Luis Nubiola

Nubiola Finds a Home

   Some musicians have a sixth sense about where and when to be in a certain vicinity. This was definitely true about the time and place I grew up, as hip, young musicians from all over flocked to the San Francisco area to become entrenched in the Summer of Love. Similarly, in Costa Rica, there currently appears to be the genesis of a jazz movement. In fact, Papaya Music, the country’s major independent label, is now planning to release a compilation CD of modern, budding jazz bands from the area, similar in concept to the “Costa Rica Reggae Nights” disc they produced a few years ago.

   Luis Nubiola started playing saxophone at the tender age of six in his hometown of Havana, Cuba. As he grew up, he was a member of several jazz bands there. He told me that one of his most memorable encounters during that time was when he jammed with Winton Marsalis. To be sure, Luis could have enjoyed a musical career in Cuba. But Costa Rica beckoned and he responded, moving here in 2004. Initially, he took session work for established acts, such as Walter Flores, Miriam Jarquin and Luis Monge. In the meantime, his Cuban jazz trio established a reputation in the club scene in San Jose and San Pedro.

Luis Nubiola at work

   The result of all this hard work is beginning to blossom. Recently, Nubiola released their first, self-titled CD, in tandem with Costa Rica’s first-ever jazz DVD, recorded at the popular Jazz Café in San Jose, a sure sign of Nubiola’s success at putting their act on the map. The CD was recorded in a single day, using the trio of Luis Nubiola on alto sax, Nelson Segura on a baby bass, Raul Diaz on drums and the assistance of Luis Naranjo on piano for a single composition. The seven-song CD starts off with a tribute to New Orleans and its longtime jazz heritage, with the second tribute on the disc proving to be a fusion of Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz. Actually, the entire CD reflects this new marriage of musical styles. There is also an instrumental nod to Cole Porter, a truly inspirational jazz musician whose style Nubiola honors with the song, “Simply to Cole”. But this CD is in no way a “tribute album”. I think Nubiola simply wants to recognize his roots and influences as he blazes his own trail. I also believe that this CD has succeeded in placing the band solidly in the Costa Rican jazz scene.

   The DVD, “Live at the Jazz Café” is a nice snapshot of Nubiola in a distinct place and time. It was filmed with six video cameras, with the trio and Walter Flores on piano for the entire set. The film also features Robert Aguilar on vocals for one song and Alexi Del Valle playing the tumbadora on two numbers. All seven songs from the CD are performed, in addition to two more. I enjoy seeing the musicians taking their solos. The visuals seem to make it more personable for me. For example, when Diaz is taking a drum solo, he looks like he could be thinking about writing a letter to his mom: the drumming is second nature to him. This guy is what is referred to as a “musician’s musician”. The cameramen and post production are all to be commended, as the end result is nothing less than pristine.

   In Guanacaste, the Nubiola CDs and DVDs are available exclusively at Jaime Peligro in Playa Tamarindo. All commetns concerning this article are gladly welcome.