“Piano Cubano” – Rafael Zaldivar & violinist Lazara Martinez

Rafael Zaldivar, piano

Lazara Martinez, violin

Ben Levitt, upright bass

When JUNO Nominee Cuban pianist and composer Rafael Zaldivar sits down at the piano, he brings a wealth of inspiration to the keys. His compositions display his percussion expertise, his many years of collaborating with top jazz musicians, and his cultural heritage. Born in Camagüey, Cuba, Zaldivar is carrying on a rich family legacy of musicianship. After taking up percussion and piano at a young age, Zaldivar pursued his studies at the Higher Institute of Arts in Havana. Once Zaldivar came to Canada at the age of 22, he completed a B.A. at the Université de Montréal and an M.A. and a D.Mus. from McGill University. From then on, his musical career has flourished, bringing him opportunities to work with such excellent musicians as Barry Harris, Kenny Barron, and Herbie Hancock. In recent years, Zaldivar has participated in many international jazz festivals, including the Jazz Festival, Rochester (New York), the Jazz Festival of Querétaro (Mexico), the Festival Jazz North Sea (Holland), among others. Zaldivar had the honor of being personally invited to Boston’s Bean Town Jazz Festival by jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington (multiple GRAMMY Award Winner) and had the chance to share the stage with this renowned artist.

Zaldivar has also played with Roy Hargrove, Steve Coleman, Nate Smith, Ben Wendel, Ari Hoenig, Dan Weiss, Nir Felder, and Greg Osby; and he has recorded with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Miguel Zenón, and Ingrid Jensen. Zaldivar received the Second Award from the International Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. In addition, Zaldivar was a member of the jury for the 2023 and 2024 Juno Awards. Zaldivar’s skills as an artistic director, pianist, and composer have enabled him to build and solidify his career both on the Canadian jazz scene and internationally.

Cuban born Lázara Martínez began her violin studies in Havana Cuba at the age of 8. After receiving her Honor Diploma from the Amadeo Roldan Conservatory, she emigrated to the Dominican Republic where she was a member of the National Symphony in Santo Domingo. Three years later, she returned to Cuba to perform with the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba in Havana and as soloist & principal violinist with the Camerata Romeu.

With the Camerata, she appeared at numerous presentations and festivals including Spain, Ecuador, the Cervantino Music Festival in Mexico, International Water Festival in Sweden, International Festival of the Arts, Costa Rica, International Festival of Religious Music, Colombia and the International Festival of Contemporary Music in Havana, Cuba. While living in Mexico, she was a member of the Carlos Chavez Symphonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the State of Hidalgo, Camerata de las Americas, and the Minería Summer Festival Orchestra.

Lázara migrated to the States in 1998, and is a former member of the Slee Sinfonietta, a substitute violinist with the BPO,  the co-founder of the String Quartet Boléo and member of the Afro-Cuban Jazz group “El Coco” with whom she recorded the self titled CD “El Coco”, released in 2017. Her latest project is Havana Loops, music loops – inspired by the freedom and endless possibilities of Cuban rhythms and melodies.