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How Birdland began operating and its role in Latin music
What is Birdland?
Birdland has been the place in which many of the most important New York’s stars of the show were born and has represented the beginning of many artistic careers that have achieved worldwide fame, so this spectacular venue deserves all the recognition and fame that it has accumulated over the years.
This is a jazz club that began operations in December 1949 in Manhattan and was closed for a few years until its reopening in 1986. What happened was that a second location of the same name was opened in Manhattan and was not too far from the land on which the original club operated. Today, Birdland operates at the same facility as the headquarters of the famous local newspaper The New York Observer in the past.
Story about how the idea to create Birdland was born
During the 1920s, there were a lot of musicians who had to move to New York City because it was there that the biggest jazz movement of the moment was being produced. It could be said that the birthplace of the most famous jazz styles of the last decades was the Big Apple and its surroundings.
It was there where and when the musical career of Charlie Parker, affectionately known as Bird by most of his fans, emerged. Some time later, it would be this brilliant artist and talented saxophonist who would get one of the most popular jazz clubs in the city and the country in general named after him. This would be one of the many tributes received by Parker before and after his death in 1955.
Once Birdland was opened in the late 1940s, the saxophonist began performing there on a regular basis along with many other music legends of the moment such as Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Lennie Tristano, Maxie Kaminsky and many more. Although Birdland was named to honour Charlie, that did not keep the artist from having some friction with Oscar Goodstein, one of the founders of the venue, who said that Parker was constantly asking for too much money. As the story goes, this was the reason why the musician did not perform as many times as expected.
On the facade of the club, a neon sign could read Birdland, Jazz Corner of the World, making it clear what its customers would find once they entered the facility. Once inside, there was space for approximately 500 visitors and a full orchestra to lighten the mood that night. Birdland included a very long bar, spacious tables, stands with a wide variety of products, folding chairs, among other things. At that time, customers only had to pay a $1.50 fee to enjoy everything that the nightclub had to offer.
It went on to have so much prestige that it had among its visitors Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Gary Cooper, among other personalities from the entertainment world. It has taken so much popularity in those years that composer George Shearing dedicated one of his greatest creations entitled Lullaby of Birdland to it, which was also inspired by Charlie Parker as well as the name of the place.
The role of Birdland in Latin music
Just as Birdland contributed to the emergence of important careers in the jazz music scene, it also did the same with a good number of Latin music singers who saw this corner of New York as an opportunity to make their art known to other audiences. One of them was world-famous bandleader, composer and musician Tito Puente, who performed at the venue on several occasions and improvised many sets with Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton.
There is also the case of Tito Rodríguez, who made use of his great talent to record a spectacular live album entirely dedicated to Birdland and whose name was Live at Birdland. In addition, he featured incredible collaborations with great musicians such as Clark Terry, Al Conh, Zoot Sims, among others.
Another of the great Latin music artists who came to perform at this venue was Cuban bandleader, arranger and trumpet player Chico O’Farrill. The artist played and recorded at the club on a wekly basis about the time he already had his own orchestra called Afrocuban Jazz Orchestra. Arturo O’Farrill, worthy son of his father, also performs regularly at Birdland with his orchestra The Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble.
The legendary singer Guadalupe Victoria Yolí Raymond “La Lupe”
On February 28, 1992, the Queen of Latin Soul and Boogaloo “La Yiyiyi” passed away in New York.
While Curro was scaring the children in the Cartuja of Seville, Guadalupe Victoria Yolí Raymond, a Hispanic neighbor of the Bronx of New York, died at the age of 52, in misery.
A few years earlier she had enrolled in college in order to survive on scholarship money.
Maybe when her neighbors heard her talk about limousines, fame, luxury and parties, they looked at her with a knowing look on their faces and played along. There you go again.
But it was true, during the sixties Victoria, La Lupe, also known then as the queen of Latin soul, bragged about being able to spend the twenty thousand dollars she earned per concert on a fur coat.
Long before the invasion of salsa there she was, La Yiyiyi, wandering from bar to bar along 53rd Street, a meeting and exchange place for Latino immigrants in the city of skyscrapers. Busamba’, ‘Boogaloo’, gentlemen.
That’s what it sounded like when Cuba slept with Mexico or Puerto Rico on the stage of any club. Salsa? No, not yet, please. It was still La Lupe’s time.
