[Cover photo credit to Gabriela Gabrielaa]
Alfredo Rodriguez has announced his new album Coral Way to be released on August 18th, 2023 via Mack Avenue Records. The album sets out to capture “the collective sound of Miami”, including a blend of Latin pop, Timba, Salsa, Bachata, Tango, Reggaeton, and Bolero. Rodriguez has also announced a number of U.S. tour dates for the fall including shows in Chicago, New York, Miami, and Denver.
In his new home of Miami, Rodriguez took note of the limited cross-pollination and few collaborations that existed between mainstream Latin music and Latin Jazz. Coral Way, which features guest vocalists Cimafunk and Alana Sinkëy, serves to connect these worlds, “an artistic statement for the diverse Latin community to be seen, be heard, and take pride in their history, while creating community through individuality.”
Rodriguez notes:
I play what I live, and Coral Way is my new life. It is the name of the street on which, for the past 3 years, I have been composing this album, and now I’m excited that people from all over the world will finally get to hear it in an expansive way, with a full live band.
Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Rodriguez’s world was confined by the numerous restrictions imposed by his country. In 2006, at age 19, he received an invitation to represent Cuba at the Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF) in the International Solo Piano Competition. There, he met Producer Quincy Jones who later wanted to encourage work in the US for Rodriguez.
However, Cubans were not allowed to work in the U.S., and could only arrive at U.S. border stations to seek political asylum, meaning that Alfredo would have to relinquish his Cuban citizenship and jeopardize his ability to return home until he obtained a green card. After a year and a half of contemplating, he made the difficult decision to leave his family behind for a broader platform in music.
He has since made frequent appearances on stages around the world such as the Playboy Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz in Marciac, Umbria Jazz and Jazz A Vienne, but additionally, Rodriguez was nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella,” for the track “Guantanamera,” from his album, The Invasion Parade.
Additionally, during his first tour in China, Rodriguez was asked to work with Tan Dun, Siedah Garrett, and Quincy Jones to compose the English version of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo theme song, becoming the first non-Chinese artist to be bestowed this honor.
Rodriguez will be sharing his message of “perseverance and cross culturalization” on an international tour, and he also posts social media videos in which he plays well-known compositions in a Cuban timba style.
Tour Dates:
June 9: Madrid, Spain @ Teatro Bulevar
July 1: Murcia, Spain @ San Javier Jazz Festival
July 4: Baku, Azerbaijan @ Baku Summer Days
July 6: Oviedo, Spain @ Teatro Campoamor
July 7-8: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain @ Canarias Jazz Festival
July 26: Langnau im Emmental, Switzerland @ Kupferschmiede
July 28: Rimini, Italy @ Court of the Augustinians
August 4: Bitonto, Italy @ Beat Onto
August 5: Corinaldo, Italy @ Associazione Culturale Round Jazz
August 6: Rimini, Italy @ Corte Degli Agostiniani
August 9: Augsburg, Germany @ Botanischer Garten
August 12: Bansko, Bulgaria @ Bansko Jazz Festival
August 16: Tratalias , Italy @ Santannaresi Jazz
August 18: Castelsardo, Italy @ Musica sulle Bocche Festival Jazz Internazionale
August 20: Makarska, Splitsko-dalmatinska, Croatia @ Makarska Jazz Festival
September 20: Chicago, Illinois @ Constellation
September 22: Des Moines, Iowa @ Civic Music Association
September 23: Madison, Wisconsin @ Stoughton
September 24: St. Paul, Minnesota @ Turf Club
September 28: New York City, New York @ Sheen Center
October 4: Boca Raton, Florida @ Boca Black Box
October 5: Cocoa Beach, Florida @ Heidi’s Jazz Club
October 6: Largo, Florida @ Central Park Performing Arts Center
October 7: Miami, Florida @ The Moss Center
October 11: Denver, Colorado @ Cervantes
October 13: Greeley, Colorado @ UNC Greeley
October 14: Beaver Creek, Colorado @ Vilar Perf. Arts Center with Richard Bona
November 4: Lausanne, Switzerland @ Paderewski Room Salle PAderewski
November 8: Lublin, Poland @ Teatr Stary w Lublinie
November 9: Warsaw, Mazowieckie (Masovian) Poland @ Jassmine
November 10: Ełk, Poland @ Elk Cultural Center
November 15: Novi Sad, Serbia @ Novi Sad Jazz Festival: Serbian National Theatre
November 17: Eilat, Israel @ Red Sea Jazz Festival
November 26: Mumbai, Maharashtra India @ Tata Theatre, Mumbai Intl. Jazz Festival
February 15: Rotterdam, Netherlands @ LantarenVenster
February 16: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bimhuis
February 17: Cologne, Germany @ Kölner Philharmonie
February 24: Neuburg a.d. Donau, Bayern Germany @ Birdland Jazz Club Neuburg
February 25: Straubing, Bayern Germany @ Hotel ASAM
March 22: Los Angeles, California @ UCLA
