ALFREDO RODRÍGUEZ'S FANTASY ISLAND TRACKS

If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway this month is one of the most exciting jazz pianists of his generation. A child prodigy, Alfredo Rodríguez studied classical piano at the prestigious Conservatorio Amadeo Roldán and Instituto Superior de Arte while playing popular music in his father’s orchestra by night. While performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2006 he was discovered by his future mentor and producer, the legendary Quincy Jones. Combining the adventurous spirit of a young Joe Zawinal, the ingenuity of Monk with elegance and flair of Cuban tradition his is a sound to behold. Here he gives us a rare insight into the muisc that inspired him.

by Amaranta Wright

1. Keith Jarrett, "Part IV" (The Köln Concert) 

I was a teenager in Cuba when my uncle introduced me to The Köln Concert, and it changed everything for me. Until then, my world was mostly classical music. Hearing Keith improvise with so much freedom showed me that I could find my own musical language.

2. Bola de Nieve, "Ay, Mamá Inés" 

This song takes me straight back to my childhood in Cuba. I grew up listening to Bola de Nieve, and his music is very close to my heart. When I play it on stage, I feel connected to my roots, to my family, and to all those memories of home.

3. Ernesto Lecuona, "A la Antigua" (Lecuona Plays Lecuona) 

Lecuona is one of my favourite pianists and composers, and I love this album. Nobody mixes classical elegance with the soul and the rhythms of Cuba the way he does. Every time I listen to him, I feel proud of the musical heritage of my country.

4. Johann Sebastian Bach, "Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28

" I learned the piano through classical music, long before I knew how to improvise, and Bach has always been my favorite composer. As a kid I spent hours and hours practicing his music, and I still play him all the time. Listening to Bach takes me back to those early years in Cuba, to my teachers, and to everything that made me the musician I am."

5. Michael Jackson, "Thriller" 

Michael Jackson has always been one of my favorite artists, and this song means even more to me because my mentor, Quincy Jones, produced it. Quincy changed my life, as a musician and as a person. I made my own arrangement of "Thriller" and I still play it at almost every concert, as a tribute to two artists who inspired me so much.

6. Orquesta Aragón, "El Bodeguero" 

My father grew up listening to Orquesta Aragón, so their music was always playing at home when I was a child. For me, "El Bodeguero" is one of their most beautiful songs. Their sound, their melodies, the way they capture the spirit of Havana, all of it makes me very nostalgic.

7. Benny Moré, "Bonito y Sabroso" (with Orquesta de Rafael de Paz) 

Benny Moré is another artist I grew up listening to in Cuba, and I have a special love for his recordings from the 1950s. His voice, his phrasing, his energy, there is nobody like him. For me, this song is the richness of Cuban music, and those traditions are still in everything I create today.

8. Buika, "No Habrá Nadie en el Mundo"

 I have been a big fan of Buika for many years. She is one of my favorite singers in the world. Her voice is so powerful, and she means every word she sings. This song gives me chills every time I hear it. If I were stranded on a desert island, I would want her voice with me.