Ruben “Baby” Lopez Furst

Ruben “Baby” Lopez Furst

He was born in 1937. He was brought up studying piano since the age of five, and also played guitar, such as when he joined the group Los Blue Strings, who performed at the Hot Club de Buenos Aires. He returned to piano with Los Hot Jammers and the Picking up Timers. Influenced by Gerry Mulligan, whom he heard at the Hot Club de Montevideo in 1959, he left Dixieland to adapt modern tendencies as observed in the LP recorded in 1966 with Jorge González on double bass and Néstor Astarita on drums. Another one of his guitar idols was Django Reinhardt, while his main influences came from Teddy Wilson and Bill Evans.

He was a director, composer, pianist, and guitarist. He played and recorded with international jazz figures such as Roy Eldridge, John Lewis, and Louis Armstrong. He formed different bands and played with outstanding musicians. In 1962, he formed the Rubén López Furst Trio, which remained active for 19 years and with which he recorded two albums.

Baby López Fürst made a living from music, composing advertising music through Pino Solanas’ jingle production company, alongside jazz. Some of his works, such as the ads for Renault 21 and Rural 21 Nevada, received awards. He also composed music for several films, including “El faro,” “Sol de otoño,” “Espérame mucho,” and “El desquite.” Among his discography, the albums Baby Solo (1992) and Dúo (1994) stand out, the latter made together with the musician Jorge Navarro (PK) with whom he shared a memorable piano duo for more than 5 years. 

Ruben “Baby” López Fürst began performing on the Buenos Aires jazz scene at the age of fourteen in 1951. He is the brother of violinist Héctor López Fürst and bassist Lito López Fürst. In 1966, the live album Jazz en la Universidad was released, recording a concert (1964) at the Auditorium of the National University of Litoral in Santa Fe. The album Jazz Argentino followed in 1967 with his trio of Jorge González (bass) and Néstor Astarita (drums). Among the awards López Fürst received during his career are the Konex Foundation award for best jazz soloist in 1985, 1995, and 2005, and the recognition in 1982 by Prensario magazine as one of the best three jazz pianists in Argentina. In 1997, he worked with Ernesto Acher on the Gershwin project, the man we love.

The CD “Duo” collected the live recording of one of the sessions that Baby and Jorge Navarro held at the bookshop-bar Clásica y Moderna, on Callao Street 800, with music by Porter, Ellington, Monk, Gershwin, and Jobim in 1994. The CD “Jazz en buenas manos,” with “You made me love you,” “Close your eyes,” the bolero “Una mujer,” and Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez,” was edited by the bookshop-bar Opera Prima on Paraná Street, where he played on Saturdays for several years.

He died on 25/07/2000, he was one of the most important jazz musicians in our country.