Insiders' Music Spotlight: Gabriel Hernández

By Felecia Ford

At the age of 7, Cuban-born pianist Gabriel Hernández began studying classical piano and music theory at the Luis Casa Romero Conservatory in Camagüey, displaying a natural inclination toward jazz at an early age.  His 53-year love affair with jazz has taken him on tours across the world and, note to note, with the likes of Chick Corea, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and a plethora of other jazz greats. 

FF: The list of jazz legends that you have shared the stage with is quite impressive. It must have been thrilling for you.  Did you ever get a chance to talk with them?

GH: In the 80’s I participated in a festival in Hungary where I was rehearsing when someone came up and said ‘’Herbie Hancock, came to listen to you!’’  People got nervous, others of us got magnified. In those days, the group I was in was called "Fervet Opus". We played a melody for Herbie Hancock, and he stood up and said, "I want to tell you that you are a great group. You are the best unknown musicians I've ever seen.’’ He didn't know us, and those were the words of the great Herbie. In the case of Chick Corea, I was on my tour at the Montreal Jazz Festival, when I met him on the street and I wanted him to listen to my music, so I gave him a CD with my music on it. Afterward, we went to the theater where he was going to rehearse, so he listened to the CD, and he said these words to me, ‘’Gabriel, there are a few good pianists, and you are one of them, but I also want to tell you that music is made to be listened to. "I realized that it was your first album.” He was right because that was my first production in Havana where I recorded with good musicians of that time and all the music I made was difficult. Making the album was impressive. He said, "Of course, the album is amazing, but remember music is also made to be listened to.’’  Then I understood that there are other ways to make amazing music without being so novel; it's advice I still follow to this day.  I would like to share that, other than daily practice, we not only listen to what you like, we have to be open to hearing different music. Only in this way can we absorb the language of great musicians. The secret is in the recordings, listening to the great musicians and also to their stories and thus entering into the language of the instrument.

FF: That is great advice.  Speaking of recordings, where do we find your music?

GH: Well, all my music is on Spotify and another option is my physical albums that you can purchase at my shows and also from my manager, Alex Onofre.

FF: Do you have plans to go back to the studio anytime soon? 

GH: Usually a jazz musician is a musician who always tries to do different things and there is something that keeps going around in my head that I want to achieve soon.  I’d like to record with a symphony orchestra; this is one of my next plans. 

FF: That sounds epic!  I hope the stars align for you to do so. You are so deserving to dream big and make it happen.  You have had quite an exciting 2025 already. In January, playing at the Jazz Plaza International Festival in Cuba, and in March, at Teatro Angela Peralta with your Trío, alongside international recording artist, trumpeter Luis Gasca and his orchestra, with special guests including fellow pianist Doug Robinson, Grammy award-winning saxophonist Alfred Thompson and his gifted son Freddy. 

This town is bursting at the seams with talent, no doubt. 

I think it’s safe to say that, through your shows and your example as a pianist that you mentor and inspire the up-and-coming jazz musicians here in Mexico more than you’ll ever know.  You have helped the music scene here, making it a destination for music lovers all over the world. 

“Gabriel is a milestone in Cuban music, there is a before and after Gabriel.”  Aletz Onofre -

Aletz Productions

Hear Gabriel in San Miguel de Allende next month on May 23rd for the first Cha Cha Cha Festival Mexico-Cuba 2025 and again for the International Bolero Festival Mexico-Cuba-USA 2025 on July 4th and 5th. 

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