PAVEL URKIZA
Pavel Urkiza uses the CS-1 CW E8 guitar in his performances, adding a unique and captivating dimension to his musical expression.
Pavel Urkiza was born in Kiev, Ukraine on June 2, 1963 while his parents were on an educational mission to the Soviet Union representing the Cuban government. Music in general and the Spanish guitar in particular, came in his DNA as an inheritance from his paternal grandfather who was a well known composer and singer in his time.
Pavel started playing guitar and composing in his adolescence, mostly in youth and university groups until 1990, when he formed the duo “Gema y Pavel” which changed his musical life forever.
Internationally recognized, he is an artist of prolific creativity and deep connection with the musical cultures of the world.
His respect and understanding of Cuban-Cuban roots, his rich musicological ancestry, combined with 22 years of musical life and experience in the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, has resulted in a truly unique style that offers a wide range of rhythms, harmonies, melodies and lyrics. The Afro-Cuban-Ibero-American flavor is evident in his guitar and voice. A kind of Caribbean-Mediterranean that plays with a singular Cuban swing. Among the rhythms he has inherited and others he has developed: Filin Progressive, Guaguancó Flamenco, Tango Flamenco with Son, Bolero Filin, Bomba-Makuta, Timba Funk, Chacha-Blues, Trova-Jazz and more.
Urkiza has published more than 40 compositions in his own works, as well as in productions of world-class artists such as Ana Torroja, Miguel Bosé, Albita Rodríguez, Ketama, Cristina del Valle, Echegaray, Yusa, whom he produced his first album and Luis Enrique with whom he also co-produced the album of this great Nicaraguan artist, “Dentro y Fuera”. He has participated as a performer, guitarist and arranger with the prestigious San Francisco Bay Area artist, John Santos in his work -Filosofía Caribeña. He has been the musical producer of more than 20 recordings, including the duo Gema y Pavel, his own albums and those of other artists such as Omara Portuendo, Virtudes Moreno, Giselle Solís, Habana Abierta, Yuniel Jiménez, the Canary-Palestinian poet F. Javier Rahim, as well as collaborating in the productions of two great Argentine artists living in New York, Sofía Rei and Sofía Tosello.
In 1990 he formed the duo Gema y Pavel, with the Cuban singer Gema Corredera, opening a chapter in the history of Cuban music. With the duo, he has traveled the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe sharing the stage with artists such as Ketama, Alejandro Sanz, Tito Puente, Pablo Milanés, Martirio, Compay Segundo, La vieja Trova Santiaguera, Marta Valdés, Carlos Cano, Pedro Guerra, Javier Ruibal, Lenine, Angelique Kidjo, Meme Solís and many others. Performing at the Frankfurt Opera House, Arezzo Wave Festival in Italy, the Nice Jazz Festival in France-coinciding with the Nice Jazz Festival in France - coinciding with musicians Herbie Hancock and Brazilian Joao Bosco, among other greats. Also at the Skopje International Jazz Festival in Macedonia - sharing the stage with Latin-jazz legend Tito Puente. Among other festivals, the Le Printemps de Bourges in France, WDR Cologne International Music Festival, La Cote DOpale in France, Cuba is music in Paris and the Latin Festival of Saint Nazaire in France. In Spain, at the Cordoba Guitar Festival, the Tropical Festival of Bilbao, Festival Pirineo sur, Festival Internacional de teatro de Cádiz, Milenaria 95 in Logroño and Cuba es música in Madrid.
He has composed music for theater and cinema, standing out in the composition of the soundtrack of the Hispano-Cuban production “Las Noches de Constantinopla”, directed by Orlando Rojas.
He has formed the project “De Akokán” with the Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalist Ricardo Pons with whom he recorded the CD “Buscando la esquina” and performed at the San Francisco Jazz festival as well as 2 presentations at the Jazz Gallery in NYC. The ingenuity of Pavel Urkiza and the mastery of Ricardo Pons provoke an intimate encounter between these two greats of Afro-Caribbean music. This work creates a musical fusion that engages the genres of jazz, bolero “filin”, “filin progresivo”, bomba, rumba and other Caribbean rhythms in a dialogue interpreted by the guitar and woodwinds.
