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Two years after the creation of the Latin Jazz album XYZ with Son Bent Braam

Michiel Braam presented XYZ at the Music Meeting Festival. “The festival takes place in Nijmegen, where I was born (1964), grew up, and still live”. Foto: Marjan Smeijsters

Virtuous pianist, masterful producer, and surprising composer. Winner of the Podium award (1998) and Boy Edgar (1996/1997). Musician trained by conviction and at the ArtEZ Music Academy in Arnhem. His lifestyle is synchrony between freedom, creativity, teaching, and love. It is how he presents us his life and his works in Nijmegen, Michiel Braam.

This friendly artist with a protective childhood where love prevailed always had the support and freedom to develop and create everything he considered necessary to him. Michiel is the only one in his family who turned to music professionally, but the rhythm of melodies runs through his veins. His parents played the piano self-taught. His mother wrote notes while his father just improvised.

During high school, he participated in a band for which he wrote and arranged all the music. He studied at the conservatory and founded his more minor quartet Bentje Braam (“Little Band Braam”) in 1985. In the same year, he traveled with his band to Sweden to be the first Dutch group to open the EBU Jazz Festival and wrote his first composition for the Dutch radio “Cows and Beasts”. A year later, he created the band Bik Bent Braam.

“Music is, as long as I know, everything to me. I feel better with music. I dance when I’m happy, and music comforts me when I’m not doing so well… It seemed like a logical step to pursue what I enjoyed most.” Michiel Braam https://www.michielbraam.com/

By 1988 Braam had had no contact with Latin music until percussionist André Groen asked him to be the pianist for his Orquesta Europea de Danzón. In this regard, this wonderful pianist told us: “He wanted a pianist who had a wild free Jazz attitude and who didn’t only play the well-known Latin patterns because he thought that fitted better with the authentic Cuban music. That music immediately appealed to me, especially because of its rhythmic impact, but also because as a pianist, you have a lot of freedom to go in all directions during improvisations. I have touched on those Latin patterns to some extent and in the course of the 10 years that I played in that orchestra I managed to master them better, but it was mainly the combination of freedom and rhythm. That orchestra lasted ten years and we celebrated the thirtieth anniversary in 2018 with a couple of concerts. Great to do that again and I felt again exactly why I found it so appealing back then”.

In 1988 Michiel won the Podium Prize, an encouragement prize for Dutch Jazz music and in 1996/1997 he won the Boy Edgar, the highest prize for Dutch Jazz.

This pianist, the architect of great projects, built a party based on the Latin alphabet of Western culture on the album XYZ released in 2020, creating a danceable mix that includes Mambo, Rumba, Son, Danzón, Boogaloo, Calypso, Rumba, Bembé, Mozambique, Samba, Afro, Bolero, Cha-cha, Merengue, Bembé, and Samba. Michiel is also the Director of the Jazz and Pop department of the ArtEZ conservatory and founded a Danzón orchestra. Now, I leave you with the rest of this wonderful interview that I had the opportunity to do with the great Maestro Michiel Braam. Enjoy!

They have played on the ZomerJazzFiets tour, North Sea Jazz, and Bimhuis. Likewise, some of the members of the orchestra are fluent in Spanish.

– How did the idea of the Latin jazz album XYZ come about?

In 1995 I wrote “The XYZ of Bik Bent Braam” for my big orchestra at the time, Bik Bent Braam (phonetic Dutch for “Big Band Braam”). I thought it would be fun to make a festive version of it to celebrate the 25th anniversary. The XYZ was (and is) a 26-part suite, with a piece for each letter of the alphabet, starting with Aardedonker (English title Atramentous, Spanish Apagado, both not exact translations…) and ending with Zwoerdspek (Zaftig, Zafio). I revisited all the pieces in 2020 and paired various styles with the original material. In the 1995 original, they were mostly jazz-like styles (bebop, free improv, swing, jazz ballad, etc), but Chachachtig was a rumba even then. It is the only piece that has not changed its mood substantially.

– What happened to the previous members and how did the new members take hold?