Yolí Victoria Raymond “La Lupe”
“La Yiyiyi”
Exiled from Cuba because her singing offended the colonel, she was disputed in her beginnings by Mongo Santamaría and Tito Puente himself, with whom she made perhaps her most interesting recordings. From her first album, ‘Con el diablo en el cuerpo’, she made it clear that she was not going to be just any singer. She captivated the public with her extravagant personality and her madness.
She shrieked, shuddered, pulled her hair, insulted the audience, laughed, tore her clothes in passionate outbursts.
But she also cried and demonstrated her incredible technique when she was asked to sing a bolero. As she sang she lived. Pouring out and enjoying the joy and the sadness.
Then something happened. A new sound began to soundtrack the daily routine of the immigrant ghettos.
A less compromised rhythm that allowed evasion, at least for the duration of the dance, to all the Hispanics living badly in the United States.
Celia Cruz, for better or worse, gave salsa to the world and buried La Lupe in life.
Celia took away her throne and made sure that no one would remember her.
Fame and success is a war and Victoria no longer had the strength to participate in that battle. Her life was an earthquake.
Around that time her second husband began to develop schizophrenia and she decided to take care of her.
After that, little else is known about her until her death.
At the end of the 80’s she converted to the evangelist religion and composed a series of songs that may come to light under the name of La Samaritana.
Although surely her praises to God still sound as warm and sensual as the boleros ‘Orgasmo’ or ‘Puro Teatro’.
La Lupe
The year of her death, her friend Tito Puente and Celia Cruz were offering a conventional Latin music concert at Expo ’92.
Perhaps, at some point, the percussionist remembered when he played ‘Boogaloo’ with the first Latin queen.
As Lupe herself says in her explosive version of ‘Guantanamera’: “Sobre tu tierra divina riega mi voz campesina versos que son como flores, con los más grandes honores de La Yiyiyi, señores”.
Facebook: La Lupe
Article of Interest: Markolino Dimond’s voice and his irreverent piano in Funk/Soul & Funk-Disco “The Alexander Review”
Gumby Navedo he was born on December 22nd in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Our Miami Correspondent for International Salsa Magazine Diana Marie has the honor and privilege to introduce us to an extraordinary Puerto Rican musician based in Miami, who from a very early age has been in the music scene, we are referring to Gumby Navedo.
Jesus M. Navedo Marrero, best known in the artistic musical field as GUMBY Navedo. He was born on December 22nd in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.
Since he was a child, music was always present in his home as family and friends got together with musical instruments and formed a party in seconds. The first major influence on Gumby’s artistic career was his grandfather, Moises.
A well-known “Tresista” who infused joy by playing and singing for everyone. Gumby, who as a child was always surrounded by great musicians and performers, preferred to learn their music and unique rhythms.
At age 5, his cousin Carlos Morales, taught him the blows of the tumbler. Gumby fell in love with all the sounds of the percussion instruments and from there he began his musical career.
Being a teenager it was common to see Gumby playing the percussion of recognized local orchestras and accompanying exceptional musicians in the island.
The beginning of his musical education, was taught to him by the great music teacher Roberto Soler. Under the leadership of maestro Soler, Gumby participated in the middle school band and the municipal band.
Beginnings that gave him the foundation to his musical career as an interpreter and musician in different genres such as salsa, boleros, bomba y plena, jazz and all kinds of Caribbean music.
During his amazing musical career, Gumby has played as the lead percussionist and the choir to many well renowned artists recognized internationally like Rolando La Serie, Olga Guillot, Celia Cruz, Israel Kantor, Carlos Oliva, Willy Chirino, Roberto Torres, Tito Allen, La Palabra, Conjunto Universal, Lefty Perez, Nino Segarra, Orquesta Exodo, Luis Enrique, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Alberto Beltran, Roberto Torres, Eddie Santiago, David Pabon, Mario Ortiz jr., Lalo Rodriguez, Yolanda Rivera, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Cachao ,Patato Valdes, Henry Fiol, Ángel Canales , Chamaco Rivera, Meñique, Adalberto Santiago, Hansel y Raul, Piro Mantilla, Cuco Valoy, Nestor Torres, Típica Tropical, Roberto Ledesma, Billy Ocean, Gipsy Kings amongst many more. Thanks to his renowned musical talent, Gumby has shared international stages in countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Martinique, Aruba, Curacao, Canada, Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Central America, England, France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, Israel, Armenia, