Search Results for: Latin Jazz

Papo Vázquez the Pirate & Troubadour of Our Latin Music

Papo Vázquez Enjoying the Bell.

Angel Vásquez, “Papo Vásquez”, was born on February 24, 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

By age 15, Papo Vázquez was playing with local American bands in Philadelphia and accompanying guest artists such as Eddie Palmieri.

At just 17, he moved to New York and was hired to play for trumpet player Chocolate Armenteros’ band, and soon began playing and recording with other top artists on the salsa scene such as The Fania All-Stars, Ray Barreto, Willie Colón, Grupo Folklórico Neoyorquino, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, and Hector Lavoe.

Vazquez also became a key player in the burgeoning New York Latin jazz scene of the late 1970s, performing with Jerry Gonzalez, Hilton Ruiz, and more.

He began his studies with Slide Hampton, eventually recording and performing Slide Hampton’s World Trombones.

Papo Vázquez Photo by Ernie Gregory (Gone but not forgotten) Thank you Ernie!PV

A Grammy-nominated trombonist, composer, arranger, NEA Master Artist, he has a 50-plus year career in jazz, Latin and Afro-Caribbean music.

Musical Director of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Orchestra, (NYC/WABC) 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

Commissioned by Wynton Marsalis to compose music for Jazz and Art series, conducted and performed with the J@LC orchestra, CD release August 2019 New York Pops Education, Board of Education certified, 2018 and 2019

New music commissioned for Afro Latin Jazz Alliance for the “Nueva Música” concert series.

Nominated for Grammy for Papo Vázquez’s Mighty Pirates, Marooned/Isolated, 2008

Born in 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, although his early formative years were in Puerto Rico.

He went on to play and/or record with jazz luminaries Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra, Chico O’Farrill, Ray Charles, Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones, Jerry Gonzalez Fort Apache, among many others. By the age of 22, Vazquez had traveled the world.

Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours 2023

Vázquez was deeply moved by jazz from a young age. His appreciation and knowledge of indigenous Caribbean music provides him with a unique ability to fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the freer melodic and harmonic elements of progressive jazz.

Beginnings

After spending his early years in Puerto Rico, he grew up in the heart of North Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community. He purchased his first trombone from a friend for $5 and joined the elementary school band.

At the age of 14, an uncle recommended him to a local salsa band, where he met trumpeter Jimmy Purvis. Purvis inspired Papo’s lifelong passion for jazz by giving him two records: J.J. Johnson’s Blue Trombone and John Coltrane Live at the Village Vanguard. By 15, Vazquez was performing with local Latin bands in Philadelphia and accompanying visiting New York artists such as Eddie Palmieri.

He was a founding member of Jerry Gonzalez’s Fort Apache and Conjunto Libre, as well as the popular Puerto Rican Latin fusion band Batacumbele.

With Batacumbele he performed, composed, arranged and recorded several albums from 1981 to 1985. Upon his return to New York, he joined Tito Puente’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, traveling with them as principal trombonist and touring Europe with Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra.

Leader, Composer and Innovator.

Vázquez has always been deeply moved by jazz, and specifically cites the music of John Coltrane and J.J. Johnson as having influenced him most. In addition, his appreciation and knowledge of the indigenous music of Caribbean peoples gives him a unique ability to fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms, specifically those of Puerto Rico, with the freer melodic and harmonic elements of progressive jazz.

During his time in Puerto Rico with Batacumbele in the 1980s, he began experimenting with “bomba jazz,” a fusion of jazz and traditional Puerto Rican bomba. In 1993 he recorded his first album as a leader, Breakout. He continued to collaborate with a variety of Latin Jazz artists, contributing Overtime Mambo to Hilton Ruiz’s Manhattan Mambo and Contra Viento y Mareo to Descarga Boricua, Vol. 1.

In 1999, he released a live recording with a number of leading New York Latin and jazz artists, including bassist Andy Gonzalez, saxophonist Michael Brecker, among others. The release of Pirates & Troubadours At the Point, Vol. 1 was followed the next year by At The Point, Vol. 2.

Mighty Pirates Troubadours Songs del Yucayekepor Papo Vazquez — Mighty Pirates Troubadours Songs del Yucayeke
por Papo Vazquez

This project evolved into the Pirates Troubadours, an “Afro-Puerto Rican jazz band” that includes musicians such as Roberto Cepeda of Puerto Rico’s Familia Cepeda folklore group, Milton Cardona and Anthony Carrillo on percussion, and John Benitez, among others. The group performed at festivals around the world and released Carnival in San Juan in 2003, followed by From The Badlands in 2007.

Interest grew as a composer.

