Solo (Gonzalo Rubalcaba album)

Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba recorded Solo following his collaboration with Charlie Haden on Land of the Sun, an album featuring songs written by Mexican composer José Sabre Marroquin and arranged by Rubalcaba, a sequel to Nocturne (2001), another collaboration between them. Haden and Rubalcaba were awarded the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for both albums. Solo was the first solo album (not featuring guest musicians) released by the performer in twenty years. Rubalcaba described this album as an "aural diary, an album of secrets, letters and notes, and photos." The album was released by Blue Note Records on March 7, 2006. ==Content==

Solo includes fifteen tracks, some previously released. There are four improvised tracks inspired by John Coltrane's Giant Steps: "Paseo Iluminado", "Paseo en Media Luz", "Paseo Azul", and "Paseo Morado". "Silencio" is a tribute to Cuban boleros. A reworked version is included on Solo, and is described as having an "intensely meditative character and slow deliberation," and "a more complex higher level of communication" than the original version. "Here's That Rainy Day" is a jazz ballad, recorded earlier for the album Inner Voyage, with an arrangement described as "breathtaking" by Ken Dryden of Allmusic. The first version of "Quasar" can be found on Paseo (2004); and the version included on Solo is described as "seven minutes of drama," by Calder of PopMatters, with "a sprawling, improv-heavy composition that runs Rubalcaba up and down the keyboard." ==Reception==

Solo received mostly positive reviews from critics. Andrew Liengard of Jazz Houston stated that Rubalcaba played "at once a pyrotechnical and thunderous two-handed assault, he also demonstrates a profound awareness of space and dynamics," and finally called the album "stunning". Joey Guerra of Amazon said that Solo "finds Rubalcaba soaring on the strength of his own talent", creating a "unique experience." PopMatters' Robert R. Calder stated that the record was "a very remarkable solo piano recital." In a separate review, Jim Santella, also of All About Jazz, praised Solo, commenting that Rubalcaba "finds space in his exploratory interpretation for dreamy soliloquies, but the excitement is all there, and it's powerful. The pianist makes us wait for this moment, and it's always worth the anticipation. Ultimately he lights an inspiring fire." Mark Corroto, in a third review of the album by All About Jazz, compared Rubalcaba's work to fellow Cuban artist Bebo Valdés, asseverating that both performers "blurred the lines between jazz, classical and folk, easily convincing you there need be no distinction." Solo peaked at number 22 in the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and was nominated for "Latin Jazz Album of the Year" at the 18th Annual Billboard Latin Music Awards, losing to Around the City by Eliane Elias. Rubalcaba earned the Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album at the 7th Latin Grammy Awards for Solo. ==Track listing==

The track listing is from AllMusic. All tracks written and composed by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, except "Nightfall" by Charlie Haden; "Bésame Mucho" by Consuelo Velázquez; and "Here's That Rainy Day" by Johnny Burke and James Van Heusen. ==Personnel==

This information is adapted from AllMusic. • Gonzalo Rubalcaba – main performer, producer, composer, piano • Charlie Haden – composer • Jim Anderson – audio engineer, mixing • Ken Blaydow – executive producer • Mario Garcia – post-digital production • Perry Greenfield – product manager • Brian Montgomery – mixing assistant • Neweraj Khajanchi – assistant engineer • Allan Tucker – mastering • Gordon H. Jee – creative director • Eli Wolf – A&R • Jana Leon – photography • Tor Lundvall – paintings • Burton Yount – art direction, graphic design ==References==