FELIPE CABRERA (EN)

Born in 1961 in Havana, Felipe Cabrera belongs to the revolutionary generation of Cuban musicians and composers who chose jazz and its creative freedom as a means for artistic expression. After a prestigious academic career in classical music, he joined the National Symphony Orchestra as first bassoon. Later he decided to learn the double bass on his own and to immerse himself in the study of jazz and the countless Cuban musical traditions.

In 1984, he became Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s bass player in the band Proyecto. Their collaboration lasted fifteen years. A period rich in concerts all over the world. The quintet was sponsored by the legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Felipe recorded 8 albums with Rubalcaba, 2 of which were nominated for a Grammy Award: Rapsodia in 1995 and Antiguo in 1996.

This period coincided with numerous collaborations with other great names in Cuban music: Tata Guines, Changuito Quintana, Sergio Vitier, Santiago Feliu, Frank Emilio Flynn, Roberto Fonseca, Roberto Carcassés, Yosvani Terry, Dafnis Prieto and many others. Not forgetting the famous jam sessions at the Havana Jazz Club “La Zorra y El Cuervo” with George Benson, Wynton Marsalis and Giovanni Hidalgo.

His latest album, Medusa, was born in Havana, during a 110-day lockdown where Felipe Cabrera found himself alone in the country where he grew up. The Paris-based double bassist decided́ to turn his accidental return to his homeland in a time of pandemic into art. While Cuba closed in on itself entirely to absorb the global disruption, he composed five superb musical pieces, which he made into a show for the Paris Festival Banlieues Bleues with his faithful Trio (Leonardo Montana on piano and Lukmil Perez on drums) and a special guest, also from Cuba, the choreographer and dancer Judith Sanchez Ruiz.