IN MEMORIAM. RUBEN P. ALVAREZ

PROMOTING AND NURTURING JAZZ IN CHICAGO

By Diane Chandler-Marshall

For over 30 years, Rubén P. Alvarez’s shared the knowledge he embodied on the cultural aspects of his heritage and Latin Jazz with numerous students and the many teachers with whom he worked. He believed that understanding music was a key, important and necessary element in the rhythm of life and the development of the human spirit. He understood that through music, all are connected by a higher principle that transcended our differences. Rubén P. Alvarez served as a faculty member of the Jazz Institute’s Jazz Links Master Residency Artist and Professional Staff Development Program for over a decade.

We were very fortunate to have had such a dedicated and skilled Latin percussionist, drum set artist, composer, and music educator in our midst. Rubén made sure that every moment of his life was fulfilled with the things he held most dear.

His lifelong work included: being a 13th Annual Latin Grammy nominee for his work on the Chuchito Valdés CD, “Made in Chicago”. His musical theatre credits included being percussionist and musical consultant for the Goodman Theatre Production, Crowns, the Broadway Chicago productions of The Lion King, and On your Feet. His performance and recording credits included: blues artists, John Mayall and Junior Wells, rock artists Dave Mason and Dennis De Young, and jazz artists Arturo Sandoval, Ramsey Lewis, Patricia Barber, Dave Valentín, Slide Hampton, and Roy Hargrove, the Chicago-based 2010 Grammy and Latin Grammy nominees Sones De Mexico Ensemble, pop-diva Jennifer Hudson and the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. Rubén was also a member of Chévere De Chicago and led the Raices Profundas Latin Jazz Ensemble.

At the University level, Rubén taught drum set and Latin percussion, and directed Latin music ensembles at Roosevelt University, Columbia College Chicago, and Prairie State College. Rubén’s commitment to serving the jazz and music education communities, involved his serving as a founding member and on the Board of Directors for The Jazz Education Network, the Board of Governors of the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy, Vice President of the Illinois Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, and the Board of the World Percussion Committee of the Percussive Arts Society.

In 2018 Rubén received the Educator of the Year Award at the “Celebrate the Power” Jazz Appreciation Month event hosted by the Jazz Institute’s Education Committee.

As we sway to a funky Cuban Cha Cha (as he would note) or clap our hands to an upbeat drum rhythm -We will think of him! As he now rightfully takes his seat amongst the Ancestors - His dedication, sincerity, musicality, sense of humor, and love of humanity will forever be missed - but never forgotten.