Good Career Move

[Lois Gilbert]

Pianist cancels Regattabar gigs
July 8, 2006

Grammy-winning pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba canceled his two-night stint at the Regattabar only hours before the first of two sets last night because he objected to the room's piano, a 6-foot, 10-inch Steinway Model B.

``He's just not happy with this piano," said Greg Herbst, the Regattabar general manager, who found out Rubalcaba's four gigs weren't happening just 25 minutes before show time.

Herbst said there had been a request to bring in another piano, but ``[Rubalcaba's] management was supposed to handle that."

Last night, 130 ticket holders for the 7:30 p.m. show were turned away, their money refunded. Herbst said ticket holders for tonight's two shows will have their money refunded . For more information, call 617-395-7757.

[Jeff Albert]

So, is their piano really that crappy, or is Rubalcaba a prima donna? Other piano players have been playing the piano, right?

[bigtiny]

So, is their piano really that crappy, or is Rubalcaba a prima donna? Other piano players have been playing the piano, right?

I don't think his requesting a different piano makes him a 'prima donna'. It's done all the time in the classical world, and just because other pianists aren't as sensitive to the instrument, or play it anyway is irrelevant. Mr. Rubalcaba is the one who has to perform with the thing.

I know Rubalcaba has played the Regattabar MANY times over the past few years, so I suspect the piano has nothing to do with his cancelling. These things usually tend to do with either money, or the artist feeling that they have been insulted or denigrated in some way. Their only leverage is that they can choose not to play.....I'm guessing something happened between him and the Regattabar management that HIS management couldn't iron out.

bigtiny

[Tom Hall]

I would also guess it really has nothing to do with the piano.

[Lois Gilbert]

In fairness, if he is a Yamaha artist and/or it's in his tech requirements then its the Club's responsibility. The initial spin came from the jazz programmer's list.

[Jeff Albert]

I don't think his requesting a different piano makes him a 'prima donna'. It's done all the time in the classical world, and just because other pianists aren't as sensitive to the instrument, or play it anyway is irrelevant. Mr. Rubalcaba is the one who has to perform with the thing.

I know Rubalcaba has played the Regattabar MANY times over the past few years, so I suspect the piano has nothing to do with his cancelling. These things usually tend to do with either money, or the artist feeling that they have been insulted or denigrated in some way. Their only leverage is that they can choose not to play.....I'm guessing something happened between him and the Regattabar management that HIS management couldn't iron out.

bigtiny

I don't think requesting a different piano makes him a prima donna. I think killing the gig a half hour before the downbeat could make him look like a prima donna.

Like has been stated earlier, it was probably really about something else.

I feel like I have as much a responsibility to the listeners that bought tickets as I do to the club. I would have trouble bagging a show that late.

[jazzbluescat]

Maybe Gonzalo needs a new manager.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Gonzalo Rubalcaba canceled his two-night stint at the Regattabar only hours before the first of two sets last night because he objected to the room's piano, a 6-foot, 10-inch Steinway Model B.

``He's just not happy with this piano," said Greg Herbst, the Regattabar general manager, who found out Rubalcaba's four gigs weren't happening just 25 minutes before show time.

Someone is not communicating with someone if Rubalcaba cancelled "only hours" before the show and the manager didn't hear about it until "25 minutes" before the show.

[Mike Schwartz]

Regardless of who may have 'messed up', bailing on the gig seems a bit extreme [unless there's something beyond what we're talking about here]

Fans and admirers made plans and laid down the money to see the guy, so who ultimately gets punished?

I'd be surprized if the house piano at a place like this would be some sort of crappy instrument.

Maybe this is a classic old school take, but the time I had a long sit down with Oscar Peterson, I asked him a question about pianists being at the mercy of the instrument at the venue. Naturally he has had his brand name piano set up for him for years, but his answer was that he never makes a point of "trying out" a piano on a gig beforehand.

He said "....there's nothing I could do about it anyway."

[Enforcer]

Not the same thing, but I traveled a good distance and spent a lot of my hard earned money as a teen to get to a Keith Jarrett show (the trio w/ Gary and Jack) and he canceled literally minutes before the show because they didn't adequately fill the hall. Nothing will ever change my opinion about what a fine musician he is. But that incident makes it easier for me to want to punch his lights out for that theatrical, self-indulgent whining and crying shit he does that distracts from the sound of the group.

[Jeff Albert]

he canceled literally minutes before the show because they didn't adequately fill the hall.

That's silly. He will get paid more for half a hall than for no concert. Do people only deserve to hear music if they are in large groups?

[Peterdubya]

I have no idea what happened there, but I can assure you that Gonzalo is a YAmaha artist, and has been one for at least the last 7 years.

I also know that his contract calls for a Yamaha piano.

When he plays Yoshi's (which has a beautiful 9 foot Steinway) he gets a Yamaha.

I doubt very seriously that the club was surprised that he wanted a Yamaha.