Jorge Luis Pacheco: The unique point of Cuban music, in my opinion, is the combination of rhythms and the diverse influences that come from African music fundamentally and from Spanish music since the colonial era and also the very special influence of the African-American music and jazz since the United States and Cuba are very close to each other, and both countries have been influenced by the music and culture of the other. All this has made our music unique and authentic. Genuine. As far as jazz is concerned, it is exactly the same thing. We have influences from African music combined with the genuine music of Cuba and by putting all these elements together and bringing them to jazz, Cuban jazz was born.
How difficult is it, to develop artistic ideas in Cuba?In Cuba developing your ideas as an artist is very simple and really easy to achieve if you live in Cuba since in Cuba music and art come first. Art and music in Cuba have high priority and all the support of the Cuban government. This makes artists and musicians develop and create with full freedom. I'm really privileged and very fortunate to have been born, to have grown and studied music in Cuba. I'm privileged to be Cuban. That makes me who I am and the musician who I have become. I owe everything to my land. That's where everything came from and it's what I am. Cuba is the center of my inspiration.
Are there any problems for musicians?In Cuba there is no problem for the musicians - of course not. In Cuba the musicians have priority and the support of all the institutions and music companies. The music schools and the study of music is completely free. You do not have to pay absolutely nothing and study music at a very high level which makes the Cuban musicians are respected in all parts of the world. Also the arts and music colleges are free and you have a rigorous and very good preparation. Really, in Cuba being a musician is a blessing. Definilly Cuba is the place in the world to be a musician.
Who are your artistic role-models?I like all kinds of music. I think you can learn with everything and every style of music. My main role-models are three pianists who I admire a lot and for that I have had the joy of sharing with two of them. I refer to maestro Chucho Valdez and Gonsalito Rubalcaba. Both are Cubans and I grew up listening to them. The third one is Keith Jarret, one of the greatest pianoplayer of all time and with whom I fell in love from the first moment I heard him and I saw him playing.
What will you present at the Jazzfest in Stuhr?What I will present at the Jazzfest in Stuhr is a program with Cuban music and Cuban jazz. My own compositions with all the influences of Afro-Cuban and Cuban music. I will also present some of the traditional Cuban music. All this with my quartet in Germany with incredible musicians. They are Helmut Reuter on bass, Thomas Hempel on drums and an excellent young singer with an incredible and beautiful voice, Anna Rabea Pacheco.
You have recently been home in your home country. What did you do there?I was recently in my country, I returned to make a concert at the National Theater of Havana in the Jazz Plaza International Festival. In this concert I played my symphony, a symphony that I composed for jazz quartet and symphonic orchestra and with which I am very happy. Additionally I interpreted some songs of my new album that should go on the market this year also with jazz quartet and string orchestra. But I still work on it. I'm really happy with the success and the result of the concert and with the happiness of being able to play my sinfonia for second time in Cuba and also to sing. I'm really happy.
What are your upcoming projects?One of the projects I have this year is finishing my new album, an album where I combine the piano with the voice, the jazz and a string orchestra, a record where I composed my own songs and I also have some of the most famous songs of the traditional Cuban music. Additionally, the DVD of my symphony composed for jazz quartet and symphonic orchestra will be released. As for tours, I have planned two tours. One in the United States and another tour in Austria. Both make me very excited. And of course I am playing concerts in Germany the whole year. I am really exited and with so much energy for all the things and projects that I have and the projects that I want to do.
An interview by Eike Wienbarg.