The original orchestra Bik Bent Braam was composed of top musicians from the Dutch improvised music scene. The orchestra existed from 1986 to 2013 and had a number of lineup changes. In the final version of Bik Bent Braam there were only a few members left from the very beginning. That the musicians of Bik Bent Braam could read well was not really a requirement, the core was affinity with swing and great improvisational skills. For this new version, it was important not only that the musicians were excellent improvisers, but also that they had to have a feel for Latin music and also that they were outstanding readers, because I did not foresee that there would be very much rehearsal time and the notes are quite challenging. Bik Bent Braam was subsidized with government funding and I could then easily occupy a longer period with many rehearsals. Son Bent Braam, the current line-up, does not have its own subsidy, so we have to look at each concert and hope that everyone can make it. There have been quite a few subs, and they too have to be able to improvise and read well.

– Tell us about your Danzón orchestra.

André (André Groen – Percussionist) wanted to immerse himself in traditional Cuban music. There is so much richness in the danzón with its fixed forms that pass by in each piece with the most beautiful melodies and the wildest spaces for improvising on highly danceable rhythms. We found the instrumentation with violins, cello, flute, percussion, double bass, and piano attractive. After ten years I got too busy with my jazz ensembles, by then I was touring all over the world with Bik Bent Braam and other groups and especially with my Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher. I could hardly combine it anymore with the Danzón Orchestra and the great pianist Peter van Marle took my place, which made me feel very humble. The European Danzón Orchestra then existed for another year or so. I honestly don’t know why it stopped then. In 2018 we did a couple of reunion concerts, great fun to do.

– How many years have you been in charge of the Jazz and Pop department of the ArtEZ conservatory and what do you teach the new generations based on your experience?

I have been head of the program since 1992. It is part of a broad arts university and is located in a building that also houses dance, theater, fine art, applied art, fashion, and creative writing. As a head, I don’t teach very much… only when students very specifically ask for it a few hours of individual lessons per year and a few group lessons, and I also regularly give master students some lessons. My message is usually quite short and clear: there are millions of people who play an instrument excellently, and you can probably teach an orangutan to play Keith Jarrett better than Keith does himself, but – apart from the fact that that would be a fun YouTube hit – there is no point; in our music, it is almost all about an authentic voice, including all the shortcomings that are in everyone, which also make you a unique musician. Obviously, you must have many skills as a musician, but my life motto is that one’s deficiencies are far more important for one’s personality than one’s skills, and that attitude underlies my whole vision of art education.

“With Nos Otrobanda have started to concentrate on the music of Noro Morales and have his composition Maria Cervantes (single) firmly in our program. His music will probably be the subject of our new album”. Foto: Marjan Smeijsters

– What are your next projects?

Everything is starting up again post-covid. I want to record a solo album on my grand piano, a so-called “Alurip”. That’s an aluminum grand piano made in the fifties with a specific sound. And the album of our trio Nos Otrobanda, which specializes in Antillean music, is almost sold out. That doesn’t matter obviously, if there are no more physical copies then you can always hear the music through iTunes, Spotify, etc, but it’s a great opportunity to make new recordings again and the intention is to go to Curacao and record music in the Fortkerk in Willemstad, the place where we did a couple of concerts in 2018. That was a great experience, what a nice place and sweet audience!

– How was the process to make a living from music?

I stuck pretty firmly to the rule that you have to do what you like and not let yourself be distracted too much from that. And I look for what it takes to make it happen. From 1996 to 2012 I received an annual government subsidy to realize my projects. I am also a real musician in the sense that I have a mixed professional practice (playing, writing, teaching, producing, almost every musician has roughly that mix) which means that it is always possible to make a living out of it and we never had to worry about bread and a place to live.

Michiel Braam & Son Bent Braam Orchestra.  Foto: Marjan Smeijsters

I make music mainly because I can’t do otherwise. Music is a way to communicate; it makes you a little better… Leitmotiv in everything is that in music, I am free to do anything I want. For example, I did play Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the exquisite reed quintet Calefax, also improvising on the various songs from that opera.” Michiel Braam

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We bring you the 5 best Salsa clubs and events so you don’t miss any opportunity to continue dancing in the city of lights

Every year is a unique opportunity to make Salsa resound throughout the city of freedom and lights. Here, several prestigious places monthly immerse attendees in a Latin atmosphere. It is why in this August edition, we will take you on a journey into Latin American culture with a dream destination of Salsera fun in Paris.

