Multi-instrumentalist and composer Roberto Fonseca was born on March 29, 1975, in Havana, Cuba. He made his debut at the Havana International Jazz Festival in 1990 when he was 15.
Fonseca also played with Buena Vista Social Club, joining great the cast of stars such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Orlando ‘Cachaíto’ López, Rubén González, Guajiro Mirabal and Manuel Galbán and also recorded and toured with another of its stars, Omara Portuondo.
Throughout his career, Roberto Fonseca has collaborated with Mayra Andrade, Regina Carter, Anat Cohen, Carlinhos Brown, Vicente Amigo, Kepa Junkera, Snarky Puppy, Michael Brecker, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Nils Petter Molvær; performing in Palais des Congrès (París), Royal Albert Hall (London), Beacon Theatre (New York), Sydney Opera House (Australia), Frankfurt Alter Oper (Frankfurt), Jazz in Marciac, Festival de Jazz de Montreaux, the New York City Center Hall, Festival Jazz de Tokyo. He was also co-producer along with British Dj Gilles Peterson of Havana Cultura New Cuban Sound Vol I and II.
In 2019, Fonseca released Yesun, an album where he used various keyboards and incorporated multiples genres ranging from Cuban traditional music to jazz, electronica, and reggaeton.
In 2023, Fonseca released La Gran Diversión (The Great Fun), a celebration of the engaging and timeless melodies that once appeared through the Cuban airwaves in the 1930s.
Discography:
Tiene Que Ver (Egrem, 1999)
No Limit (JVC, 2001)
Temperamento (Yemayá, 2007)
Zamazu (Enja Records, 2007)
Akokan (Enja Records, 2009)
Live In Marciac (Enja Records, 2010)
Yo (Concord Jazz/Jazz Village, 2012)
At Home – Live In Marciac (Jazz Village, 2015)
ABUC (Impulse!, 2016)
Yesun (Mack Avenue, 2019)
La Gran Diversión ( Wagram Music, 2023)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.