Tony RodrÃguez is one of Cuba’s most versatile and talented piano players.Born in 1980 in Havana, Cuba, the song of a one of Teresita Menéndez, a much respected piano teachers in the island, Tony started his academy studies and music training very early. At the age of 8 joined the class of piano and percussion at the Musical Conservatory “Manuel Samuel†and seven years later entered the prestigious Amadeo Roldan Conservatory. At the age of 19, Tony had already passed with high grades two of the most demanding courses of this severe institution.Right after he finished school, Tonito joined the band “Top Secretâ€of José Manuel Greco (El Greco), the world known jazz player. In 2000, he was asked by Issac Delgado, the most prominent Cuban Salsa/Timba musician to join his band as not only pianist but also as its music director. With Issac, Tony had a chance to travel a good part of the world and share stages with most of the best Salsa bands of the world.Jazz, has been always one of Tony’s greatest devotions and as such he has dedicated a great part of his time to study, play and research this genre. He was awarded the first price in Cuba’s first Jazz Youth Talent Festival and also received a free scholarship for the prestigious Berklee College of Music of Boston.As a Jazz piano player, Tony has participated in important events such as: Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Atlantic Jazz Festival (opening for “Yellow Jacketsâ€), The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, and several editions of Cuba’s Jazz Plaza since 1997. Some of the artist with whom he has shared stage or collaborated are: Roy Hargrove, Danilo Perez, Michel Camilo, Jack de Jonnette, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Coleman, Nicolas Payton, and many others.Tony is currently working with Carlos Varela, the well known Cuban folk Singer on several projects, such as producing a new record and writing music for films.
