Ruben Gonzalez
Rubén González was one of the last of Cuba's great Afro-Cuban piano players. Although he had played and recorded with the band led by Enrique Jorrín, the creator of the cha-cha, for a quarter of a century, he had retired from music by the mid-'80s. Things began to change when González recorded with the Afro-Cuban All Stars in 1996. The album, A Toda Cuba Le Gusta, released the following year, helped to inspire an international fascination for Afro-Cuban music and brought González to the attention of a global audience. His performance on the Ry Cooder-produced album Buena Vista Social Club made him an international phenomenon. Signing a contract with Cooder's label, World Circuit, González released his debut solo album, Introducing...Ruben Gonzalez, at the age of 78.
Showing great promise, as a pianist, from an early age, González graduated from the Cienfuegos Conservatoire in 1934. Although he briefly attended medical school, hoping to become a doctor, the lure of music proved unsurmountable. Leaving school, González moved to Havana to become a full-time musician in 1941. After recording with influential multi-instrumentalist Arsenio Rodriguez, González joined Orquestra de los Hermanos, a group featuring Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria. Following an extended period in Panama and Argentina, during which he worked with tango musicians, he returned to Havana and played with a series of cabaret bands. In the early '60s, González joined Enrique Jorrín's band, remaining with the group until Jorrín's death. Although he assumed leadership of the band, González was forced, by arthritis, to announce his retirement. He maintained a low-key presence until 1996. During his return, however, González enjoyed the fame that was long overdue; he released two albums in the U.S, including 1997's Introducing... and 2000's Chanchullo. The octogenarian pianist died in December of 2003 in his home of Havana, Cuba.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
-
Introducing (Deluxe Edition)
Musiques du monde - Paru chez World Circuit le 12 mai 1997
Songlines Five-star review16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chanchullo
Musiques du monde - Paru chez World Circuit le 19 sept. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing
Musiques du monde - Paru chez World Circuit le 12 mai 1997
Discothèque Idéale Qobuz16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nuestra Cancion
Amérique latine - Paru chez Plaza Mayor Company, Ltd. le 9 déc. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Leyendas (Instrumental)
Musiques du monde - Paru chez Plus Music Records le 5 avr. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Momentos
Musiques du monde - Paru chez Ultra Records, LLC le 14 juin 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Hymns for Solo Piano
Diction - Paru chez The Piano Companion, LLC le 15 août 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dos grandes (Remasterizado)
Amérique latine - Paru chez Legacy Recordings le 1 juil. 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Canta Ruben Gonzalez
Anselmo Sacasas y Su Orquesta, Ruben Gonzalez
Musiques du monde - Paru chez Int - Bertus le 22 nov. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Poco Loco
Anselmo Sacasas y Su Orquesta, Ruben Gonzalez, Cuso Mendoza
Jazz - Paru chez Fresh Sound Records le 16 juin 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Egoísta
Musiques du monde - Paru chez Bréa Records le 31 juil. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Libertad
Musiques du monde - Paru chez Ruben Gonzalez le 6 janv. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Canta Ruben Gonzalez (Recorded New York 1946-1949) (Remastered)
Amérique latine - Paru chez RevOla le 26 août 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Foto de Mi Aldea
Musiques du monde - Paru chez Ruben Gonzalez le 1 janv. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Los Marcianos
Orquesta América del 55, Ruben Gonzalez
Jazz - Paru chez Tumbao Cuban Classics le 17 déc. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Courage to Succeed
Diction - Paru chez Made For Success le 31 déc. 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Que No Se Acabe el Bongo
Conjunto Niagra, Ruben Gonzalez
Jazz - Paru chez Fresh Sound Records le 16 juin 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brussel 1840 (Original Mix)
House - Paru chez Underground Avenue Records le 16 oct. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Becoming Unstoppable
Diction - Paru chez Made For Success le 31 déc. 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soberano Dios
Ambiance - Paru chez Kingdoms Records le 22 mai 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
let it play
Dance - Paru chez Global Groove Entertainment le 11 juil. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo