The pianist and member of Buena Vista Social Club, Roberto Fonseca has recently released “Yesun”, his ninth solo album. He spoke about it with Jazzespresso.
The title of the album is “Yesun”, a word pun on water: can you explain it? Why do you use water as a symbol?
YESUN is made from two words YEMAYA and OSHUN both are deities of my religion and both represent wather (Yemaya the sea and Oshun the river). Water is so important for the living and helps to purify, that’s something that somehow happens with music as well.
The album features guests like Lovano and Maalhouf: how and why have you chosen them?
I really like to collaborate with all kind of artists, but these two amazing musicians have all my admiration, I feel really proud for having them on my record and hope to keep doing things with them both.
It’s very important not to forget your roots and traditions because that´s what we were made of.
The record is a mix of different influences, including jazz, electronics, funk, rap … how do you work on your compositions? What about the arrangements?
Yes, I wanted to use all my influences on this álbum, it’s another step forward to a more modern Cuban jazz. My compositions are always stories that come very naturally.
How important is tradition in your music? And how much do you you believe it is important to transcend it by finding new paths? It’s very important not to forget your roots and traditions because that´s what we are made of, but indeed each person grow with so many influences and that´s the beauty, to be able to incorporate your traditions with new experiences because that´s how music become fresh.
Can you tell us how one of your song usually is born? In the morning, In the evening, with or without the instrument…
First and more important is to find the melody, this is the starting point. Once the melody is in your soul you just need to give it a shape….to me it feels like a movie, first you have the idea and then you develop the storyline.
What is music for you today?
All my life.
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Yesun: an espresso with Roberto Fonseca copyright Jazzespresso 2020.
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Jazzespresso is a magazine, a website, a network, a hub, connecting all the souls of jazz all over the world. Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa: news from all over the world on a page in four languages. A multicultural reference point in English, Chinese and Spanish language for the lovers of this music in every country. For the amateur or the pro who wants to be updated about what is happening all around the world... Stay tuned.
Jazzespresso è una rivista, un sito web, una rete che connette le anime del jazz di tutto il mondo. America, Europa, Asia, Australia e Africa: notizie da tutto l'orbe terracqueo in una pagina tradotta in cinque lingue. Un punto di riferimento multiculturale in inglese, cinese, spagnolo e italiano per gli amanti di questa musica in tutti i paesi del mondo. Per gli amatori o i professionisti che vogliono essere aggiornati su quello che sta succedendo in tutto il pianeta... rimani sintonizzato!
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