La Pachanga

La Pachanga derives its name from the Cuban rhythm of the 60s

The Bar/Restaurant/Club La Pachanga https://www.lapachanga.fr/ is a place of reference for Salsa lovers, and is located near the Eiffel Tower at 8, rue Vandamme 75014. This club is designed in a cozy and Caribbean style. At the bar, you can enjoy various types of cocktails, Mojitos, Caipirinha, or Cuba Libre as well as a Latin American menu at the restaurant.

At the Pachanga, you can attend classes for beginner and intermediate levels with different instructors who will make you live two hours of Salsa Cubana and Salsa Puertorriqueña dance from Tuesday to Thursday from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM continuing with social dancing and DJ set until 2 AM. On Saturdays, there are also two-hour Salsa lessons at the same time, and La Pachanga closes its doors on this day at 5 AM. The cost of entry is 12 euros.

Le Balajo

You must present a Vaccination Certificate and an identity document to access the club.

Le Balajo nightclub https://www.balajo.fr/ open since 1936 brings Salsa and Bachata classes every Tuesday from 7:30 PM to 2 AM for beginners and intermediate-level dancers. Amateur Salsa lessons start at 7:30 PM, while Intermediate Salsa lessons begin at 8:30 PM, followed by a Latin party hosted by DJ Karim until 2 AM.

The fees to attend this weekly event of joy and good humor are €8 and include non-alcoholic drinks and €12 if the beverage is alcoholic, but if you want to enjoy the bar and its atmosphere, the entrance fee is €5. The address is 9 Rue de Lappe, 75011 Paris, France.

Cubana Café

It is a restaurant, bar, and smokehouse for cigar enthusiasts with a quiet atmosphere in the evening.

The Cubana Café Bar/Restaurant https://www.cubanacafe.com/ is a cozy, exotic place with a 100% Cuban atmosphere. Every weekend they organize Latin Nights until dawn. Starting on Fridays and Saturdays with a DJ set from 9 PM to 5 AM and ending on Sundays from 12:30 PM to 3 AM, if you consume one of the three traditional Cuban dishes with a cocktail with or without alcohol, you will only pay €17.90. Cubana Café opened its doors 22 years ago and is located at 47 Rue vavin in the 6th district. Decoration made in Cuba, warm colors, Salsa, and a dynamic atmosphere at night await you at Cubana Café.

Pachamama

The decoration is influenced by the regions of South America with glamorous and bohemian touches that converge.

Pachamama Parisian Restaurant/ Bar/ Nightclub https://www.pachamama-paris.com/index.php/en/home-alt-2/ is located at 46-48 rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine, 75012, Paris, in a historic building from the 19th century designed by Gustave Eiffel in the neo-vintage colonial style. It has three levels inspired by the myths and sacred symbols of the pre-Columbian peoples influenced by the Latin traditions of the New World. It is open from Thursday to Saturday from 8 PM to 5 AM, with resident DJs on stage lighting up the dance floor (Lower Floor) with harmonious mixes between Latin Music, Soul, Pop, and Deep House.

La Terrasse Latino

Around 1,000 lovers from the Latin American continent enjoy gathering at the Terrasse every Friday in the summer.

The largest open-air Latino gathering in Paris continues on the terrace of Cabaret Sauvage this summer in August. La Terrasse Latino https://www.cabaretsauvage.com/work/la-terrasse-latino-du-cabaret-sauvage-3  located at Parc de la Villette 59 Boulevard Macdonald, 75019 will offer Salsa Caleña lessons every Friday with instructor Francy Barahona de Calisabor (8:45 PM – 9:30 PM). It will also have Latin American cuisine, and DJ El Dany, DJ Nybra, DJ Barbas and DJ Capitán Cumbia will be present until 5 AM. Admission is free from 8 PM to 10 PM and after that it will cost €15 per box office.

Paris Salsa Weekend 

Paris Salsa Weekend is organized by passionate DJs and followed by a large Salsera community.

The capital of France is a dream destination for Salsa dancers. Here, magic happens, that’s why in this edition, we bring you three regular Salsa parties in a row that will take place during Paris Salsa Weekend 2022, https://www.lesalsaclub.com/psw from September 9th to September 11th. So, don’t miss the opportunity to attend because they are rarely held.

Sal’Sounds 70’S Party in Paris. You will hear Salsa only on Vinyl by DJ Mulato on Friday, September 9th from 9 PM to 2 AM. The address is Salle Colonne, 94 Bd Auguste Blanqui, 75013, Paris, and admission is €13. Party strictly on vinyl is the sound that dictates the law!

LeSalsa’Club Party. You will dance at the biggest monthly Salsa social party on September 10th from 3 PM to 8 PM. You can meet national and international instructors specializing in On1 and On2 styles here. LeSalsa’Club will take place in the 13th arrondissement, at the Maison des Associations de Solidarité (MAS), 10-18 rue des Terres-au-Cure, 75013 Paris. The cost of admission is €13.

Sunday Night – O’Sulli Sauce. The Paris Salsa Weekend culminates with the party on the night of Sunday, September 12th at O’Sullivans By The Mill located at 92 Bd de Clichy from 9 PM to 2 AM, and the ticket will have the same value as the previous ones.

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Joseito was a consecrated Dominican merenguero who began his career in the 1930’s, better known as “El rey del merengue, El diablo Mateo”.

As a child he learned to sing and dance. He sang at the “Fiestas de la cruz” and at wakes, since at that time the deceased were prayed to with songs.

Mateo began his career as a singer during the 30’s, a period in which he was gaining the public’s favor.

Some time later he was requested by the record label “SEECO” to join the cast that in Havana would record with the Sonora Matancera.

Those were the years of the Trujillo Era in which Dominicans required an exit permit to travel abroad.

At first, this document was denied to Joseito.

As a consequence, in Havana, once the record was contracted and the pieces that would be part of it had been selected, including “El negrito del batey”, Joseito’s place was taken by the Dominican singer Alberto Beltrán, who was known since then by the Cuban public as “El negrito del batey”, instead of his true inspirer.

He was born on April 6, 1920 in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).

In one of his later trips, he decided to stay in Cuba to sing in CMQ, together with Celia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera, a very popular group at that time.

After the assassination of Rafael Trujillo on May 30, 1961 and the end of his dictatorship, Joseito decided to try his luck in Puerto Rico.

In 1962, Joseíto participated as vocalist in the first tour of the “Gran Combo” to Panama, to promote the album ‘El Gran Combo con Joseíto Mateo’.

There he met the young singers Pellín Rodríguez and Andy Montañez, who ended up replacing him in the Puerto Rican group.

“El Gran Combo was very good to me, I adapted to sing plena, bomba, guaracha, boleros, but then I had to return to Santo Domingo to clear my name.

They were falling behind all those who were with Trujillo, and in the Republic they said I was a spy and was on the run”.

Mateo’s professional work has spanned more than 70 years and constitutes an important reference of the Dominican musical culture.

He was nourished by the roots of merengue and became a singular exponent of it. His innovative style was characterized by a stage participation enriched by his particular way of dancing and singing.

Some of his best known songs are Madame Chuchí, Dame la visa, La cotorra de Rosa and La patrulla, among others. Joseito is known as “El Rey del Merengue” (The King of Merengue).

On November 11, 2010, Mateo was recognized at the 11th Latin Grammy Awards with the Latin Recording Academy’s Musical Excellence Award for his contributions to Latin music.

He retired in 2001, close to his 82nd birthday and after recording 50 “elepes”.

Joseíto Mateo passed away on June 1, 2018 at the age of 98, due to leukemia. He spent his last days in the Hospital de las Fuerzas Armadas.

Source:

https://www.buscabiografias.com/biografia/verDetalle/8662/Joseito%20Mateo