He was the first artist to receive a composer commission (Iron Jungle) for the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, then a resident orchestra at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

His first classical composition, Palomita Suite Afro-Caribeña which to date was the first time Bomba y Plena had been performed with a Chamber Orchestra, was commissioned by the Bronx Arts Ensemble and premiered at the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture in the Bronx in 2004.

In 2007, on a commission from the Bronx River Arts Center, he wrote Sube el Río (River Rising) for its Mighty Pirate Orchestra for its 20th anniversary concert “Bronx River Sounds.”

Discography

Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Capítulo 10: Breaking Cover, Picaro Records 2020
Cuarteto Papo Vázquez – GV J.S. Bach, Picaro Records 2017
Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Spirit Warrior, Picaro Records, 2015
Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Oasis, Picaro Records, 2012
Papo Vázquez The Mighty Pirates – Marooned / Aislado, Picaro Records, Nominación al Grammy 2008
Papo Vázquez Pirates Troubadours – From The Badlands, Picaro Records, 2007
El Niño Josele – 2011
Tego Calderon – The Underdog / El Subestimado, Jiggiri Records, 2006
Shakira & Wyclef Jean – Tema de la final mundial de fútbol (“Bamboo”), 2006
Ray Barretto – Normas rican-ditioned, Zoho Music, 2006
Los Pleneros de la 21 Para Todos Ustedes, Smithsonian Folkways, 2005 – Nominación al Grammy,
Bebo Valdes – Bebo de Cuba, Calle 54, 2005 – Grammy, Mejor Álbum de Jazz Latino
Papo Vázquez Pirates Trovadores – Carnaval en San Juan, Cu-Bop Records, 2003
Wayne Shorter – Alegria, Verve, 2003 – Grammy, Mejor álbum instrumental de jazz
Jack Bruce – Sombras en el aire, Sanctuary Records Group, 2001
Freddie Cole Rio de Janeiro Blues, Telarc
Chico O’Farrill “Carambola” Fantasía
Banda sonora de la película Mo ’Better Blues de Spike Lee
Papo Vázquez “Piratas y trovadores – En el punto Vol. I” Cubop
Papo Vázquez “Piratas y trovadores – At the Point Vol. 2” Cubop
Milton Cardona “Cambucha” Clave americana
Arturo O’Farrill “Bloodlines” Fantasy
Chucho Valdés “All Stars Bronx Lebanon New Directions Project” RMM
“Jammin ‘in the Bronx” Papo Vázquez Band, Chucho Valdes & The Machito Orq RMM
Chart Busters con el Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lenny White, Hiram Bullock, Craig Handy, Papo Vázquez, et.al. Chico O’Farrill Fantasía “Pure Emotion”
Steve Berrios Fantasía del “primer mundo”
Descarga Boricua “Descarga Boricua” Tierrazo
Dave Valentin “Tropic Heat” GRP
Juan Luis Guerra 440 “Fogarate” 440
Papo Vázquez “Breakout” Timeless
Ruben Blades “Amor y Control” “Antecedente” & “Caminando” Sony
Hilton Ruiz “Manhattan Mambo” Telarc y “Hands on Percussion”
RMM Tito Puente “Fuera de este mundo” Tito Puente “100” RMM
Jerry Gonzalez Fort Apache Band “Obatala” “Live in Berlin” Enja & “Ya Yo Me Cure” American Clave
New York Latin Jazz All Stars “Feliz Navidad”
Bobby Valentin “Presenta al Cano Estremera” – Bronco Records
Batacumbele “Con Un Poco de Songo” & “En Aquellos Tiempos” Tierrazo
Ray Barretto “Ricanstruction” Fania
Slide Hampton “Mundo de trombones” WEST54
Chico O’Farrill “Calle 54”
Fania All Stars “Habana Jam” Fania
Willie Colon & Ruben Blades “Siembra” Fania
Willie Colon y Celia Cruz Fania
Héctor La Voe “De Ti Depende” – Feliz Navidad, Fania
Mon Rivera “Vuelvo a Vivir” Fania

Sources:

Textos www.jazzismomedellin.com

Also Read: Eddie Palmieri brought salsa for the first time and live from Sing Sing Penitentiary in New York

Star of the Month: Orlando Watussi. The Latin king in Italy!

Europe / Italy / Milan

In International Salsa Magazine, we want to create a network of people who want to inspire and share music around the world. This month we have the pleasure to present you the Venezuelan musician: Orlando Watussi!

He is a composer, musician, sonero and salsero currently living at Milan, Italy. His career started in 1969 in a band called “Los Exitantes” with Alexis Monterola. Then, in 1971, Watussi joined the group “Principe y su sexteto”. Years later he was the founder and director of the group, El Satelite, with Federico and su Combo Latino, until closed his career in Venezuela with a brief stay in the group “Salsa Mayor”.

The most important years in his music career were between Puerto Rico and New York where he got into Latin Jazz and Salsa. His first international music work was with Don Rafael Cortijo in 1976, work that took him to Puerto Rico in order to join the Combo de Cortijo.