Another of the projects of this multifaceted artist is “Pavel Urkiza & Congrí Ensamble” a re-interpretation of Cuban music between 1851 and 1941 with a chamber format and using old instruments such as the romantic guitar, the corneto mutto, baroque flutes as well as double bass and percussion. This project was premiered in the church auditorium of Santa María de Albarracín as part of the XV music seminar given by the maestro and prestigious orchestra conductor José Luis Temes.
Pavel Urkiza's most recent musical creation is the music documentary entitled: “La Ruta de las Almas”, a film that illustrates the ancestral connections between the music of the Ibero-American region. Through his journey to discover these musical roots, he recorded and interviewed 85 musicians from diverse regions, simultaneously creating a CD of original compositions inspired by the ancestral connections of music from Persia to Patagonia, tracing a cultural and spiritual journey.
Beyond religious or political beliefs, words or cultural norms, there is a common, universal language, carrying a message of love that celebrates our diversity, the experience of traveling along La Ruta de las Almas. With the musical band of “La ruta de las almas” he performed at the Global Cuba Fest in Miami on March 12, 2016 starting a US tour.
“De Akokan” is another project with Puerto Rican musician Ricardo Pons, with whom Pavel recorded the CD “Buscando La Esquina” and performed at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, and the Jazz Gallery in New York. This work is a musical fusion of the genres of jazz, bolero, Cuban “filin”, Urkiza's “filin progresivo”, Puerto Rican bomba, rumba and other Caribbean rhythms in an instrumental dialogue between guitar and woodwinds.
Another project of this multifaceted artist is called “Congrí Ensemble”. It is an interpretation of Cuban music from 1851 to 1941 in chamber format using antique instruments such as the romantic guitar, the “Mutto” cornet, baroque flutes, double bass, bowed vihuela and percussion. This project was premiered in the great hall of the cathedral of Santa María de Albarracín as part of the cycle of seminars given by the prestigious professor and music director José Luis Temes.
In February and March 2017 this project was presented at the Intersection Festival 2017 organized by The Atlas Performing Arts in Washington DC, U.S.A. In November 2018 it was presented at Texas Performing Arts in Austin in association with the Butler School of Music's Department of Ethnomusicology. With the musical band of “La ruta de las almas” he performed at the Global Cuba Fest in Miami on March 12, 2016 starting a US tour.
He has collaborated with visual artist Sandra Ramos for the creation of the music for the installation “The hand of History” and Alexandre Arrechea for two collaborations in two audiovisual pieces, “Matterfall” and “The face of the Nation”.
In September 2022, he released his most recent album “Regreso a la tierra”, a return to the flavor of Cuban roots, a journey of reunions and masterful collaborations. 14 pieces recorded between 2020 and 2022. Geographical portrait of a sound diaspora in constant movement.
PRESS
“An exceptional composer and musician, with revolutionary ideas that have enriched Afro-Cuban music in the world.” - Ena Columbié, El Nuevo Herald
“...a bewilderingly sophisticated musical fabric. The musical accompaniments are highly original, utilizing percussive strumming, pedals, inversions and unconventional chord sequences.” - Robin D. Moore, author/professor of Music History, University of Texas.
“Songs in which Urquiza's serene and zigzagging lyricism is explored, true alchemies of rhythm and harmony.” - Rafael Rojas, Cubaencuentro
“They dodge salsa to create their own progressive fusion. Gema Corredera and Pavel Urkiza introduce jazz, rock and Brazilian music into the Cuban tradition of popular troubadours."- Larry Birnbaum, Downbeat Magazine
“Gema & Pavel, mercilessly good.” - José Antonio Évora, El Nuevo Herald
“They go on stage in a state of grace and come off stage in a state of charisma”. - Ricardo Cantalapiedra, El País
“Whoever listens to Gema and Pavel never hears the universe in the same way again.” - Rafael Rojas, Cubaencuentro
OWN DISCOGRAPHY
- “Filin Progresivo 2004-2014” / Cezanne productions/YinYaniLé (2015) *.
- “Momento” / YinYaniLé (2012) *.
