For Tickets and More: sfperformances.org | 415.392.2545 | 1

presents…

ALFREDO RODRÍGUEZ | Piano

Friday, December 15, 2017 | 7:30pmSan Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall

Program to be announced from the stage

This performance is supported in part by a generous gift from the Estate of Maxine D. Wallace.

Photographing or recording performances is strictly forbidden.

Alfredo Rodríguez is represented by Unlimited Myles, 6 Imaginary Place, Aberdeen, NJ 07747 unlimitedmyles.com

2 | For Tickets and More: sfperformances.org | 415.392.2545

ARTIST PROFILE

Tonight is the San Francisco Performances de-but of Alfredo Rodríguez.

Grammy nominated artist Alfredo Ro-dríguez reflects the talents of legendary jazz pianists Keith Jarrett, Thelonious Monk, and Art Tatum. Schooled in the rig-orous classical conservatories of Havana, Rodríguez’s riveting artistry is informed as much by Bach and Stravinsky as it is by his Cuban and jazz roots. Discovered at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival by Quincy Jones, Cuban-born Alfredo Rodríguez has distinguished himself as the definition of jazz and improvisation without boundar-ies. He is the man behind the piano with fingers that seem to travel from one end of the world to the other, just within the span of the keys; his mastery of the art has earned him frequent appearances on prestigious stages around the world such as the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Holly-wood Bowl, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz in Marciac, Umbria Jazz and Jazz à Vienne. Additionally, Ro-dríguez was nominated for a 2015 Grammy in the category of “Best Arrangement, In-strumental or A Cappella,” for the track Guantanamera, from his 2014 release, The Invasion Parade. 

During his first tour in China, Rodrí-

guez was asked to work with Tan Dun, Sie-dah Garrett and Quincy Jones to compose the English-version of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo theme song, making him the first non-Chinese artist to be bestowed this honor. Though impressive, his ac-complishments are not the only defining factors of his standout success; his ability to express himself culturally by “playing stories” on the keys places him in a unique position to connect with his listeners on a more relatable and personal level. As demonstrated by The Invasion Parade, the follow-up album to his stunning debut on Mack Avenue, Sounds of Space, Rodríguez explores his memories of Cuba, the people and culture he left behind and finds his new place. Co-Produced by Quincy Jones

and featuring a superb ensemble that in-cludes bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spald-ing and percussionist/vocalist Pedrito Martínez, the record is comprised of nine tracks including originals by Rodríguez as well as evergreens such as Guantana-mera, Maria Teresa Vera’s Veinte Años, and Quizás, Quizás, Quizás. 

Quincy Jones expresses, “Alfredo is very special and I do not say that easily because I have been surrounded by the best musi-cians in the world my entire life. He is with-out doubt one of the best young pianists I’ve ever seen and with the enormous skills that he already possesses, his potential is limitless.” Alfredo is currently working on a new album influenced by world music, which will be released in the near future.

Tickets and more information415.392.2545 sfperformances.org/pivot

JANUARY 23–27 A.C.T.’s STRAND

THEATER

L.A. DANCE PROJECTTue Jan 23 | 8:30pm | $40/$25

TIMO ANDRES | PIANO

Fri Jan 26 | 8:30pm | $40/$25

JOE GOODE PERFORMANCE GROUPSat Jan 27 | 8:30pm | $40/$25

SARAH CAHILL | PIANOKATE STENBERG | VIOLIN ALEXANDER STRING QUARTET WILLIAM WINANT PERCUSSION GROUPWed Jan 24 | 8:30pm | $40/$25

BUY ALL FOUR PERFORMANCES FOR $90

PIVOTSAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES PRESENTS