PAVEL URQUIZA
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 kyiv, Ukraine on June 2, 1963 while his parents were on an educational mission in the Soviet Union representing the Cuban government. Music in general and the Spanish guitar in particular, came into his DNA as an inheritance from his paternal grandfather who was a well-known composer and singer in his time.
Pavel began playing guitar and composing in his teens, mostly in youth and university groups until 1990, when the duo "Gema and Pavel" was formed, 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 Cubas 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 great range of rhythms, harmonies, melodies and lyrics. The Afro-Cuban-Ibero-American flavor is evident in his guitar and voice. A sort of Caribbean-Mediterranean that plays with a singular Cuban swing. Among the rhythms he has inherited and others he has developed: Progressive Filin, 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 by world-class artists such as Ana Torroja, Miguel Bosé, Albita Rodríguez, Ketama, Cristina del Valle, Echegaray, Yusa, whose first album he produced, 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 artist from the San Francisco Bay Area, John Santos in his work -Caribbean Philosophy. He has been a music producer for more than 20 record productions, including the duo Gema and Pavel, his own albums and those of other artists such as Omara Portuendo, Virtudes Moreno, Giselle Solís, Habana Abierta, Yuniel Jiménez, the Canarian-Palestinian poet F. Javier Rahim, also collaborating on 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 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, Arezzo Wave Festival in Italy, 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, Le Printemps de Bourges in France, WDR Cologne International Music Festival, La Cote D'Opale in France, Cuba is Music in Paris and the Latin Festival of Saint Nazaire in France. In Spain, the Cordoba Guitar Festival, the Bilbao Tropical Festival, the Pirineo Sur Festival, the Cadiz International Theatre Festival, Milenaria 95 in Logrono and Cuba is Music in Madrid.
He has composed music for theater and cinema, standing out for his composition of the soundtrack for the Spanish-Cuban production "Las Noches de Constantinople", directed by Orlando Rojas.
Has formed the project “From Akokán” with 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 shows 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 compromises the genres of jazz, bolero “filin”, “filin progressive”, 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 Ensemble” a reinterpretation of Cuban music between 1851 and 1941 in a chamber format and using old instruments such as the romantic guitar, the cornet mutto, baroque flutes as well as double bass and percussion. This project premiered in the church auditorium of Santa María de Albarracín sponsored within the framework of the 15th 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: "The Route of Souls" , 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 The Route of Souls. With the musical band of "The Route of Souls" he performed at the Global Cuba Fest in Miami on March 12, 2016, thus beginning a tour of the United States.
"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 "progressive filin", Puerto Rican bomba, rumba and other Caribbean rhythms in an instrumental dialogue between guitar and woodwinds.
Another project of this versatile artist is called "Congrí Ensemble" is an interpretation of Cuban music from 1851 to 1941 in chamber format using old instruments such as the romantic guitar, the "Mutto" cornet, baroque flutes, bowed double bass and percussion. This project premiered in the great hall of the cathedral of Santa María de Albarracín as part of the series of seminars given by the prestigious professor and music director José Luis Temes.
In February and March 2017, the project was presented at the Intersection Festival 2017 organized by The Atlas Performing Arts in Washington DC, USA. In November 2018, the project was presented at Texas Performing Arts in Austin in association with the Department of Ethnomusicology at the Butler School of Music. With the musical band "La ruta de las almas" the project was presented at the Global Cuba Fest in Miami on March 12, 2016, thus beginning a tour of the USA.
She has collaborated with visual artist Sandra Ramos to create the music for the installation “The hand of History” and Alexandre Arrechea for two collaborations on two audiovisual pieces, “Matterfall” and “The face of the Nation”.
In September 2022, he published his most recent album, “Regreso a la tierra” (Return to the Land), a return to the flavor of Cuban roots, a journey of reunions and masterful collaborations. 14 pieces recorded between 2020 and 2022. A geographical portrait of a sound diaspora in constant movement.
