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The Blessing | 
 enlarge | Artist: Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Label: Blue Note Records
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $7.39
You Save: $4.59 (38%)
New (28) Used (14) from $4.90
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 166293
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 97197
UPC: 077779719723
EAN: 0077779719723
ASIN: B000000W2X
Release Date: October 22, 1991
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new, factory sealed. Fast shipping!
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| Tracks:
| | Circuit | | | Sandino | | | Besame Mucho - Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Skylar, Sunny | | | Giant Steps | | | Sin Remedio el Mar | | | Silver Hollow | | | The Blessing | | | Blue in Green | | | Simbunt Ye Contracova | | | Mima - Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Rubalcaba, Gonzalo |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
This was the first of Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba's recordings to appear in the United States, and it's a stunning introduction to his work. He's more than ably supported by Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette, with Haden's fundamentalist approach to the bass acting as a secure anchor to Rubalcaba's frequent flights of virtuosity and DeJohnette's polyrhythmic approach. With his deep roots in the rhythmic language of Cuban music, Rubalcaba brings a subtle and complex pulse to even his most reflective moments at the keyboard. He's also rooted in some of the more adventurous paths that jazz took in the 1960s, as that stellar rhythm section would suggest. It shows in the original approaches that he finds to Coltrane's "Giant Steps," Bill Evans's "Blue in Green," and Ornette Coleman's "The Blessing." --Stuart Broomer
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| Customer Reviews:
 Sublime August 28, 2005
Driver9 (New York, NY USA)
Surprised is how I felt when I first heard the music. It reminded me of some earlier sounds, strains of Thelonious Monk, Don Pullen and Cecil Taylor, although it diminishes the music to have to compare it to something else, doesn't it. If you don't like it, fine. But if you don't understand something, don't put it down. Any time musicians experiment with melody-rhythm-harmony, the first few hearings can be jarring. Who said you have to be able to snap your fingers for something to be good. Who said you have to be able to understand what the musicians are doing? Try opening your ears to a sound you aren't used to. It won't bite you. You don't have to be afraid, just listen.
Wow! January 11, 2003
Lots of great technique *and* beautiful music, despite what other reviewers may say. The opening statement in CIRCUITO is pretty jarring and may strike some listeners as being nonmusical, but it's actually pretty similar to the unaccompanied jags Brad Mehldau occassionally takes, a little chaos before the return of order. Includes some really beautiful readings of SANDINO, SILVER HOLLOW, BLUE IN GREEN, among others. I got this two months ago and have been listening to it as much all my other CDs combined. Really outstanding jazz.
 Highly overrated March 8, 2001
9 out of 20 found this review helpful
There has been much fuss during the past years about this cuban pianist. If it is chops that you're after - you've got it. On the other hand, if you're looking for music - turn elsewhere. Chops are what this guy is all about. Techniquely he is truly awesome, but he doesn't really have the faintest clue about the aesthetics of jazz music. The word "groove" cannot even be used in this context, since Gonzalo has no idea of how to swing in a jazz-like manner. His typewriter-like phraziation sounds hysterical as he rushes the time like crazy. Harmonically he makes a huge fool of himself in "Giant Steps", where most of the notes he plays are total garbage and have nothing to do with the chord changes. If you really do want to listen to mr. Rubalcapa, my suggestion is that you try out some of his earlier stuff where he operates in a more latin-american context.
Beautiful trio album with a Latin flavor May 4, 2000
Jonathan Mayhew (Lawrence, KS USA)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This album features Jack Dejohnette on drums and Charlie Haden on bass along with Rubalcaba. The music doesn't groove as hard as "Inner Voyage," but the music has lyrical quality. Check out versions of Ornette Coleman's "The Blessing" and Coltrane's "Giant Steps."
Gonzalo, the best young musician to come along in over a de April 12, 2000
Donald Bennett (Chicago, IL)
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
Gonzalo Rubalcaba is the best I've heard in quite some time. I am a jazz pianist with five CD's in the stores and on Amazon. If you haven't heard Gonzalo, you are really missing out on greatness. Gonzalo will be around for a very long time. I had the pleasure of hearing him at syphony hall here in Chicago and he blew me away.
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