Roberto Juan Rodriguez

Percussionist, composer, and arranger Roberto Juan Rodriguez, whose exclusive blending of Latin and Jewish music provides essentially created a complete new hybrid, was created in Cuba, the kid of veteran horn participant Roberto Luis Rodriguez. Younger Rodriguez examined violin, piano, and trumpet in Havana, and discovered to try out drums there, aswell. He still left Cuba for Miami along with his family members when he was nine. While still in his teenagers, Rodriguez started playing drums along with his father’s numerous ensembles in the Miami region, and also started immersing himself in the tradition from the area’s huge Jewish human population, sensing historic commonalities between Cuban expatriates as well as the Jewish diaspora. After majoring in jazz and music in the University or college of Miami, Rodriguez relocated to NEW YORK, quickly creating himself like a drummer of notice, working with famous brands T-Bone Burnett, Phoebe Snow, Rubén Cutting blades, Paul Simon, Julio Iglesias, the Miami Audio Machine, Joe Jackson, and several other recording performers. He also became the drummer for Marc Ribot’s acclaimed Los Cubanos Postizos music group. When John Zorn contacted him about the chance of saving an recording of Jewish music for Tzadik Information, Rodriguez jumped at the chance, tossing himself into composing for the very first time. The effect was the wonderful Judeo-Cuban Un Danzon de Moises recording, that was released by Tzadik to essential acclaim in 2002 (and presented a lot of musical insight from Rodriguez’s dad, Roberto Luis). An additional exploration of the new music, that will be termed Afro-Cuban klezmer, was included with Rodriguez’s second record, Baila! Gitano Baila!, released in 2004, once again by Tzadik. Another Tzadik task, Oy Vey! Ole!, made an appearance in 2006, accompanied by The Initial Container and Timba Talmud in ’09 2009.