ABOUT
RUBENS
DE LA CORTE
//
GUITARIST
COMPOSER
ETHNOMUSICOLOGIST
RUBENS HAS PERFORMED WITH THE FOLLOWING ARTISTS
Angelique Kidjo, Eliane Elias, Bebel Gilberto, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Caetano Veloso, Dave Matthews, David Byrne, Monty Alexander, Gilberto Gil, Joss Stone, Marlui Miranda, Lila Downs, Mino Cinelu, Manu Katche, Wynton Marsalis, Marc Johnson, Toots Thielemans, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Lincoln Goines, Danny Gottlieb, Jon Hendricks, Diane Reeves, Trilok Gurtu, Philip Glass, David Bowie, Ziggy Marley, Lokua Kanza, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Machan Taylor, Soulive, Orishas, Thiago de Melo, Lonnie Plaxico, Bill Summers, Vinicius Cantuaria, Willie Nelson, Michelle Branch, Sissel, Josh Groban, Jessye Norman, Laura Pausini, Yannick Noah, Ray Davies, Rufus Wainwright, Carmen Consoli, Louque, Petula Clark and String Cheese Incident.
Rubens de La Corte, was born in Sao Paulo-Brazil. He began studying classical guitar at the age of nine and picked up the electric guitar at thirteen. Rubens’ professional career started at sixteen when he began performing in local clubs and theaters in Sao Paulo.
Rubens' first project was “The Rubens de La Corte Group”. The ensemble performed Rubens’ original compositions as well as Brazilian, jazz and fusion standards. The group was active from ‘87-‘93.
Rubens graduated Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music, in Boston, in 1998 with a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Composition and Guitar Performance.
At Berklee, Rubens co-founded and co-led the vocal/guitar group Brazz Jazz. The group performed jazz and Brazilian standards and has remained true to its original goal throughout the years.
Rubens successfully completed a masters program at Queens College (CUNY) after moving to New York City. He received a Masters of Arts Degree in Jazz Performance in 2001.
In 2001, Rubens was invited to be the Musical Director and guitar player for west african and three times Grammy Winner Angelique Kidjo. Prior to embarking on their first world tour, Rubens recorded the guitar tracks for Angelique’s 2002 Grammy Nominated CD, "Black Ivory Soul".
Rubens performed with Angelique Kidjo for ten years. They toured the world several times including concerts in Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, North, Central and South America.
In May 2004, the incomparable Brazilian-Jazz pianist and two times Grammy winner Eliane Elias, invited Rubens to join her group. From 2004 until today, they have toured extensively in Asia, Europe, North and South America.
Rubens has been a regular faculty member at Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM) in Chennai, India since 2011. During the residency programs, Rubens teaches guitar, harmony, arranging, ensembles and shares knowledge of what it means to be a professional musician in today’s world.
Inspired by his travels around the world, Rubens has, for the past three years, developed a new songwriting project called "Nomad". "Nomad" combines different music styles from Brazil, North/West Africa with elements of Jazz, Rock and Soul. Many renowned musicians and friends participated in the project including: Angelique Kidjo, Zeca Baleiro, Jair Oliveira, Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Jason Lindner, Ulisses Rocha, Di Melo, Karina Zeviani etc. “Nomad” is Rubens’ first album as a Singer/Songwriter. He co-wrote, arranged and co-produced the majority of it. "Nomad" was released in 2015.
PERFORMANCES AT LEGENDARY VENUES AND FESTIVALS INCLUDE
Madison Square Garden, Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, Esplanade Theaters-Singapore, 2007 Live Earth in Johannesburg, 2005 Live8-Africa Calling, 2002 Nobel PeacePrize Concert in Oslo, Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival,JVC Jazz Festival, Playboy JazzFest, Nice Jazz Festival, Java Jazz-Jakarta, Byron Bay Roots &Blues Fest, Newport Jazz, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest, Copenhagen Jazz Festival,Tanglewood Jazz Festival, EXPO 2002 Switzerland, AVO Sessions, Summerfest Germany,Africa Fest Germany, Bercy Expo, Tanglewood Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival,London Jazz Festival, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Jamaica Jazz & Blues Fest, Saint Lucia Jazz Fest,Festival internacional Providencia Jazz, Festival Cervantino, Chicago Jazz fest, Savannah Jazzfest, Wolf Trap, Giants Stadium, Dodgers Stadium, Soldiers Field, Turner Field, Pac Bell Park,Foxboro Stadium, Texas Stadium, Summerfest Milwaukee, Hollywood Bowl, The Fillmore SanFrancisco, Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center,Olympia-Paris, Birdland-NYC, Blue Note Jazz Clubs, Auditorio Nacional-México, Womad-Reading, Arts Center-Melbourne, Barbican-London, Maison de Radio France, Royal DanishTheater-Copenhagen, Kimmel Center, Jazzaldia-Donostia, Malta Jazz, Festival de Jazz deBarcelona, Jazz a Juan, Paris Jazz, April Jazz, Jazzkaar, JazzàCartage
TELEVISION APPEARANCES INCLUDE
Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, NAACP Awards, MTV/VH1-Live8 Coverage, BBC Later With Jools Holland, CBS The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,CBS This Morning, PBS Now With Bill Moyers, Hamburg TV Germany, Stockholm TV4Sweden, TV5 France, TV2 France, TV Globo Brazil Jô Soares Show