PRESS
“An exceptional composer and musician, with revolutionary ideas that have enriched Afro-Cuban music around the world.” - Ena Columbia, The New Herald
"…a disconcertingly sophisticated musical fabric. The musical accompaniments are highly original, using 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 lyrics are displayed, true alchemies of rhythm and harmony.” - Rafael Rojas, Cubaencuentro
“They avoid 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 leave it in a state of charisma.” - Ricardo Cantalapiedra, El País
“Whoever listens to Gema and Pavel will never listen to the universe in the same way again.” - Rafael Rojas, Cubaencuentro
OWN DISCOGRAPHY
• “Progressive Filin 2004-2014” / Cezanne productions/YinYaniLé (2015) *
• “Moment” / YinYaniLé (2012) *
• “Looking for the corner” By Akokán / YinYaniLé (2011) *
Co-production with master winds musician, Ricardo Pons
With Puerto Rican wind instrument master Ricardo Pons
• “Magec Ula Salam” / Earth (2008) *
With collaboration by the Palestinian/Canary Islander poet, F. Javier Rahim Gil
With the collaboration of the Palestinian Canarian poet F. Javier Rahim Gil
• “Magec Ula Salam II Hispano” / Tierra (2010) *
With the collaboration of various artists / With the collaboration of several artists
• “The route of souls” / Cezanne productions (2016) *
• “Return to Earth” / Cezanne productions (2022) *
WITH THE DUO GEMA AND PAVEL
• “Offering to Borinquen” [Imolé (2010)]**
• “Nudes Vol I” [Earth (2009)]*
• “The Squirrel Party” [Earth (2008)]**
• “Art Bembé” [The European (2003)]**
• “Symptoms of Faith” [Manzana (1998)]*
• “Joking Matter” [Nubenegra (1995)]**
• “Time Traps” [Nubenegra (1994)]*
* Artist, composer, producer, arrangements / artist, composer, producer, and arranger
** Artist, arranger and producer
COLLABORATIONS
• “Cuecas para no bailar” (Cuecas for not dancing) by Willy Claure/ Willy Claure (2014)
Vocalist / interpreter -- CICOMBOL Award - Best album of the year / CICOMBOL Award for the best album of the year in Bolivia
• “Of wind and salt” Lucía Martínez / Karonte (2014)
Guest artist
• “Caribbean Philosophy Vol I” The John Santos Sextet / Machete Records (2011)
Arrangements, vocalist, musician / Arranger, performer and interpreter
• “A Whole Life” by Albita Rodríguez / Dawn Records (2010)
Composer and arrangements / Composer and arranger
Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Traditional Tropical album (2011)
Nominated for Best Traditional Tropical Album at the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards
• “Cover me, I’m cold” Claudia Gómez and Alejandro Tobón / Cantaclaro Music
(2010) Arrangements, vocalist, musician / Arranger, performer and interpreter
• “Up Blue” Sofia Rei / World Village (2009)
Composer / Composer
• “Soul and Moon” Sofia Tosello / Sunnyside Records (2009)
Composer, arrangements, vocalist, musician, and co-producer / Composer, arranger, performer, executor and co-producer)
• “Give me your hand” Ketama / Universal Music Spain (2002)
Composer, musician (composer and performer)
• “General notes from the world” Cristina del Valle / EMI Music Spain (2001)
Composer / Composer
• “Girados” by Miguel Bosé and Ana Torroja / BMG Music Spain (2000)
Composer / Composer
• “Passages of a dream” Ana Torroja / BMG Ariola Spain (1999)
Composer / Composer
• “Take” Ketama / Mercury Records (1999)
Composer and vocalist / Composer and performer
• “Konfusion” Ketama / Universal Music Spain (1997)
Composer and invited artist / composer and guest artist
PRODUCER OF OTHER ARTISTS
• “Like a river” Virtudes Moreno [Youkali Music (2012)]*
• “A country boy in New York” Yuniel Jiménez [Yuniel Jiménez (2012)]*
• “Giselle Solis” “Giselle Solis” [Earth (2010)]**
• “As Is” Claudia Gomez [Claudia Gomez (2010)]
• “Feeling like this” Salva Martín [Pasarela SL (2007)] *
• “Inside and Out” by Luis Enrique [Respek Records (2006)]**
• “Yusa” Yusa [Tumi Music 2002]**
• “24 hours” Open Havana [BMG Ariola (1999)]
• “Open Havana” / BMG Ariola (1997) *
• “Hidden Havana” / Nubenegra (1995)*
• “Words” by Omara Portuondo / Nubenegra (1995)*
• “Tribute to María Teresa Vera” Various / Nubenegra (1995) Also artist, arrangements, vocals / Also artist, arranger and performer
* Also arrangements and vocals / Also arranger and performer.
** Also composer, arrangements and vocalist / Also composer, arranger and performer.
CINEMA
Composer and vocalist for two songs in the film “Tiempo de Tormenta” / Composition and interpretation of two songs in the film “Tiempo de Tormenta” by Pedro Olea [Lolafilms 2003]
Performer of a song in the film “Le Defi” by Blanca Li / Universal Music Catalogue (2002)
Composition of the soundtrack of “The Nights of Constantinople” by Orlando Rojas / El Paso Cinematographic Productions SL / Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industries (ICAIC) (2001)
urkizamusic@gmail.com