In 1986 had the opportunity to start his solo career, creating a big name in the salsa movement with the hit “Las Calaveras Blancas”, with the production of Jose Mangual Jr. Through all his music career, Watussi has collaborates with artists like Johnny Sedes, Alfredo Naranjo, Cheo Navarro and many others. His is currently living and working in Milan, Italy, but also giving concerts in Germany, Spain, France and in his natal country: Venezuela.

Discography: Echando Pa ‘Lante Orlando Watussi

Cuidala Bien
Son Caleño (Aldemar Barona / Orlando Watussi)
La Verdad
Si Te Tuviera
Barrios
Malunga

Orlando Watussi - Como Nunca — Orlando Watussi – Como Nunca

Juan Sebastian Bar “The Temple of Jazz and Salsa in Caracas”

In the heart of the city, there is a refuge of sophistication and art: Juan Sebastián Bar.

Delight your palate with our cocktails, each a fusion of classic flavors and contemporary notes, while live jazz and salsa create the most special melodies.

In the heart of the city, lies a refuge of sophistication and art, Juan Sebastián Bar.

Aldemaro Romero, Alfredo Sadel, Billo Frómeta, Dámaso Pérez Prado, Tito Puente, Bobby Capó, Pedro Vargas, Leo Marini, Libertad Lamarque, Ray Barreto, Lucho Gatica, Olga Guillot, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Julio Gutiérrez, Vicky Carr, Armando Manzanero, Sergio Mendes.

They all passed through Juan Sebastián Bar, the so-called temple of jazz, but which is actually a brotherhood of music lovers. For 43 years it has been a reference in Caracas’ nightlife, even with its ups and downs. Every night, from Tuesday to Saturday, it offers a space for disconnection.

That brick cave, with its cork walls and the bar illuminated with bottle bottoms, has its anecdotes, the first one sinceevery night the famous saxophonist Victor Cuica threatened them and the second one. It stars the maestro Aldemaro Romero in a taxi heading to the place, one of his usual places to eat and drink.

The taxi driver who is already approaching the place located in El Rosal, comments: “poor those people who could not complete the facade and left it in bricks.” The scene speaks of that ostentatious and cosmopolitan Caracas of the seventies and eighties. The truth is that over the years the area was transformed into a financial district of large glass towers and the two-story brick house became the after office on Venezuela Avenue.

The name of the establishment, founded by Eleazar López Contreras -yes, the grandson of the former president of Venezuela- is a play on words with the name of the composer Juan Sebastián Bach, who holding a pair of cutlery serves as the logo for the business, under the design of Jorge Blanco, the famous illustrator who created the character of the Castaway.

In choosing the place, they considered other equally humorous options such as Bar Thoven.

The musical repertoire ranges from jazz to salsa. In the place you can listen to virtuosos of these genres such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tonny Bennet, Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón, among others.

Alfredo Naranjo, a percussion virtuoso who has left his mark on the international music scene, will delight us once again with his incomparable talent.

He recently participated in the Chicago International Festival and has received a Latin Grammy nomination for his unparalleled percussion performance on the album: Soy Puro Teatro: Tributo a La Lupe by Mariaca Semprún and with her, he also recorded a version of the gaita María la bollera.

Considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa and Latin jazz, Alfredo Naranjo has a long career that began at an early age at the Conservatory of Music of the National Youth Orchestra.

In 1986 he joined the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Orchestra, and then continued his training at the University of Long Island, New York.

He has played with artists such as Dave Samuels, Tito Puente, Ray Charles, Alex Acuña and Carlos “Nené” Quintero, and groups such as Guaco and Ensamble Gurrufío. Cheo Feliciano referred to him as “the best vibraphonist in salsa.”

He has been the leader of El Guajeo, a fundamental piece of contemporary Caracas. He has recorded albums such as Cosechando (1993), A través del tiempo (1997), Vibraciones de mi tierra (1999), Alfredo Naranjo y El Guajeo I y II (2001 y 2006), México Music Fest (2011), Lado A Lado B (2015) and Be Jazz Sessions (2018), an album that was awarded at thePepsi Music Awards in the Jazz Album category.

Enjoy a unique evening in a sophisticated atmosphere, where the passion for music is breathed in every corner.
Let yourself be seduced by the enveloping rhythms of Latin music in a sophisticated atmosphere.

Every Wednesday, Dj. Augusto Felibertt transports us through a unique musical journey.

Every Wednesday, DJ Augusto Felibertt takes us on a unique musical journey.

We look forward to seeing you at @Juansebastianbar to enjoy an unforgettable evening!

