Roberto Carcassés
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (January 2010) |
Cuban Jazz pianist Robert Carcassés was born on May 19, 1972 in Havana (Cuba). He is one of the most prominent players and arrangers of the current Cuban musical scene, collaborating with many renowned and talented musicians such as Chucho Valdés, Changuito, Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Descemer Bueno… He is also the bandleader of the famous Interactivo collective.
Biography
Also known as « Robertico », Roberto Carcassés graduated in percussion from the National School of Arts in Havana, in 1991. He toured as a pianist with the Grupo de Santiago Feliú in Argentina, Germany and Spain between 1992 and 1995. He also took part on a tour in Spain and USA with the group Columna B, in 1998-1999. During this period, he taught in the Jazz Workshop of Stanford University.
Solo career
Roberto Carcassés is recognised as one of the most prodigious musicians and producers of his generation. Throughout his career, he has been invited to perform at many international jazz festivals, including the Barcelona Jazz Festival (1997), the Havana Festival (1995, 1996, 1997) and the Utah Jazz Festival (1998). In 1997, Roberto Carcassés composed the soundtrack for the film Violetas (México), as well as some songs for the films Cuarteto De La Habana (Spain) and New Rose Hotel (USA). His CD, entitled Invitation and released in 2000, showcased many aspects of his musical capacity as a pianist, but also as a music director and arranger. More recently, Roberto Carcassés presented his last album Matizar at the Che Guevara hall of the Casa de las Américas in July 2009.
Collaborations
Carcassés has collaborated with many renowned musicians such as Chucho Valdés, Changuito, Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Gonzalito Rubalcaba and Harper Simon – to name a few.
He participated in albums that are recognized as having shaped the landscape of contemporary music in Cuba, most notably Trampas Del Tiempo (Pavel y Gema), Jazz Timbero (alongside his father, the Cuban Jazz legend Bobby Carcassés) and Twisted Noon (Columna B).
His most recent productions are Telmary’s A diario (2006), and Breathe (2006), the second album of singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Yusa. He also worked on Goza Pepillo, as bandleader for Interactivo, a collective he formed several years ago bringing together the most talented young Cuban instrumentalists : Yusa, Telmary, Francis del Rio, William Vivanco, Elmer Ferrer, Rodney Barreto, Julio Padrón, Juan Carlos Marin, Carlos Sarduy, Denis Cuní, Alexander Brown, Rafael Paseiro, Edgar Martinez, Adel González, Carlos Mirayes, Nestor del Prado, Oliver Valdés, Lissette Ochoa, Lisandra, Maryuri Rivera, Jorge L. Chicoy, Roberto Martinez, Kumar, Athanai, Kelvis Ochoa, Descemer Bueno… The collective won the highly coveted Cubadisco Award in 2006.
Jazz festival performances
Festival Ottawa Canada (2005) Festival de Jazz Istambul, Turkey (2003) Utah Jazz Festival, U.S.A (1998). Stanford Jazz Festival, California U.S.A (1998) Barcelona Jazz Festival, Spain (1997) Festival de San Sebastián with David Murry, Spain. Festival de Jazz Vienne Sud de la France. Festival de La Habana (1995, 1996, 1997, 2006) Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan Ronnie Scotts , London U.K Jamboree, Barcelona, Spain
Movie soundtracks Violetas (Mexico), 1997. Cuarteto de La Habana (Spain)
New Rose Hotel (USA).
Recent compositions, productions, arrangements Pavel y Gema- Trampas del tiempo
Bobby Carcassés - Jazz Timbero Columna B - Twisted Noon for Mambo Music, Selma Reis
Luis Bofill - New Album (2007) Interactivo, Goza Pepillo Award winner (Prize Cubadisco + Opera Prima y Fusión) (2006) Yusa – Breath - U.K (2006) Telmary - A Diario – Cuba (2006) William Vivanco - La Isla Milagrosa – Cuba (2006) Francis del Rio – Sentimiento – Cuba (2006) Breathing Havana - Compilation – Japan (2006) Cool Cool Filin – Compilation- Japan (2006) Ojos de Brujo – Techarí – Spain (2006) Jazz Cuba today DVD, first ever dvd to be released in Cuba (2005) Roberto Carcassés - Invitation Solo Album, Velas Rec.U.S.A (2000)