In the second half of the 20th century an increasing number of Latin pianists

have made a significant impact on the world of Jazz piano. Hermeto Pascoal and
Eliane Elias are two Brazlian pianists whose age difference produced two different
breeds of Brazilian musician. The former, raised without electricity became a master
of Brazilian folk music and explored the world of natural sound. The latter came up
in the age of the Bossa Nova and incorporated it in her development as a versatile
technician of the piano. Chucho Valdes and Gonzalo Rubalcala share that same age
gap. Valdes followed in his footsteps through the Havana club scene before
integrating the sounds of Cuba with the modern sounds of rock to gain international
fame. Rubacala came up through the conservatory system in post revolutionary
Cuba, fighting to play jazz against the social standard and emerging as one of the
most technically proficient pianists on the scene today. Lastly Danilo Perez
represents the diverse musical collective of Panama. Peres honed his jazz skills in
the United States education and climbed to the top of the professional jazz scene
while retaining his connections to his native Panama. Each has contributed their
own cosmopolitan influence representing their foundations as musicians.