Sani’s ‘Jazz on the Hill’ Wraps Up with Gonzalo Rubalcaba

The Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

The Sani Festival, the annual cultural initiative of the Sani Resort, recently opened its doors in Halkidiki, northern Greece, to host some of the most renowned artists of the local and the international jazz scene.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Celebrating 25 years, the festival premiered on July 8 with the section “Jazz on the Hill” and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and it will conclude on July 15 with a concert by  Grammy award winner, Gonzalo Rubalcaba.

Along with his quartet, Rubalcaba will pay a tribute to his mentor Charlie Haden.  The Gonzalo Rubalcaba quartet will feature artists Bob Bruya (bass), Sam Hart (saxophone) and Marcelo Bourque (drums).

“The way in which Charlie opened the path for me, made all the difference. It is an honor to have been able to call him my best friend,” Rubalcaba says while referring to his teacher.

Born in Havana in 1963 Rubalcaba first toured Cuba, Europe, Africa and Asia with his band “Grupo Proyecto”. He has worked with Dizzy Gillespie and the chairman of Blue Note Records Bruce Lundvall, among other distinguished personalities. He has won four Grammies: His album “Nocturne” was awarded best jazz album in 2001.

He first appeared on the Sani Festival’s stage on Sani Hill in 2002 and again in 2005 along with Charlie Haden.

The Sani Festival will continue with the “International Sounds” section on July 23, the  “Greek Variations” on August 13 and it will conclude on August 19 with the “Classical Waves” and a tribute concert to Maria Callas by the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra.