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Salsa Notes Part1 (Jan 1st to 15th) |
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Written by slaphappy
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Thursday, 03 January 2008 |
 After careful deliberation, cogitation and failed attempts at coming up with a snappier title I’d like to introduce Salsa Central members to the first in a new, twice monthly feature: Salsa Notes.
This will be a bit like one of those multi-part magazines that get advertised around this time, except it’s free and you won’t end up with a scale model of the Orient Express/collection of thimbles featuring Radio 1 DJs. Instead you have the opportunity here to learn, month by month, about some of the personalities and events that have helped to shape Latin music, salsa in particular.
In order to appear less stuffy and possibly appeal to the yoof in you Salsa Central will enhance Salsa Notes with exciting YouTube clips - just promise that you won’t drift off into da toob by clicking endlessly on other user videos and that you will try your best to read all the way through. Might take you a while though.
OK, lets kick off the new year with a run down of some of the Jan 1st – 15th events:
1st January
1879
Miguel Failde premiered “Las Alturas de Simpson” at El Club, Matanzas Cuba, establishing musical structure for dance figures known as Danzon.
1895
Plena composer/musician Manuel “Canario” Jimenez born Orocovis, Puerto Rico.
“The evolution of traditional Puerto Rican music began in the 1930's when pioneers such as Manuel "Canario" Jimenez and Mon Rivera introduced a modernized plena to large audiences in New York” (William Cepeda, latinjazzplanet.com).
“Canario’s greatest fame lies with the plena, but he spent years singing other types of music before he devoted himself to this particular genre. In fact, Canario may well have been the first Puerto Rican singer to record music in New York. By his own account, Canario spent the second decade of the twentieth century singing corridos and other Mexican songs for Pathe, Odeon, and other labels. He even recorded for Daniel Castellanos, the Spaniard who probably had the first Latin music store in the city” (from the Ruth Glasser book My Music is My Flag).
1900
Xavier Cugat (b. Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deluefeo) born Gerona, Spain.
Here’s a typical Cugat performance:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1F5ytj7AASc
“In 1940, a musicians strike against radio networks enabled violinist-bandleader Xavier Cugat to receive nationwide recognition. His recordings of Ojos Verdes (Green Eyes) and Amapola were heard from coast to coast. His music became a favorite among the Anglo-American listening audience. His popularity increased daily and Hollywood satisfied the curious people who wanted to see Cugat by filming him and his orchestra for motion pictures. Cuban vocalist Miguelito Valdes, Colombian baritone Carlos Ramirez and Brazilian singer-dancer Carmen Miranda were in several motion pictures with Cugat and as a result gained worldwide prominence. Cugat's music pioneered the way for Latin music and musicians. With each passing year since the strike of 1940, Latin music grew in popularity” (Max Salazar in the book Mambo Kingdom).
1919
Bass player (George Shearing and Cal Tjader) Al McKibbon born Chicago, Illinois. “My first musical influence was my father, who played tuba and guitar, and my mother, who sang. I was also strongly influenced by records and player piano rolls. Vaudeville was still alive and I became a dancer, self taught….I play a Jacob Steiner Bass made in 1650” (bassland.net).
1921
Singer and composer of over a thousand songs (inc. Piel Canela & El Negro Bembon) Bobby Capo (b. Félix Manuel Rodríguez Capó) born Coamo, Puerto Rico.
You can hear him sing Maldicio Gitana here in a film role:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zTy26prur-c
In October 1940 Xavier Cugat hired him to record four tunes with his band, including Bilongo. Cugat said to him, "My boy, if your skin were a little more white, I would sign you immediately, but we play a lot in the South, and it would bring trouble." (Salazar).
1931
Timbalero/bandleader Manny Oquendo born, NYC. In the 1940's he played with a number of New York bands including Juan "El Boy" Torres and Chano Pozo. In 1950 he joined Tito Puente's orchestra (on bongos). In the mid-'50s he worked with Tito Rodriquez's orchestra but also played with Pupi Campo, Noro Morales, Miguelito Valdes, Johnny Pacheco, and Larry Harlow. He joined Eddie Palmieri's La Perfecta in 1962.
Showing he still has it, here’s a solo from 2007:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=af3idAzLYNE
“…about the same time that a rhythm known as the Mozambique was being popularized in Cuba by Pello El Afrokan. In Cuba, the Mozambique was a complex carnival rhythm (a "camparsa") played by a large ensemble of percussionists. Oquendo heard recordings of the Mozambique, and adapted it for timbales by "playing the comparsa with one hand and the basic drum beat with the other." He persuaded Palmieri to incorporate his new Mozambique and other Cuban rhythms into La Perfecta's dance numbers, thereby introducing the hypnotic beats to North America. The Oquendo-style Mozambique is now part of the repertoire of timbal players everywhere” (lpmusic.com).
With bass player Andy Gonzalez he co-founded Conjunto Libre in 1974, one of NYCs great bands that is still going today.
1942
Cugat Orchestra vocalist "Charo" (Maria Martinez) born.
1943
Brass player/percussionist Joe Wohletz born. He has featured with the Alegre/Cesta All Stars on trombone and can be heard playing claves on the mid-60’s Richie Ray album On The Scene. He also plays trumpet on a number of the Bobby Rodriguez y La Compañia albums, including Latin From Manhattan, Lead Me To That Beautiful Band, Salsa At Joyous Lake Woodstock and Juntos Otra Vez.
1951
Multi-instrumentalist Andy Gonzalez born, NYC. Features as bass player on the early 1970s Barretto recordings Together, The Message and Barretto Power, the classic Angel Canales album Mas Sabor and has recorded extensively with such artists as Estrellas Cobo, Jimmy Bosch, Conjunto Clasico, Ismael Miranda and both Palmieris. Co-founded Libre with Manny Oquendo in 1974. With brother Jerry formed the Latin jazz band Forte Apache - releasing their first album The River is Deep in 1982.
1957
Cuban singer/songwriter Enrique “la Pulga” Gonzalez died. He played with Trío Los Guarcheros de Oriente.
1959
Speaking about the night Castro took power in Cuba, Orquesta Aragons conga player Guido Sarria recalls: "We were playing at Las Aguilas, a club on the avenue del 10 Octubre, in Havana. The atmosphere was tense, the rumours were rife all evening… and at 3 o'clock in the morning, the radio officially confirmed that Batista had fled. The owners panicked. They made us stop the music and sent everybody packing. The next thing we knew, we were on the street, dazed, and then everybody went home, just like after any other concert." (lusafrica.com).
2004
Singer Vitin Aviles died, St. Vincent's Hospital NYC. “Due to the timbre of his voice, Aviles was especially suited for ensemble singing, and he made several recordings with the Tito Puente Orchestra. "Hija De Lola", which Aviles recorded with Charlie Palmieri, became a big hit. He achieved his greatest popularity, however, singing chorus duets with Tito Rodriguez, whom he considered to be his teacher. Aviles's voice quality was so similar to Rodriguez's that it was almost impossible to tell them apart” (congahead.com).
Judge for yourself here as he delivers a bolero:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OSvoEfPgPpc
He has been on around 50 albums and was known as "El Cantante Del Amor". A popular coro singer for many of the 1970’s Fania releases his last recording was with A.J. Diaz Y Son De La Calle for the live Homenaje Postume A Celia Cruz Y Tito Puente, recorded at S.O.Bs in NYC and released 2004.
2006
Ofelia Fox died Burbank, California. Known as “the first lady the Tropicana”, her memoir "Tropicana Nights, The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub" was published in 2004. “The famous gathered at the club, including actors Ava Gardner and Tyrone Power and writer Ernest Hemingway. Performers included Nat King Cole and Josephine Baker. Showgirls, lavish productions, congas and domino tournaments added to the air of a "Paradise Under the Stars," as the club was called. The building itself, the Arcos de Cristal, was a landmark composed of soaring arches, with fruit trees growing in the interior. It was included in an exhibition of mid-century Latin American architecture at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 1954. Fox worked with her husband at the club seven nights a week during the nine years he owned the Tropicana. She was fluent in English and moved easily among the U.S. celebrities who frequented the casino. Her skill in English was important because her husband spoke only Spanish” (extract from LA Times obituary).
The Tropicana in Cuba during the late 40’s and 50’s was one of the places to be. Here’s a slideshow (no, honest, it’s good!):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PjEkbum9SHE
2nd January
1907
The ‘Father of Latin Dance Promotion’, Arsenio Pagani-Santiago (AKA El Gran Federico) born San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was promoter for many of the dances at the NYC Palladium. Also cited as the 12th January.
1930
Singer/composer Nelson Navarro born Havana, Cuba.
1936
Noro Morales made his first recording, with Johnny Rodriguez , for Columbia records - possibly the 10‘’ Mambo by Morales; Columbia CL-6311.
3rd January
1953
Grupo Caribe leader/pianist/composer Sergio Rivera born Brooklyn, NYC. Has played with many great outfits including Los Kimbos, Ernie Agosto, Rafi Val, La Masacre, Cortijo, Kako and Chino y su Conjunto Melao.
Talking with John Child about Grupo Caribe: “What I have done with our recordings is put together material that celebrates our culture and pays tribute to those artists who paved the way for musicians today to continue the tradition. In celebrating our culture, you will find that I have included a bomba on our first CD, an aguinaldo on the second, and a plena on the third” (descarga.com).
1961
January 3rd the US officially severed its ties with Cuba.
2002
Latin jazz bandleader Juan Garcia Esquivel died, Jiutepec, Mexico. “…..his arrangements take every element to its limit. On "Latin-esque," he went to the extreme of channel separation by placing two orchestras in studios a block apart and mixing the result live in the booth” (spaceagepop.com).
Bit of an odd video but jazz/exotica fans will enjoy the music:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N71Ky9vWOeU
4th January
1911
Bandleader/pianist Noro Morales born, Puerto de Tierra, Puerto Rico. "Noro was perhaps the biggest influence on my piano playing. I recorded a few of his songs to pay tribute to his teachings” (Larry Harlow).
Noro was a true giant of Latin music, though his style of playing isn’t really heard very often in the clubs. Here’s a cute kid dancing to his classic ‘Vitamina’ (comes in after Cachao’s ‘Cogele el Golpe’ and before Perez Prado’s mambo No.8):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rAtapYXXw9U
1923
Bandleader/singer Pablo "Tito" Rodriguez was born Santurce, Puerto Rico. A prolific career (Descarga.com carry 64 of his albums, only long time rival Tito Puente and Celia Cruz have more available) he worked with Cuarteto Mayari in Puerto Rico before moving to NYC in 1935. There he played with many of the top line bands of the day including Cuarteto Caney, Enric Madriguera, Xavier Cugat (replacing Miguelito Valdés), Noro Morales, José Curbelo whilst also appearing with Chano Pozo, Arsenio Rodríguez and Machito.
By 1948 he had formed the Mambo Devils and around 1950 this band became the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra - lasting until 1965. Returned to Puerto Rico in 1966 where he starred in a TV show, moved to Miami in the late 1960’s and founded his own label, TR Records in 1971 - a couple of years prior to his death.
Here he is with a young Eddie Palmieri form his TV show (bikini alert!):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pgUx6lX04N4&feature=related
1927
Singer Manuel "Puntillita" Licea Lamot born Yareyal, Holguín, Cuba. Singer with bands like Sonora Matancera and Benny More, in his latter years he toured with BVSC and Juan De Marcos Afro-Cuban All Stars.
1936
Billboard magazine publishes first pop music chart (based on national sales). Jazz violinist Joe Venuti's "Stop! Look! Listen!" was the chart topper.
1950
RCA Victor company announced they would start manufacturing the long-playing (LP) records, that had been introduced by competitor Columbia Records in 1948. If you are a real geek then here is a 10 minute piece from the Discovery Channels ‘how it’s made?’ programme that informs you of the vinyl manufacturing process:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iByt8IinjC0
1952
Harold Muñiz, San Francisco based percussionist/musical director born. Works with a number of bands including Roberto Borrel y su Kubata and Ebo Okokán and has recorded with Francisco Aguabella and Cachao.
1967
Agneta Brogestam married percussionist Sabu Martinez in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1994
Trumpeter/composer Vinicio Gonzalez died, Havana Cuba. Played with Rene Alvarez and Conjunto Niagara (among others).
5th January
1975
Machito Orchestra the first group to perform at St. Patrick's Cathedral, NYC playing Chico O'Farrill's suite 'Oro, Incienso y Mirra' with Dizzy Gillespie, flutist virtuoso Alberto Soccarras, pianist Marco Rizo and vocalist Xiomara Alfaro in front of 2000 people. This was released later that year forming part of the Grammy nominated album Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods.
Singer Víctor Piñero died Caracas, Venezuela. He sang with pioneering Venezuelan band Billios Caracas Boys in the 1940’s and Sonora Matancera in Cuba in the 1950’s.
1965
Grammy nominated singer Anthony Cruz born, New Jersey. Apart from releasing half a dozen albums under his own name (Grammy nominees La Formula & Nuevo Amenecer) he has also recorded with Mario Ortiz, Mimi Ibarra, Roberto Roena and as part of the MP All Stars.
Here he is singing in the modern, Puerto Rican style he is best known for:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jc_uCJR56CI
2003
The January 5th edition of the New York Times reported: “Declining sales, problems with a lease and a landlord facing a morass of legal and financial problems have the owner of Casa Amadeo, the legendary record store whose building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, worried that his store may not last much longer”.
6th January
1900
Son percussionist Silvano “Chori” Shueg born Santiago de Cuba. He has been suggested as the timbales player that a young Tito Puente was impressed with on a visit to Cuba. Contemplating how he came about his nickname Luis Tamargo said: “…..became one of the cult figures of Havana's music scene in the late 1950s, the eccentric percussionist Silvano "El Chori" Shueg painted his enigmatic nickname on many walls, doors and sidewalks of the Cuban capital. Perhaps he could not afford to hire a publicist….. How did Chori acquire his nickname? One could speculate that he was fond of choripán (Cuban chorizo sandwich) or sausages in general, but it is also possible that Chori was a Hispanicized corruption of Shorty” (Latin beat magazine).
1913
Pianist/bandleader Everado Ordaz born, Havana, Cuba. Limited re-issue material of his out there but descarga carry Everado Ordaz Y Su Piano Mágico: Ecos De Cuba.
1937
West Coast based percussionist Max Garduno born. Played with a number of important artists in a variety of musical styles and recorded with Willie Bobo, Hugh Masekela and El Chicano.
1955
Bandleader/pianist Pachito Alonso born Santiago de Cuba. Son of Cuban singer Pacho Alonso whose band he joined in 1973 and by 1978 he was their musical director. After his dad died the band became known as Pachito Alonso y Sus Kini Kini. Continuing this musical dynasty Pachito's sons Cristian and Rey are now both singers with the band.
1958
El Sonero del Barrio, singer/percussionist Efrain “Frankie” Vázquez, born Salinas, Puerto Rico. Began with his own band Los Generales (later known La Soul Latina) in Puerto Rico and then Fuego 77 after moving to NYC, also playing with New Swing Sextet, the Lebron brothers, La Sonora Matancera, Javier Vasquez & Libre. Currently known for his work on recent releases by many, including the SHO debut album (for whom he also gave an added “stage presence” during live performances) he is most associated as the leader of Los Soneros del Barrio.
From a descarga interview: “My influences were Héctor Lavoe, Ismael Miranda, Ismael Rivera, Pete "El Conde," Ismael Quintana. I knew every break to every album of Héctor Lavoe, every album of Willie Colón, every album of Ray Barretto”.
He’s heard here in interview with Washington based promoter Eileen Torres:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-FsPXrtlcC8
1984
New York's Latin music industry paid tribute to pianist Charlie Palmieri at Club Broadway.
1995
Cuban timba band Klimax founded by drummer/songwriter/arranger Giraldo Piloto, they debuted in April that year. The band have released three albums, each featuring a host of performers working their way through super-polyrhythmic compositions and arrangements.
Get your timba fix here:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mhY7MnSMlbQ
7th January
1915
Legendary conguero/composer Luciano “Chano” Pozo born, Havana Cuba.
Linked with his friend Miguelito Valdes for much of his life, Pozo was considered “too black” to play with many of the leading Cuban orchestras such as Casino de la Playa. Valdés had no such problems though and he recorded a number of Pozo afro-rumba's, beginning in October 1939 with Blen, Blen, Blen. As a famed rumbero he eventually became the leader of Conjunto Azul, the house band at the radio station RHC-Cadena Azul. In 1947, encouraged by the success of his friend Miguelito Valdes, he moved to New York. Valdes helped him get his first recording contract with Gabriel Oller's Coda label (later called SMC). In the spring of 1947 Dizzy Gillespie, who had been experiencing notable success with his innovative big band, was on the look out for a Cuban drummer. He was introduced to Pozo by the arranger of Machito's Afro-Cubans, Mario Bauzá. Although Pozo spoke not a word of English and couldn't read music, Gillespie was so astonished by what he heard that he hired him on the spot. After initial resistance, the new sound the group forged proved triumphant. Pozo was a revolution to jazz drummers in the States. A fabulous drummer, one of the greatest rumberos Cuba ever produced. (notes from the Tumbao 3CD box set - Chano Pozo: El Tambor de Cuba).
Here’s an 8 minute clip, that I’m fairly certain is taken from the Harry Belafonte programme Routes of Rhythm:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y9UPptx9jmM
1933
Percussionist and Mozambique creator Pedro “El Pello” Izquierdo (AKA Pello el Afrokan) born, Jesus Maria district, Havana. He was the grandson of Mandingos who reproduced the drumming and rhythms of Africa on the island.
"That’s the blood running through my veins," Pello told me when we met in his musical enterprise, named after Ignacio Piñeiro. "My father was one of the first percussionists in Belisario López’ band. I’m a cousin of Mongo Santamaría and the kings of percussion used to visit my house." (Rafael Lam).
1954
Pianist/composer José María Vitier García-Marruz (José María Vitier) born Havana, Cuba. Performs in a wide variety of musical styles including Cuban Jazz, was pianist for experimental 70’s Cuban band Síntesis and won a Latin Grammy in 2000 for Salmo de las Américas.
1976
After a dispute at midnight on 7th January at Miami Nightclub in Dakar, Senegal, between owner Ibra Kasse and members of the Starband (inc. Pape Seck), Orchestra Number One de Dakar was born. They released four albums under that name between 1978 and 1980 as well as a re-issue album of material released in 1996. Their first album , the LP titled Vol.1 (Satav/Barclay NO-001) features Yaye Boy - a song that would be an international hit for some of the same band members some years later with Africando.
1977
Charanga band Orquesta America debuted in Brooklyn, NYC.
2000
LA Latin jazz musicians played a concert, recorded for release on Cubop Records, to celebrate 10th anniversary of Jose Rizo’s KLON radio show “Jazz on the Latin Side”. Among the many performers were the likes of Poncho Sanchez, Alex Acuna, Al McKibbon, Danilo Lozano and Francisco Aguabella.
2006
A real giant of our music, bandleader/composer/pianist Hector Rivera died NYC.
Here’s a tribute to him:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7MoVXe0IVEo
8th January
1978
Singer (Pachito Alonso)/bandleader (Los Chicos de la Salsa) Cristian Alonso Zequeira born Havana, Cuba. “I am an instrumentalist. I studied trumpet and graduated from the elementary and intermediate level. But later I was inclined towards singing…..Then I began with my father Pachito Alonso, of which I feel very proud and at the same time with a lot of responsibility (Timba.com).
1979
Percussionist (Willy Chirino/Manolin) Danny Barrios born Hialeah, Florida.
1990
Mario Bauzá married Lourdes Noboa, “a lady from the Dominican Republic”.
1991
Bandleader Roberto Torres honoured by US Senate because “his music has helped unite the world”.
1997
Percussionist/bandleader/composer Silvestre Mendez died. Among his many well known songs are the classics Guaguancó Margarito and Yiri Yiri Bon. His brother was Justi Barreto, also the writer of many well known compositions.
Not great sound quality (I’ll hold judgment on the dancing) but here’s the fabulous Ocho with their version, and my personal favourite, of the classic Mendez tuneGuaguancó Margarito:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=udyHnub3tD8
9th January
1954
Saxophonist/composer Mitchell Frohman born at the Fort Dix Army Hospital, where his father was serving at the time in the US Army Reserves.
Speaking of his early career in Latin Beat magazine he said: “...one night I drove to the Pines Hotel where the Joe Cuba Sextet was appearing...I introduced myself and Cuba let me sit in...this was the first time I ever played with an authentic Latin rhythm section...I remember blowing to Oye Como Va, El Pito and To Be With You. Cuba let me sit in twice a week until the gig ended on Labor Day...back in the city I came across Roger Rosenberg at the musicians union who mentioned he had been playing with Tito Puente and that Tito had a preference for jazz-oriented horn players...he suggested I speak to Jimmy Frisaura, (Puente's trumpeter and business manager)...one evening while the Puente orchestra was at the Happy Hills Casino at 157th St. and Broadway, I introduced my self to Jimmy and he approved of my sitting in with the band...the following week the band appeared at the Pan American Motor Inn on Queens Blvd. I sat in on two numbers...after awhile I was sitting in on a regular basis...I learned all the routines...in order to get a steady gig, I had to get on the sub (substitute) list which would one day result in a permanent job...the sax section had 20 subs...one night I got a sub's job…”.
As well as directing his own band The Bronx Horns, he currently plays with the SHO. Over his career he has played with the likes of Machito, Celia Cruz, Charlie & Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Louie Ramirez & Larry Harlow as well as featuring on 3 of Tito Puente’s Grammy winning albums.
1956
The first recording session for the Tito Puente album Cuban Carnival held, RCA Studios, NYC. After the album was released Esquire magazine ran the following review, by Travel Editor Richard Joseph:
“Every so often a great musical talent will flower far from the source of its inspiration. Such was the case with some of the great British dance bands of the late 'twenties and 'thirties which played American music in the heyday of the large orchestras better than most American outfits except that of Papa Whiteman himself. And in the field of jazz criticism, some of the most knowledgeable writing has been in French, by critics who might never have heard live performances of the top groups, but formed their opinions from records and movie shorts. So it is no more than passing strange that one of our greatest contemporary exponents of Cuban rhythms should be a native New Yorker. Tito Puente was born some thirty years ago in New York City's then comparatively small Latin American colony and he served a wartime hitch in the U.S. Navy, but his musical reputation is as Cuban as rum-and-cola. He skyrocketed to fame and fortune on the slightly off-beat rhythm of the mambo, but he's equally deft in his handling of the later cha-cha-cha and guaguancó and the standard rumba, in addition to such other Latin rhythms as the merengue, samba and conga. And he and his versatile combination often vary their dance programs with some smoothly handled fox trots and velvety waltzes. But it is in the Latin rhythms that he has achieved his position as one of the great recording and performing artists of our day. Tito began his career as a dancer, and was going places as a hoofer until some badly ripped ankle tendons turned him into a musician. His dancing background aided him greatly in his musical career, however, as you can see as you watch his body movements while he's working up a good lather on the vibes or timbales. (He also plays piano, sax, bongo and legitimate drums.) And it unquestionably helped him become the mambo master, since, as he puts it, "The mambo is tremendous because it's a great exhibition dance — everybody who dances it is a star!" In addition to being an outstanding conductor and instrumentalist, Puente is a top arranger and composer, as you'll realize when you listen to this album, in which eight of the eleven numbers are his original compositions, including cha-cha-chas, guaguancós, rumbas and mambos. Together they represent an exciting cross section of the Cuban styles, recorded by three different-sized combinations: a small, a medium and a large group. After you've heard these sides, I think you'll agree that they are great music. They're in the best of the Afro-Cuban and Latin American traditions, but they ofttimes have the drive and the swinging perfection of Count Basie, while never losing the authenticity of the Latin rhythm. This is modern music, powerful music, and somewhat avant-garde for the Latin idiom. Nevertheless it's enormously evocative of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba in particular. Listen to it, and you'll be in Havana, just as day is ending in the soft, tropical twilight. The one-day cruise tourists are rolling out of Sloppy Joe's, the dos Hermanos Bar and the drink-tasting counters of the rum distilleries and are heading for the piers, and the town is beginning to really jump. The sidewalk cafés opposite the national capital are already jammed, their girl orchestras are filling the dusk with music, and the shoeshine boys and the travelling salesmen of lottery tickets, postcards, gadgets, gewgaws or what-do-you-want are travelling from café to café. Crowds mill by until the early morning, and when the music gets good, people don't mind doing a mad mambo right there on the sidewalk when the traffic's not too heavy. In all kinds of night clubs in and around Havana, from the luxurious and spacious outdoor places such as Tropicana and Sans Souci on the edge of town, to smoky little cellars, where the pounding rhythms rattle the sidewalk overhead, you'll discover that Cubans are just about the dancingest people on earth. Everybody dances in Cuba, from cabinet ministers to street kids selling lottery tickets. You'll find every sort of night club in Havana, but if you want to go where the music comes from, drop in to a few of the little native joints in the old part of town. The air will be heavy with all kinds of smoke, but you'll hear the real Afro-Cuban sounds. It is in places like these that many Latin American hit tunes first are worked out with pounding hands and feet on battle- and bottle-scarred pianos. And these are the rhythms you hear and the mood you feel when you listen to the wonderfully exciting Cuban Carnival of Tito Puente”.
1964
The Ruben Blades song "9 de Enero" is based on the events that started on 9th January 1964 when Panamanian students protested about disputed territory and right to display the Panamanian flag, 24 died and over 200 were injured as a result.
1969
Amaury Pérez, trombone player with many recordings to his name, born in Cuba.
He has featured with many of Cuba’s finest bands including Adalberto Alvarez, Arnaldo Y Su Talisman, Angel Bonne, Pedrito Calvo & Issac Delgado as well as appearing on the excellent 2003 Mamborama release Entre La Habana y el Yuma.
2003
Vibes player Bobby Montez (b. Roberto Bustamante) died, Los Angeles. He was a highly regarded player and bandleader - copies of the 1958 pressings of his debut album, Jungle Fantastique, can exchange hands for several hundred dollars among collectors - this despite the presence of recording error hiss on all tracks. As leader he only led five albums in his career; Jungle Fantastique, Cha Cha Cha, Hollywood Themes, Pachanga y Cha Cha Cha and Viva Montez. His hard driving mambo Titoro is a personal favourite of mine and can be found on the 1961 album Pachanga y Cha Cha Cha. He spent his retirement as a landscape gardener in California.
The (US) National Endowment for the Arts released a survey, the results suggesting: jazz musicians were largely male, middle aged and well educated, although they made less money than the national average for their education level and many lacked retirement and health benefits.
10th January
1921
Singer (Tito Puente) Vicentico Valdes born, Cayo Hueso district, Havana. Considered one of the greatest Cuban singers, he started his career as vocalist in the second National Septet, later with Jabón Candado Sextet, Cheo Belén Puig Orq, Cosmopolita Orq. & Humberto Cane´s Tropical Ensemble. Lived in Mexico in the 1940’s and moved to California in 1948, later to NYC where he recorded with Noro Morales ("Guararé", "Una Cualquiera", "Qué Problema" & "Ya Son las Doce"). Recorded in NYC 1948 - 1954 with Tito Puente (including "Arrollando", "Ran-Kan-Kan" & "Babaratibiri"). Moved back to Cuba to work with la Sonora Matancera where he recorded on a number of albums between 1953-1958 (see entry for Nelson Pinedo, below).
Here he is in later life, performing with Bobby Valentin:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fN_LbaC2mdw
1927
Cuban pianist Guillermo "Rubalcaba" Gonzalez born. Played with many of Cubans finest musicians, led Charanga Rubalcaba. Was the featured artist in the 2003 Soneros de Verdad release Rubalcaba: Pasado Y Presente.
1928
Nelson Pinedo (b. Napoleón Pinedo Fedullo) singer with Sonora Matancera, Conjunto Luis Santi, Tommy Olivencia and Tito Rodriguez born Barranquilla, Colombia. His six years with La Sonora Matancera, from 1953-1958 - a time frame shared by co-singer Vincentico Valdes with whom he also shared a birthday, covers some of the bands finest work.
1941
Negra Leona recorded for Columbia by Cugat Orchestra, Miguelito Valdes on vocals.
11th January
1948
Bandleader/bongosero/vocalist/composer/producer/arranger Jose Mangual Jr born, East Harlem, NYC. The son of Machito Orchestra bongo player Jose Mangual Sr (aka "Buyú") he got his first big break playing with the new Willie Colon band in 1968, staying with Hector Lavoe and his new band after the Willie/Hector spilt in the mid 1970’s. By 1977 he released the album Tribute to Chano Pozo under his own name, on his own label and in the same year led a series of sessions for LP: Understanding Latin Rhythms. In the late 1980’s he led the band Sarabanda, releasing several albums including Sarabanda, No Se Tu and A Golpe de Marea. Tribute to Chano Pozo Vol 2 followed in 1995 and in the late 1990’s he had teamed up with timbalero-singer Jimmy Sabater to create Son Boricua, a band still touring (though not always technically as Son Boricua) and producing albums. His last release was the 2003 album Dancing with the Gods, featuring one of my favourite female singers, Ada Chabrier, under his own name.
Here he takes lead vocal duty with his own band, singing his composition Campanero:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzfYAOqi8Q
1950
West Coast salsa promoter Julio Mercedes (Salsarengue Promotions) born.
1959
Percussionist/bandleader Bosco El Gitano born. Leader of California based band Orquesta Gitano, who have released two albums in their 15 year existence; Como Suena Mi Rumba (1992) and Salsa Gitano (1998). He also used to write short reviews for descarga.com in the early days.
"You go out and hear a salsa band, but they're not really playing salsa; when you come out to see us, you're going to hear salsa." (Metro interview, 1998).
1962
Paulito FG (b. Paulo Alfonso Fernandez Gallo) born, Buena Vista neighbourhood, Havana.
From Timba.com: “Paulito himself, while his outward image is that of a matinee idol surrounded by legions of adoring young female fans, is actually an extremely intelligent musician, with a highly developed ability to improvise both notes and words. He plays with the melodies and phrasing of his songs much more than most other Timba singers and has shown an extraordinary talent for spontaneously inventing guías in the heat of performance. He also has excellent pitch and phrasing and bootleg live recordings show him to be among the most consistently excellent Timba vocalists on the concert stage, where a singer must ply his or her craft without the benefit of modern recording techniques to make each note perfect”.
1975
Bass player Pavel Molina Ruíz born Havana, Cuba.
Has played with several bands though most notably Los Van Van, for who he plays on the recent Chapeando album.
2000
Grupo Niche released the album Golpe de Folklore, considered by many to be one of the finest Colombian salsa albums ever released. Here’s Han Cogido La Cosa, a track from the album that has been a salsa dancer favourite ever since release:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IF88qWE_L7M
12th January
1917
Rafael Hernandez made his first recordings - 3 danzones by his own orchestra.
Here he is in an early advert that makes Nescafe quite groovy:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=21Lc4BcwBYs
1918
Pianist/bandleader/arranger/composer/record label boss (J&G records) Julio Gutierrez born Manzanillo, Cuba (also cited as 18th Jan 1919).
1924
Sonora Matancera founded by tres player Valentín Cané and bassist Pablo Vasquez at 41 Salamanca Street, Ojo de Agua neighbourhood of Matanzas, Cuba.
The band were first called Tuna Liberal, shortly after changing their name again to Estudiantina Matancera before finally settling for Septeto Sonora Matancera by late 1926. The bands membership over the years has boasted some of the finest names around and at times has featured Daniel Santos, Celia Cruz, Chocolate Armenteros, Perez Prado, Bobby Capo, Javier Vazquez, Roberto Torres and Justo Betancourt among many others. They have been estimated to have recorded over 4,000 songs and have a Guinness Book of Records entry – the oldest continually active musical group in existence.
Here they are in the 1950’s with Celia Cruz on vocals:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tf8C3nsyLE
1927
Sonora Matancera relocated to Havana from Matanzas.
1969
Ernesto Velez, Trombone player born in Holguin, Cuba. "Chencho" started his musical education at Escuela Vocacional de Arte in 1981, where he studied classical guitar until 1984. After graduating from high school, in 1988 he was accepted at the Pedagogico of Havana, graduating in 1992 with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and became a teacher. Some of Chencho's first musical jobs included work with the Malena Burke and Soledad Delgado orchestras. Later, he took was hired by Grupo Giron, of Havana, working with the ensemble from 1992 to 1993. In the mid-1990s he moved to the U.S. and beginning in 1996 he studied the trombone for 2 years with Leopoldo Pineda, one of the original Fania All Stars. Later he studied with Dave Taylor, brass instruments professor at the Manhattan School of Music and former trombonist with trumpeter Winston Marsalis' jazz orchestra.
13th January
1960
Composer and performer Enrique Corona Rodríguez (Kiki Corona) born, Havana, Cuba
1979
New York born percussionist Sabu Martinez died, Sweden. From his obituary published in Swedish Jazz magazine Orkester Journalen:
“Luis "Sabu" Martinez passed away on Saturday, the 13th of January, of a gastric ulcer. He was born of Spanish-African-West Indian origin on July 14th, 1930 in the "Spanish Harlem" section of New York City. In his early teens he and other boys beat rhythms on tin cans on 111th Street, and soon he was engaged on bongos and congas by local Latin bands. He entered military service for one year at age 17, and in 1946 he played jazz seriously for the first time, with Art Blakey's big band. The following year he played with the Lecuona Cuban Boys, and after that it was Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miguelito Valdes, Harry Belafonte, and Art Blakey again. Later it was Tony Bennett, Xavier Cugat, and Sammy Davis, Jr. -- with whom he participated in a film set in Puerto Rico. There he met a Swedish woman, whom he married in January 1967. He came to Sweden in August of the same year to play in Lill Lindfors' show in Berns. He has stayed here since and has been engaged frequently by many different orchestras in different events around the country. At one time he lived in Dalarna County and played with Björbobandet. Also he started a few Latin groups of his own; these did not succeed, however. In Sabu we have lost a fiery, controversial and inspiring daub of colour in the life of Swedish jazz.
He’s featured here with Arsenio Rodriguez:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy_ZTReT_bU
"Sabu was living in Los Angeles, playing with different bands but not making much money. One day he borrowed my spare conga set. I asked him, "Where is yours?" and Sabu replied that he sold his set to leave money for his children because he was going out of town. Two days later, I was in Las Vegas, trying to get a gig in a new casino. The line was endless, but I heard the stage manager clearly call his name: "Louis Martinez, you are next..." Suddenly, Sabu leaped to the center of the stage and started singing, "El Cumbanchero!!!" He was trying to get hired as a singer because he had sold my congas to pay for the bus to Las Vegas!" (Francisco Aguabella)
1995
Pape Fall formed his own group, African Salsa. Over the next couple of years they would release the albums ”Ke Jaraxam” & “Domou Nedeye”- both on cassette. His 2002 CD album Artisanat on the Stern label was well received, review by Bjørn-Erik Hanssen:
“A remarkable well produced salsa album by Pape Fall. He was also represented on the compilation "African Salsa" from Earthworks (see under the menu Compilations) On that album I felt that the African salsero was standing a little in the shadow of for instance Africando. This time, however, given the possibility to present himself on a whole album, his talent really shines through. The album contains a well arranged and varied bundle of salsa from Senegal. The sound, produced in Dakar, is warm and clean, and a row of good instrumentalists present their solos, especially Wilfred Zinzou on trombone should be mentioned. The African salsa has a slightly different touch from Cuban, through the language, of course, which is Wolof, but also through use of tama, talking drum, which suits the music perfectly. The lyrics, also added in the booklet, are about art and the artists' importance for the nation, here Senegal, and they are poetic and well written”.
1998
The recently formed Chuco Valdes quartet debuted in Toronto, Canada, and recorded the Bele Bele En Havana album.
2001
Puerto Rican singer Frankie Hernandez died. Associated with Bobby Valentin for some time he also was the lead vocalist for three Impacto Crea albums as well as releasing albums under his own mane including Solo Para Ellas & Te Transformas in the 1980’s.
Here he is, oddly out of sync, at a Bobby Valentin anniversary gig (the 25th I think, guy just leaving the stage is the great Luisito Carrion BTW):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lAmMmt-usdY
14th January
1936
Trumpeter Juancito Torres born, Caguas, Puerto Rico. Plays with Batacumbele but has also featured on albums by PR All Stars, Cano Estremera (Diferente), Justo Betancourt (Lo Sabemos), Julio Castro y Orquesta La Masacre (Mamey), Ray Barretto (Live 50th Anniversary), Roberto Roena (Mi Musica 97) and several of the Fania All Star recordings from the 1980’s.
1964
Composer/bandleader/pianist Noro Morales died, San Juan Puerto Rico. From musicofpuertorico.com “His his father, Luis and his sister, Marina were his first music teachers. Morales learned trombone, bass and piano. They helped prepare him for his professional career as a musician in the Orquesta Hermanos Morales, directed by his father. He later played with an band in Venezuela in 1924 but returned to Puerto Rico six years later and joined the orchestra of the famous Rafaél Muñoz. Morales moved to New York City in 1935 were gained fame with top Latin bands in the city. He then formed his own band called the Hermanos Morales Orchestra in 1937, which was later called Noro Morales And His Orchestra. Morales played the piano and the band included the typical Latin rhythm section with bass, bongos, conga, timbales, and claves. He returned to Puero Rico in 1961 to work at the Hotel la played in noted nightclubs such as the Palladium, The Stork Club, Copacabana and La Conga. But he also played more humble venues in the Hispanic "barrio", earning him the title of "King of Latin Music." During this time he appeared with such famous artists as Tito Rodríguez, José Luis Moneró, Chino Pozo, Willie Rosario and Tito Puente”.
Here’s one of his best known compositions, Maria Cervantes, performed on vibes by Tito Puente:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv63072UiJM
1973
Singer/pianist Julio Cortez born. Has played with Grupo Niche and more recently Son de Cali.
19??
West Coast based trumpet/trombone player Gary Eisenberg born.
15th January
1937
Rafael Hernández’s Grupo Victoria recorded the songs “Alegre en el Canaveral” & “El Prisionero” with Davilita on vocals.
2001
Bassist Phil "Flub" Escovedo died. “He took up the bass in the late 1950s at the age of 13, inspired by his stepfather Tony Cadena, who also played bass. Joining the Musicians Local 510 in San Leandro in 1958, he toured with the Pan American Orchestra of John Silva until 1961. He joined the Escovedo Brothers Band in 1962 as the group frequently performed at the Sands Ballroom in Oakland, as well as in various community halls. Phil was rooted in the styles of Bobby Rodríguez (of the Tito Puente orchestra) and Cachao. With a deep tone and solid groove, he was also a well-versed jazz bassist who did straight-ahead gigs with his Ampeg baby-bass. In 1967, he went on to play with Benny Velarde, with whom he worked off and on until the early 1980s. His discography is short but sweet, and includes dates with his brothers, Benny Velarde, Luis Gasca and Cal Tjader. He's featured on two Tjader releases, including the classic LP Agua Dulce on the Fantasy label, where he played on Cachao's Descarga Cubana and several other tunes. Phil was a giant of a man who helped to educate and spread the gospel of Latin jazz in the Bay Area” (from the Latin Beat magazine obituary).
Salsa Notes are compiled, edited and misinterpreted by slaphappy – who does not expect to see his work used anywhere else without acknowledgement.
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