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Ahmed Dickinson plays Ñico Rojas
Winner of Best Instrumental Soloist & Best Instrumental Album Awards
(Cubadisco 2009)
Nominated for Best Artist & Best Newcomer
(Songlines World Music Magazine 2009)
Nominated for Best Album & Best Single
(Latin American Music Awards UK 2009)
Antonio (Ñico) Rojas Beoto
Ñico Rojas is undoubtedly one of the most important Cuban composers for guitar. A man with no academic tuition, he demonstrated that in order to transcend and be free, the magic of music only requires a sensitive soul and vocation.
Besides his great talent he was an exceptional human being; a Cuban who with open arms offered sympathy, humility and kindness to anyone with the desire to learn and admire music. His music gives a glimmer of his human qualities and the prowess of such sparkling honesty resides in his capacity to convey feelings.
In this CD each work is a full coloured reflection of an era in which years of convergences and historical circumstances gave birth to a peculiar way of singing, speaking and playing. Influences from jazz, seemingly unparalleled lyrics, daring harmonies, can all be resumed in one word: feeling. This anglicism, far from being applied literally, became the accurate description of an attitude towards music. A tacit agreement discriminated those who could not sound with feeling from the enclosed circle of the chosen few who could. The unforgettable Ñico Rojas stood out within that kingdom that is still so alluring to us.
Ahmed Dickinson had the wisdom to offer us this selection of works in a CD memorable for what it represents within our musical heritage. Only a guitarist of outstanding technical abilities and artistic sensitivity could gracefully rise to such a challenge. He belongs to the youngest generation of Cuban musicians graduated from an educational system, which despite the economic obstacles, has proven to be successful.
With his talent added to his closeness to the composer, Ahmed has presented us with a recording of excellent craftsmanship, clear sound and above all, plenty of feeling. Nine of the sixteen tracks possess the extra merit of being unpublished transcriptions, masterfully performed with intimate stylistic acquaintance.
Yarelis Dominguez Benejam
Cubadisco 2009
