Rodriguez was born in Havana (Cuba) to a singer, TV presenter, and entertainer. He began formal music education at age seven. His first choice was percussion and not piano. He explains, “But…to select what I wanted, I had to wait till I was 10.” “So I picked piano. When I was able to switch to percussion, the piano was my choice. He then went on to the Conservatorio Amadeo Roldan and the Instituto Superior de Arte. Although his classical musical education was a strong one, he learned music on the streets, or, more specifically, on stage. He says, “I didn’t dance with many groups, but I was in my dad’s band since I turned 14.” My dad was a TV presenter and featured many well-known Cuban musicians on it. We had all types of music. While I was still young, I had the opportunity to perform and arrange music for every genre of music, including rock ‘n roll, boleros, and dance music. It was where I learned how to be a professional musician. Another great school was that. “I was very fortunate.” That momentous discovery in my formative years came on a CD. He recalls that Keith Jarrett’s The Koln Concert was given to him by his uncle when he was 15. I was then able to explore the concept of improvisation. It had been Bach, Mozart, Beethoven. I am grateful to my teachers for this because I wouldn’t have been the same pianist without them. However, I had no idea about improvisation until that moment. My life was changed by the Koln Concert. That was all I wanted to do. Just sit down and play. Music is not just about musical ideas. It can reflect and communicate what is around us.” Rodriguez was invited to Montreux Jazz Festival 2006. Rodriguez was invited to a party at the home of Claude Nobs (the festival’s founder and director), where he was asked if he would perform for Quincy Jones. Rodriguez recalls, “And of course… I said yes.” I remember that I played an arrangement I wrote of Cole Porter’s ‘I Love You’. Quincy liked the arrangement and said that he wanted me to continue working with him. It was incredible. It was amazing that someone I admire would want to do something with me. It was an interesting idea, but I am a realist and I knew it would be hard. It was.” But, a month later, back home in Cuba, he received an e-mail from Jones’ Vice President Adam Fell. “Then, I realized this was serious. After playing some engagements in Mexico with his father since 2008, Rodriguez decided to move to the U.S. and flew to Laredo, where he was detained by border police. He says, “I had nothing. I had a suitcase with a sweater and a pair of jeans. My music was in it.” “And when they interviewed us, I told them the truth: that I was coming to stay. I didn’t intend to do anything illegal. I was going to Quincy Jones’s studio, write music and launch my career. And they said: “If you turn my back, I’ll return tomorrow, and then the day after that and so on until I get through.” They laughed and took me to a cab. This is how I began my American career.” Very few artists are able to make their professional debut in America at the Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl. They were opening for Wayne Shorter. Rodriguez was also a guest at the SXSW Music Festival and Monterey Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival and San Francisco Jazz Festival. He also performed at international festivals like the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, Umbria (Italy), Montreux, Switzerland, Mawazine, Mundo Latino, Brazil, and Tag Heur Shanghai Jazz and Blues Week in China, among others. From www.amazon.com
