Rubén González

Ruben Gonzalez(魯本?岡薩雷茲)(1920—2003) 古巴三大鋼琴手之一，看起來仙風(fēng)道骨的Ruben Gonzalez，年輕時(shí)放棄了古典音樂和醫(yī)科的學(xué)習(xí)來到哈瓦那做全職的樂手。80年代中Ruben選擇隱退，卻又在1996年遇上人生的另一次轉(zhuǎn)折:家里鋼琴壞了多年的Ruben到Egrem錄音室練琴時(shí)，恰巧被RyCooder等三位制作人聽到了，于是他們立刻邀請(qǐng)他彈奏鋼琴，又在短短兩天時(shí)間內(nèi)為他錄下了首張個(gè)人專輯。Ruben有著相當(dāng)靈活的頭腦和不錯(cuò)的幽默感，他的演奏糅合了古典、爵士及古巴本土音樂，游走于優(yōu)雅感性及愉悅奔放之間。2001年他還和Ferrer、Omara到香港藝術(shù)節(jié)演出，但后來他的健康狀況急轉(zhuǎn)直下，被迫自公開演奏的生活中退休。2003年12月8日仙逝，享年84歲。
Rubén González was one of the last of Cubas 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 Cooders 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 Jorríns band, remaining with the group until Jorríns 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 1997s Introducing... and 2000s Chanchullo. The octogenarian pianist died in December of 2003 in his home of Havana, Cuba.