Playing Lecuona

The nicknames of the Cuban composer, pianist and orchestra leader Ernesto Lecuona (1895-1963) say a lot about the enormous influence he had on Latin American music: he is known both as “the father of Cuban music” and the “Cuban Gershwin.” In , he receives a tribute from three contemporary Caribbean pianists, all of whom have also more than earned their spurs: Chucho Valdés, Michel Camilo and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. The latter two live and work in the United States, a country where Lecuona performed many times. Valdés plays a sparkling jazz version of “La comparsa,” one of Lecuona’s most famous compositions; together with his trio, Camilo illustrates the Afro-Cuban mélange so typical of Lecuona; in Seville, Spain, Rubalcaba investigates the cross-pollination with flamenco, working with a flamenco singer (in a heartrending version of “Malagueña”) and renowned flamenco guitarist Raimundo Amador. Singer Omara Portuondo, who sang in the orchestra of Bebo Valdés – the father of Chucho – wipes away a tear after singing “Siempre en mi corazón.” Between the beautifully filmed performances, they visit the places where Lecuona lived – from New York to Tenerife, where he spent the last three years of his life. Valdés bemoans the fact that there is only a weather-beaten memorial stone in Lecuona's birthplace of Guanabacoa. brings the maestro back to life.