Gonzalo Rubalcaba Nocturne CD

Instrumental Feat.G.Rubacalba, P.Metheney,J.Lovano,D.Sanchez

Personnel: Charlie Haden (bass); Joe Lovano, David Sanchez (tenor saxophone); Federico Britos Ruiz (violin); Gonzalo Rubalcaba (piano); Pat Metheny (acoustic guitar); Ignacio Berroa (drums, percussion).
Producers: Charlie Haden, Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
Recorded at Criteria and The Hit Factory, Miami, Florida from August 27-31, 2000. Includes liner notes by Leonardo Acosta, Charlie Haden & Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
NOCTURNE won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.
Charlie Haden teams up once more with the young Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba for this melancholy, soothing album. Ignacio Berroa, on drums and percussion, completes the core trio. Special guests include tenor saxophonists Joe Lovano and David Sanchez, violinist Federico Britos Ruiz, and guitarist Pat Metheny (one track only). Rubalcaba contributes orchestrations on two cuts, both of which omit drums and percussion. Haden's intention is to explore the bolero, a distinctive Latin dance rhythm that Ignacio Berroa accents with a soft, subtle snare drum roll, played with brushes, beginning on the "and" of the first beat of the bar and ending on the second. This rhythm is perfect for a slow dance, and indeed, the entire album is highly romantic, with bittersweet melodies and lilting cadences. The only problem is that Berroa's bolero figure anchors nearly every track -- perhaps what one should expect from a bolero album, but there's no getting around the fact that the music sounds pretty much the same throughout. (To be fair, Berroa isn't solely to blame for the sameness.) Most of the songs, save for two originals by Haden and one by Rubalcaba, are Cuban and Mexican standards, and they're beauties. Haden's reluctance to mess with them is understandable. But the unvaryingly straightforward arrangements fade too easily into the background. Nocturne may well be the best candlelight dinner music ever, but Haden and his guests are capable of more. ~ David R. Adler
Charlie Haden has a longstanding interest in Cuban and Central American music (most notably expressed on his LIBERATION MUSIC ORCHESTRA albums). Here, in the company of Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, he explores the lush, romantic aspects of the Cuban sound. A bracing and delicious sort of melancholy runs through these quiet pieces, calling the listener in ever closer. Half the set features Cuban ballads, the rest being a mix of originals (two by Haden, one by Rubalcaba) and four pieces of Mexican origin.
The perfectly matched Haden and Rubalcaba are joined on NOCTURNE by drummer Ignacio Berroa. Guest appearances by tenor saxophonists Joe Lovano and David Sanchez, guitarist Pat Metheny, and violinist Federico Britas Ruiz add additional shadings that underscore the strong melodic sensibilities of this music. NOCTURNE combines the gentle, late-night moods of Haden's Quartet West with the Spanish derivations that have informed the bassist's vision over the course of his exhilarating career.

Entertainment Weekly (5/11/01, p.81) - "...A lovely, low-key program of Latin-tinged ballads and mood pieces....an unexpected charmer..." - Rating: B+
Q (7/01, p.111) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...This kind of sustained subtlety is rare in contemporary jazz....music rich enough to satisfy without the fiery seasoning."
Uncut (11/01, p.109) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...Few albums emerge as near-perfect as NOCTURNE..."
Down Beat (10/01, pp.70-1) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Lovingly realized music..."
JazzTimes (9/01, pp.96-7) - "...A great intro to the bolero...and an excellent addition to the library of fans who already love it..."