| Biography | Born: 1979, Havana, Cuba Rolando Luna Carrillo learned to play the guitar at primary school before opting to study piano at the "Gerardo Guanche Conservatory from 1993 until 1994. In 1994 Rolando enrolled at the "Amadeo Roldan Conservatory" to study classical piano where he graduated in 1998.
He was asked by the Canadian saxophonist Jonah Bonnet to accompany him at the international "Jazz-Plaza" Festival in 1998. In 1999 Rolando won first prize at the international jazz competition "Jo-jazz-99". After performing with a group in Cuba and making his first appearances on television alongside the Omara Portundo group he spent eight months as a member of the "Latin Street Group" in Canada before joining Paulo FG and his band "Elite" with whom he travelled throughout Europe and Latin America. Rolando has been a member of the "Organization of Writers and Artists from Cuba" (UNEAC) since 2001.
Rolando's first CD, En la Luna which included some of his own compositions came top in the "Best Recording" category of the "Cubadisco" 2002 awards. Following the success of this recording he formed a band called Nueva Luna with whom he performed in venues all over Cuba. He was invited to perform on "The Night of the Piano" at the "International Jazz Festival Plaza 2002" dedicated to pianist Frank Emilio along with Chucho Valdés, Hernán López Nussa, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and others. In the late of 2003 and early 2004 he worked in Russia with the vocal group "Sexto Sentido". In 2004 Rolando performed in the Bahamas with singer Yolie and collaborated in the "ARAUKANIA-KUINET", a Chilean-Cuban project that pays homage to Victor Jara and Violeta Parra. Rolando then went on to work with Bobby Carcasés, Gerardo Alfonso (Germany 2003) and Miriam Ramos, with whom he also toured the Dominican Republic in 2005.
In 2005, Rolando recorded an album with Tie Macedo from Angola alongside other famous Cuban musicians. After the completion of the record they toured Angola, Portugal and Spain promoting the work. In 2006 Rolando and other famous Cuban musicians were visited by the French group "Caravan Quartet" to create an album which they named "Car Havana". In the same year he competed in the Berne Jazz Festival alongside the "Golden Sticks" with Amadito Valdes of the world famous "Buena Vista Social Club". Building on their success Rolando became the pianist of the "Buena Vista Social Club" with whom he went on touring the world.
In 2006 Rolando was a semi-finalist at the Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition. At the 41st Montreux Jazz Festival the following year he won first prize in both the "Solo Piano" and the "Audience Prize" categories.
Rolando also made recordings with many famous artists and bands including Haila Monpie, Fernando Álvarez, Amaury Pérez, Gerardo Alfonso, "Havana Street Band", Pablo Milanes, Isaac Delgado, Leonel O Zúñiga, Tie Macedo and Andy Montañez, Pancho Cespedes, Silvio Rodríguez, Manolin el Medico de la Salsa, José María Vitier, Julio Barreto, Tata Guines, Chanquito, "Muñequitos de Matanza"s, Clave y Guaguancó, Oscarito Valdés Jr., Miguel Núñez, Frank Emilio Flyn, Hilario Durán, Sergio George, Marc Quiñónez, Ralph Izarri, Rubén Rodriguez, Rubén Blades, El Canario, Dave Brubeck, Isidro Infante and David Sánchez.
He played at jazz festivals all throughout Europe, Japan, Canada and the United States.
In 2008 he played solo with the Symphony Orchestra at the Latvian Liepajas Pianisma Zvaignu Festivals.
In 2010 Rolando was invited to perform solo at the Primera Temporada Alfa Romeo de Música del Mundo Festival in Bogotá Colombia.
In the same year the album "Kepa Junkera and Rolando Luna" was born which they performed at several concerts in Spain. Rolando then played the music of lead character Chico in the animated movie "Chico and Rita" directed by Javier Mariscal and Fernando Trueba which became a huge success. It went on to win Best Animated Film at the 25th Goya Awards and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 84th Academy Awards (the first time that a Spanish full-length animated film had been nominated). It has also earned two nominations at the "Image Awards" organized by the NAACP, won the award for Best Film at the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, Best Film at Anima Festival in Brussels best Animated Film award at the European Film Academy, best film in Festival of animated Film Netherlands (HAFF 2010) and the first prize at the Festival de Cinéma Européen des Arcs.
In 2011 Rolando partook in DHAR, a project with prestigious Chilean musicians such as Jorge Campos and Cristian Crisóto recording an album produced by Wenceslas Lazo which they also performed at concerts in Cuba and Chile.
After 10 years Rolando finished composing his second solo album and "Alucinaciones" was born. The music video of the title piece "Alucinaciones" was nominated at "Cubadisco 2012".Between May 25 and June 9, 2012 Rolando participated in the International Jazz Festival in Colima, Mexico. Rolando also recorded a DVD based on his interpretation of the works of Leo Brauwer, Fariñas and Ñico Rojas master guitarists. On December 17, 2012 Rolando performed a concert at the Riviera theater organized by PM Records and the "Cuban Institute of Cinema Art and Industry" where he invited Omara Portuondo, Decemer Bueno , Kelvis Ochoa, Idania Valdes, Gastón Joya the bassist and Rodney Barreto to perform alongside of him.
In 2013, he was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for his work on Vol. 3 of the CD Miriam Ramos: La Canción Cubana In 2013 September Rolando performed a solo piano concert in San Francisco, USA. He also enrolled at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) where he currently is working on completing his degree in Composition.
In January 2014 Rolando gave concerts in Miami, USA with Miriam Ramos by FunDarte organization.
Rolando is currently on the farewell tour with the Buena Vista Social Club in Europe, Asia, United States and Latin America |