- “Buscando la esquina” De Akokán / YinYaniLé (2011) * Co-production with master winds musician, Ricardo Pons
- “Magec Ula Salam” / Tierra (2008) * With collaboration by the Palestianian/Canary Islander poet, F. Javier Rahim Gil
- “Magec Ula Salam II Hispano” / Tierra (2010) * With the collaboration of various artists
- “The route of the souls” / Cezanne productions (2016) *.
- “Return to the earth” / Cezanne productions (2022) *
WITH THE DUO GEMA AND PAVEL
- “Ofrenda a Borinquen” [Imolé (2010)]**.
- “Desnudos Vol I” [Tierra (2009)]**.
- “La fiesta de la ardilla” [Tierra (2008)]**
- “Síntomas de fe” [Manzana (1998)]*
- “Cosa de broma” [Nubenegra (1995)
- “Trampas del tiempo” [Nubenegra (1994)]*
* Artist, composer, producer, arrangements
** Artist, arranger and producer
COLLABORATIONS
- “Cuecas para no bailar” Willy Claure/ Willy Claure (2014) Vocalist / intérpete -- CICOMBOL Award - Best album of the year.
- “De viento y sal” Lucía Martínez / Karonte (2014) Invited artist
- “Filosofía caribeña Vol I” The John Santos Sextet / Machete Records (2011) Arrangements, vocalist, musician
- “Toda una vida” Albita Rodríguez / Dawn Records (2010) Composer and arrangements
Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Traditional Tropical album (2011)
- “Arropáme que tengo frío” Claudia Gómez y Alejandro Tobón / Cantaclaro Music (2010) Arrangements, vocalist, musician / Arreglista, intérprete y ejecutante
- “Sube Azul” Sofía Rei / World Village (2009) Composer / Compositor
- “Alma y luna” Sofía Tosello / Sunnyside Records (2009) Composer, arrangements, vocalist, musician, and co-producer
- “Dame la mano” Ketama / Universal Music Spain (2002) Composer, musician (composer and interpreter)
- “Apuntes generales del mundo” Cristina del Valle / EMI Music Spain (2001) Composer
- “Girados” Miguel Bosé and Ana Torroja / BMG Music Spain (2000) Composer
- “Pasajes de un sueño” Ana Torroja / BMG Ariola Spain (1999) Composer
- “Toma” Ketama / Mercury Records (1999) Composer and vocalist
- “Konfusión” Ketama / Universal Music Spain (1997) Composer and invited artist
PRODUCER OF OTHER ARTISTS
- “Como un río” Virtudes Moreno [Youkali Music (2012)]*.
- “Un guajiro en Nueva York” Yuniel Jiménez [Yuniel Jiménez (2012)]*.
- “Giselle Solís” “Giselle Solís” [Tierra (2010)]** - “Tal Cual” Claudia Gómez [Claudia Gómez (2010)].
- “Sentir así” Salva Martín [Pasarela S.L. (2007)] * - “Sentir así” Salva Martín [Pasarela S.L. (2007)] *.
- “Dentro y fuera” Luis Enrique [Respek Records (2006)]**
- “Yusa” Yusa [Tumba S.L. (2010)
- “24 horas” Habana Abierta [BMG Ariola (1999)]
- “Habana Abierta” / BMG Ariola (1997)
- “Habana Oculta” / Nubenegra (1995)*.
- “Palabras” Omara Portuondo / Nubenegra (1995)* - “Palabras” Omara Portuondo / Nubenegra (1995)*
- “Homenaje a María Teresa Vera” Various / Nubenegra (1995)
* Also arrangements and vocals
** Also composer, arrangements and vocalist
CINE
Composer and vocalist for two songs in the film “Tiempo de Tormenta” / Composición e interpretación de dos temas en el film “Tiempo de Tormenta” de Pedro Olea [Lolafilms 2003].
Interpreter of a song in the film “Le Defi” by Blanca Li [Universal Music Catalogue (2002)
Composition of the soundtrack for “Las Noches de Constantinopla” by Orlando Rojas / El Paso Producciones Cinematográficas S.L. / Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC) (2001)
urkizamusic@gmail.com
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