Wednesday to Saturday from 5:00pm on Venezuela Avenue and Mohedano Street, El Rosal.
Reservations at 0414-3080587

Also Read: Gato Barbieri was an excellent and virtuoso Argentine saxophonist par excellence

Latin America / October 2024

DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS
ARGENTINA	ARUBA	BELIZE
BOLIVIA	BRAZIL	CHILE
COLOMBIA	COSTA RICA	CUBA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	ECUADOR	GUATEMALA
MEXICO	PANAMA	PERU
PUERTO RICO	VENEZUELA

Guatemalan group Malacates Trébol Shop enchants with its Latin rock and ska

We have had the opportunity to talk with artists and groups from many Latin American countries and the United States, but so far, we had not had the honor of interviewing anyone from Guatemala. Therefore, it was a pleasure for us to talk to Leonel Fernández and Rodolfo ”Chofo” Fernández, two of the members of the band Malacates Trébol Shop, to whom we dedicate the following lines.

Malacates drummer Leonel ”Cachu” Hernández, with whom we could talk about the Guatemalan band

How did the members of Malacates Trébol Shop get interested in music?

The band Malacates Trébol Shop already has more than 27 years of creation in the country of origin of its members, which is Guatemala. They started playing ska, which basically, in the words of Leonel Hernández, has been the backbone of everything they have done during this time, but this has not prevented them from flirting with other Latin genres that they also like very much, such as cumbia, reggae, Latin rock, among others.

bout this, Rodolfo pointed out that each of the members of the band has very diverse musical tastes including rock, pop, jazz, ska, blues, reggae, funk, salsa, bolero, mariachis, among others. So, all the musicians bring to the table their own musical ideas resulting in the sound that the group has today. However, just like Leonel, he emphasized that ska is always the basis on which they build most of their project.

Previous experience to Malacates Trébol Shop

Leonel again took the floor to emphasize that all the musicians in the group had already been in other bands before being part of this project with the illusion that at some point they were going to be music professionals fair and square.

It was in this same musical environment that Leonel, Rodolfo, Jacobo Nitsch, Francisco Paez and other artists met and began to get together. Over time, they all discovered that their views on music were very similar, so it would not be long before each of them would leave the groups they were in to create something on their own.

They would all get together regularly on weekends to play music, have fun and drink some beers. With the passage of time, they noticed that they were taking things more and more seriously to the point that they decided they had to lay the groundwork for something more formal in the near future.

This represented for the youngsters the opportunity to do something serious in music for the first time and they were not going to waste it under any circumstances.

Malacates guitarist Rodolfo — Malacates guitarist and sound engineer Rodolfo ”Chofo” Hernández, with who we also talked about the band

How did the name Malacates Trébol Shop come about?

The name Malacates Trébol Shop came about just before the first rehearsal of the group because they wanted to baptize the project from the beginning, but the guys wanted something original and, if possible, humorous for people to remember it upon hearing it.

So, they all began inventing funny names to identify themselves with, such as ”Conchinflín Godinez” or ”Los Champurradas” (a typical Guatemalan bread). This is how one of the boys suggested the name ”malacates”, which was a word used by grannies to refer to children who misbehaved. In addition to that, there was a club in Guatemala called ”Trébol Shop”. This resulted in the current name of the group which is ”Malacates Trébol Shop”.

When they started to call themselves this way, people generally took it with humor and it caused curiosity, which was exactly what the musicians were looking for. At that time, musical bands used to have elaborate names with many deep meanings, so ”malacates” broke that mold and stood out from others.

In its first performances, without a doubt, the name was one of the elements that made its early audiences that enjoyed the band live have it in their memory for a long time.

First professional experiences

In order for Malacates Trébol Shop to play live for the first time in a formal presentation, the musicians rehearsed for a whole year to make sure all worked out as best as it could.

In the process, they managed to be played on the radio and generated a lot of expectation around what they could offer with their talent, so many commercial brands wanted to work and sponsor them. One of them was Pepsi, which published a campaign with a Malacates song in the background, which was a great honor for the boys and resulted in a much larger number of concerts and bookings in general.

Malacates members — Drummer Leonel ”Cachu” Hernández, trumpeter Jacobo Nitsch, singer Francisco Páez, and guitarist Rodolfo ”Chofo” Hernández

Groups and artists who inspired Malacates

As for the groups and artists who inspired the members of Malacates, we can mention Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, The Skatalites, Grupo SKA-P, Bob Marley, Cultura Profética, among others.

In addition to this, one of the founding members of Malacates and the band Bohemia Suburbana, Juan Luis Lopera, is one of the first Guatemalan artists to do some Ska in the country, which made him one of the precursors of the genre in the Central American nation.

They also used to listen very often to the group Madness, Los Auténticos Decadentes and Versuit Vergarabat.

It is on these groups that Malacates Trébol Shop has based its sound and repertoire since it was conceived as a serious project by its founders and members.