Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Raul Gomez Tabera began his artistic career at the age of 8 years old, as a member of the children’s group Ismaelillo and Edad de oro from Matanzas.Raul studied at the Provincial School of Art of Matanzas, the National School of Art and the School for Professional Musicians of Matanzas. He completed his graduate thesis in a concert with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Matanzas (Symphony Orchestra of Matanzas) directed by the late master teacher Tomas Fortin.His professional career began in the Concert Band of Matanzas (la Banda de Conciertos de Matanzas) as a solo percussionist, and alternated playing with the Symphony of Matanzas as well. After forming a part of the musical group Raul Torres with which offered various concerts with great success together with singer-songwriter Pablo Milanes.In 1990, Raul joined Yaguarimu, musical group of Matanzas with which the following two years were spent as orchestral accompaniment to the master Santiago Alfonso in the Havana Hotel Libre, Tropicana and the Capri and with the success they achieved began International tours to countries such as Austria, Spain and Mexico in the cities of Cancun and Aguascalientes.After many formative years as a part of various musical groups, Raul decided to join the Symphonic Orchestra of Matanzas in 1996. He was very succesful with the orchestra in International Festivals of Ballet, of Guitar and worldwide premières of works such as Los Salmos de las Americas of Jose Maria Vitier, El Ballet Tula, and recordings for bands featured in Cuban films such as Lista de Espera among others. Furthermore, Raul toured with the orchestra to Spain and Austria with the interpretation of “Porgy and Bess†with the Lirico National, highly acclaimed performances in some of the best opera theaters in the world.In 2001, Raul formed the group La Balanza integrating professors in the school of art and musicians from the Symphony, and as such attained excellent artistic results including receiving the Category of Excellence Award in the auditions at the National Institute of Music. With this group, Raul worked in many different public recreational locations, various didactic concerts in schools, theaters, etc. seizing the opportunity for audiences to benefit from the level of experience and mastery of the musicians in the group.In 2004, Canadian dance company Decidedly Jazz Danceworks created a Cuban/Canadian co-production of Afrocuban dance and music as well as Cuban jazz featuring Cuban and Canadian artists. Raul was selected and invited as one of three Cuban musicians and three Cuban dancers from the National Folkloric company for this project. The entire group was invited by the master Chucho Valdes to participate in the Havana Jazz Festival in October-November 2004. In February 2005, the musicians and dancers travelled to Canada to rehearse and complete the production of Bulla! with Decidely Jazz. The company toured this highly acclaimed show across Canada with great success. The musical group Bomba from Canada, who wrote and played the music for the show, integrated the Cuban musicians during the experience, and were very well received as a result in each presentation, for the diversity they provided as well as the fusion of jazz and afro-cuban music. Following the tour, the group was called upon by many Festival organizers around the world to play at a variety of Festivals, including the Drums Festival of Percussion in Seoul, Korea in Octobre 2005.At present Raul is playing with Bomba in Calgary, Canada
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