Alfredo Rodriguez (Kuuba)

This year, Christmas will take on a different vibe – for one evening, let’s trade our warm sweaters and hot mulled wine for sunglasses and a Cuba Libre, as Cuban pianist and composer Alfredo Rodriguez brings his vibrant energy to Christmas Jazz! The sizzling concert will showcase some of his most famous works, including the Grammy-nominated Guantanamera.

Alfredo Rodriguez was born in Havana in 1985, named after his father, a well-known singer, television host and entertainer. He began his formal music studies at the age of seven and, by 14, was already playing and arranging for his father’s orchestra. A pivotal moment in his musical journey came when he received Keith Jarrett’s iconic album The Köln Concert as a gift, which sparked his fascination with the world of improvisation.

In 2006, Rodriguez was invited to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he had the opportunity to meet the legendary producer Quincy Jones. Impressed by Rodriguez’s talent, Jones expressed a desire to collaborate with the young pianist. Three years later, Rodriguez moved to the United States, where his career began to gain international traction. To date, he has performed at numerous festivals, including Montreux, Detroit, Newport, San Francisco, Umbria and the Vienna Jazz Festival, as well as at prestigious jazz clubs like Ronnie Scott’s, Yoshi’s and The Blue Note. This will be Rodriguez’s first visit to Estonia.