Julio Gonzalo González Fonseca, better known as Gonzalo Rubalcaba, is a prominent Cuban pianist and composer. He was born on May 27, 1963, in Havana. He completed his elementary musical studies at the Manuel Saumell Conservatory (660 F Street, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana). He continued his studies, specializing in percussion, at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory (Rastro No. 1 and Espada, Centro Habana, Havana). He later enrolled at the Instituto Superior de Arte (1110 120 Street between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana), where he studied with Roberto Valera, Carlos Fariñas, and Ñola Sahig.

When he was fourteen years old, he began playing in bands and accompanying soloists on the piano. In 1980, he won first prize for orchestration at the Buga International Festival in Colombia, where he performed alongside singer Beatriz Márquez. Around this time, he performed successfully at the first editions of the Jazz Plaza Festival.

In 1983, he founded his own orchestra, Proyecto, which he continued with until the late 1980s, when he strengthened his solo career. In Proyecto, he conducted and played piano, in addition to composing and arranging music. In 1985, he attended the North Sea Festival in Holland; from there, he traveled to England, where he performed at the Ronnie Scott Club during the Cuban Latin Jazz Groups Festival.

At one of the 1986 editions of this Cuban musical event, American trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was amazed by Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s performance and recorded the LP “Gillespie Live with Gonzalo Rubalcaba” with him. That same year, this great Cuban pianist signed a contract with the German record label Messidor, under which he recorded several albums, including “Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Live in Havana,” “Mi gran pasión,” and “Giraldilla.”

During the 1980s, he toured internationally, visiting countries such as Japan, Canada, Brazil, Greece, and Spain. He was also awarded the EGREM Prize in 1986, a prize he received again the following year. In 1987, he won an award at the Benny Moré Festival. At that time, he made his symphonic debut, recording the album Concierto Negro with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba and his group, which at the time consisted of five members and computerized elements, participated in the music for Tomás Gutiérrez Alea’s film, Cartas del parque.

He established his residence in the Dominican Republic in 1992. Since then, he has toured extensively. He has also recorded more than ten albums under the Blue Note label. In 2002, he received a Latin Grammy for his album, Supernova, and another in 2006 for his album, Solo.

He has worked as an accompanying pianist for Soledad Delgado, Ela Calvo, Pablo Milanés, and Alina Sánchez. Rubalcaba has participated in numerous musical events, including the Cuban Cultural Day in Spain; Mount Fuji in Japan; Belgium; West Germany; Montmartre in Copenhagen; the Stinks Festival in Antwerp; Club Paraíso in Amsterdam; and the Salsa Festival in West Berlin.

He has shared the stage with significant international musical figures and groups. Examples include the Aragón Orchestra, Síntesis, Sonido Contemporáneo, the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music, Todos Estrellas, Van Van, Irakere, Ray Barreto, Azymuth, Gato Barbieri, Tania María, Michel Camilo, Astrud Gilberto, Ornette Coleman, Al Dimeola, Phil Woode, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, David Valentin, among many others. He has left his musical mark on albums by Isaac Delgado, Juan Luis Guerra, Francisco Céspedes, and Charlie Haden.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States.

His composition credits include: New Cuban, Stepping on the Grass, Pergamín, Spanish Rhapsody, João, Mima, Stepping on the Grass, Pluma, Happy Return.

Throughout his musical career, he has received various awards, including the EGREM Prize (1986 and 1987); the Benny Moré Festival Prize (1987); the Latin Grammy Award (2002 and 2006); the Palmarès de Jazz Prize awarded by the French Academy of Arts; and the Basel Grand Prix.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba is considered by specialized critics to be one of the leading exponents of Afro-Cuban jazz.

Discography: La nueva cubana (1984); Concatenación I y II (1986); Concierto Negro (1987); Mi Gran Pasión (1987); Live in Havana (1989); Giraldilla (1989); Discovery: Live at Montreux (1990); The Blessing (1991); Images: Live at Mt. Fuji (1991); Suite 4 y 20 (1992); Rapsodia (1992); Imagine (1993); Diz (1993); Concatenacion (1995); Flying Colors (1997) with Joe Lovano; Antiguo (1998); Inner Voyage (1999) with Michael Brecker; Supernova (2001); Inicio (2001); Nocturne (2001) with Charlie Haden; Paseo (2004); Land of the Sun (2004) with Charlie Haden; Solo (2006); Avatar (2008); Faith (2010).