Alfredo Rodriguez Releases New Single “El Llamado” ft. Cimafunk

Alfredo Rodriguez Shares New Single
“El Llamado” ft. Cimafunk

New Album Coral Way out August 18
via Mack Avenue Records

U.S. Tour This September & October

July 21, 2023: Globally acclaimed artist and pianist Alfredo Rodriguez has shared the new single “El Llamado,” featuring Grammy-nominated Cuban artist Cimafunk, from his new album Coral Way, out on August 18 via Mack Avenue Records. “El Llamado” follows lead single “Fidju di Lua” ft. Alana Sinkëy, which was released with an accompanying music video.

“‘El Llamado’ is a mix of Cuban sounds and funk,” says Rodriguez. “That is why I wanted such a heavy-hitter like Cimafunk on the track, since he is making waves for Cuba right now. I want people, when they hear this song, to know that this is the new face of Alfredo Rodriguez. I want them standing up, dancing, and going wild when they hear this one. Especially at the live shows. Conga, rumba, and cha-cha-chá are all Cuban styles of music that have been around forever and now we are melding it with funk and pop.”

“I was happy and honored when Alfredo reached out about doing something together for his album,” adds Cimafunk. “I’ve wanted to jam out with him for a long time; he’s an incredible musician and he has that AfroCuban sound, rhythm and flow in everything he does. We’ve both been touring nonstop so we had to record the track remotely on the road, but he’s like family and we connected throughout the process, always having fun and enjoying the creative process, and the song ended up being a gem! I can’t wait to perform it live with Alfredo and see how the fans start to move!”

On Coral Way, listeners can expect to hear the Rodriguez they’ve known and loved for years, but with a new twist. The album embodies the collective sound of Miami, blending Latin pop, timba, salsa, bachata, tango, reggaeton, and bolero. It’s a musical fusion that encompasses the diverse Latin community while celebrating individuality and fostering unity. It calls upon Rodriguez’s roots just as much as his newly-learned experiences, representing a new phase of life marked by his latest move from Los Angeles to Miami; the birth of his baby girl; and finally reuniting in the same city as his family, who now all live in Miami, following his departure from Cuba.

“I play what I live, and Coral Way is my new life,” states Rodriguez. “It is the name of the street on which, for the past 3 years, I have been composing this album, and now I’m excited that people from all over the world will finally get to hear it in an expansive way, with a full live band.”

In his new home, Rodriguez took note of the limited cross-pollination and few collaborations that existed between mainstream Latin music and Latin jazz. Coral Way, which features guest vocalists Cimafunk and Alana Sinkëy, serves as the connective tissue between these worlds—an artistic statement for the diverse Latin community to be seen, be heard, and take pride in their history, while creating community through individuality.

Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Rodriguez’s passion for music burned brightly despite the numerous restrictions imposed by his country. At a tender age, he faced discouragement from his first teacher, who dismissed him as devoid of talent. Undeterred, Rodriguez’s love for the piano persisted, even in the absence of an instrument at home. He resorted to painting piano keys on his parents’ dinner table to practice his scales—a testament to his determination and resourcefulness.

Eventually, Alfredo was invited to represent Cuba at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he impressed Quincy Jones. Jones saw the immense talent in Rodriguez and extended an invitation to work together in the U.S. However, pursuing this opportunity meant leaving his family behind and embarking on a journey that would require relinquishing his Cuban citizenship.

Since then, Rodriguez has achieved remarkable milestones. He has graced prestigious stages worldwide and earned a Grammy® nomination for his track “Guantanamera” from the album The Invasion Parade. Additionally, he became one of the first non-Chinese artists to collaborate on the English version of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo theme song, working alongside esteemed musicians such as Tan Dun, Siedah Garrett, and Quincy Jones.

Rodriguez continues to share his music along with his impactful message of perseverance and cross culturalization on an international tour, while sharing a variety of viral social media videos in which he plays well-known compositions in a Cuban timba style. See tour dates below.

Cimafunk Photo Credit: Michael Weintrob

Tour Dates:
July 26: Langnau im Emmental, Switzerland @ Kupferschmiede with Richard Bona
July 28: Los Angeles, California @ Hollywood Bowl Quincy Jones 90th Birthday Celebration
July 29: Los Angeles, California @ Hollywood Bowl Quincy Jones 90th Birthday Celebration
August 4: Bitonto, Italy @ Beat Onto
August 5: Corinaldo, Italy @ Associazione Culturale Round Jazz
August 6: Rimini, Italy @ Corte Degli Agostiniani
August 9: Augsburg, Germany @ Botanischer Garten
August 12: Bansko, Bulgaria @ Bansko Jazz Festival
August 16: Tratalias, Italy @ Santannaresi Jazz
August 18: Castelsardo, Italy @ Musica sulle Bocche Festival Jazz Internazionale
August 20: Makarska, Croatia @ Makarska Jazz Festival
September 19: St. Louis, Missouri @ City Winery
September 20: Chicago, Illinois @ Constellation
September 22: Des Moines, Iowa @ Civic Music Association
September 23: Madison, Wisconsin @ Stoughton Opera House
September 24: St. Paul, Minnesota @ Turf Club
September 27: Boston, MA @ City Winery
September 28: New York City, New York @ Sheen Center
October 1: North Carolina @ Carolina Theatre
October 4: Boca Raton, Florida @ Boca Black Box
October 5: Cocoa Beach, Florida @ Heidi’s Jazz Club
October 6: Largo, Florida @ Central Park Performing Arts Center
October 7: Miami, Florida @ The Moss Center
October 11: Denver, Colorado @ Cervantes
October 13: Greeley, Colorado @ UNC Greeley
October 14: Beaver Creek, Colorado @ Vilar Performing Arts Center
November 3: Madrid, Spain @ Teatro Pavon
November 4: Lausanne, Switzerland @ Paderewski Room Salle Paderewski
November 8: Lublin, Poland @ Teatr Stary w Lublinie
November 9: Warsaw, Poland @ Jassmine
November 10: Ełk, Poland @ Elk Cultural Center
November 15: Novi Sad, Serbia @ Novi Sad Jazz Festival
November 17: Eilat, Israel @ Red Sea Jazz Festival
November 26: Mumbai, India @ Mumbai Intl. Jazz Festival
February 2: Gainesville, Florida @ University of Florida at Phillips Center Upstage
February 15: Rotterdam, Netherlands @ LantarenVenster
February 16: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bimhuis
February 17: Cologne, Germany @ Kölner Philharmonie
February 20: Stockholm, Sweden @ Fasching
February 24: Neuburg, Germany @ Birdland Jazz Club Neuburg
February 25: Straubing, Bayern Germany @ Hotel ASAM
March 22: Los Angeles, California @ UCLA