In case you hadn't noticed, the veteran musicians from Cuba who were the stars of the "Buena Vista Social Club" have been passing away at an alarming rate in recent years.

Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Pio Leyva have died. So has pianist Ruben Gonzalez. When he passed away, it was hard to imagine anyone taking his place.

Gonzalez was the octagenarian charmer who serenades a ballet class full of girls in tutus in the Wim Wenders documentary. Well, Gonzalez does in fact have a worthy successor. His name is Roberto Fonseca.

FONSECA: I was really proud to play with BVS. Playing with Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez was amazing for me. The atmosphere, the ambiance that they put in the music is really important to me and I put it in all my music.

WERMAN: Roberto Fonseca you're 32 years old and a seeming-master of the piano at this point. But that wasn't your first instrument. You started playing the drums and percussion, right?

FONSECA: Yeah, I started at the age of four. Then I decided to change to the piano.

WERMAN: Why the switch?

FONSECA: Because my parents told me the piano was one of the most complex instruments and then I decided to change. Playing the piano is like playing the drums. I put the Afro-Cuban rhythms on the piano. That's why my playing is kind of percussive.

WERMAN: What did you listen to as a kid?

FONSECA: My mom introduced beautiful melodies. My favorite melody is from "Romeo and Juliet" by Franco Zeffirelli. And then my brother put me into soul, funk, Stevie Wonder. I was really impressed by the power of rhythm.

WERMAN: How are you regarded in Cuba?

FONSECA: People think about Cuban musicians as playing salsa, latin jazz, or playing maracas on the beach. There are sunny days, but there are rainy days too. We have sad days and that's what I'm trying to say through the music.

WERMAN: Here's a non-music question. Tell me about the French fashion designer Agnes B? Did she design the black leather fedora you always seem to wear?

FONSECA: Yeah, she designed that. I love that style. And she loves my music.

FONSECA: I don't want to be only a jazz musician. I really classical, rock, hip-hop, funky music. I really like all those styles. I don't want to be just a salsa player or jazz player.

His new album is called "Zamazu."