apr 17th, 2012
Roberto Fonseca, Barbican: Cuban Pianist Explores his African Roots & Gets Funky
From: The Arts Desk Roberto Fonseca, Barbican: Cuban pianist explores his African roots and gets funky By: Peter Culshaw The dazzling Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca delighted a packed Barbican last night ‘” but part of the fun was seeing him negotiate the balance between more soulful, minimal playing and sheer technically brilliant extravagance. Is he more an heir to Chucho...
Posted Mar 27th, 2012
Roberto Fonseca, Barbican, London
From: The Financial Times The pianist continued his mission to rescue Cuban music from its post-Buena Vista doldrums with this African-flavoured show By: David Honigmann All the omens for Roberto Fonseca’s London performance looked good. ‘The sun of Cuba has arrived in London town,’ announced Gilles Peterson, doubling as compère and weatherman. The support act, jazz cellist Ayanna, played an...
Posted Mar 27th, 2012
Roberto Fonseca, York Theatre Royal, March 28
From: The Press, York Roberto Fonseca, York Theatre Royal, March 28 CUBAN pianist, composer and band leader Roberto Fonseca will play York Theatre Royal on Wednesday, direct from performing with his band at the Barbican in London and on the Sage stage at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival. He will make no distinction between concerts, whatever the size of hall....
Posted Mar 23rd, 2012
Fonseca is One of The Most Exciting Musicians in The New Cuban Scene
From:BBC Music Fonseca is one of the most exciting musicians in the new Cuban scene. By: Robin Denselow Roberto Fonseca has moved on, once again. The Cuban pianist first came to international attention when he achieved the seemingly impossible by successfully taking over from the late and brilliant Ruben Gonzalez in the Buena Vista Social Club, but he has gone...
Posted Mar 12th, 2012
Hasta la Buena Vista
From:The Sydney Morning Herald An encounter with the masters of Cuban music marked a turning point for this former child prodigy By: Gabriel Wilder CUBA is famous for many things – cigars, salsa and, in recent years, the sprightliness of its elderly. Ever since the Buena Vista Social Club – a group of musicians who had all seen out their...
Posted Mar 7th, 2012
YESUN Rider: Download (pdf)
[A] master Cuban pianist
Forbes Magazine
Roberto Fonseca is one of the world’s great pianists and one of the finest of Cuba’s new generation of musicians.
The Evening Standard
Fonseca dazzled with piano pyrotechnics
The Boston Globe
The Cuban keyboardist is a terrific example of what makes 21st century improvised music so exciting: Fonseca is part of a generation of musicians who feel that all sounds from all countries are accessible to them, either in acoustic, electric or digitized form’“whether it’s a traditional, ancient rhythm or a computerized studio effect.
DownBeat
He has a delivered a deeply felt, carefully constructed and timelessly hip record
Billboard
The rightful heir to the Buena Vista Social Club legacy, pianist Fonseca had the daunting job of filling his hero Rubén González’s shoes after the great man passed away. He ended up becoming the star of the show. Now a hugely charismatic solo artist in his own right, he’s back with latest album YO, which deftly adds electronic beats and melodic lyricism to his infectious Afro-Cuban style.
Time Out New York
One of the most gifted, adventurous spirits of his generation‘¦ By turns playful and passionate, Yo boasts poise and experimentation in equal measure.
The Observer
By matching tradition with experiment, Fonseca has become one of the most exciting musicians in the new Cuban scene.
BBC Music
We can call it jazz, but it’s so much more.
NPR Weekend Edition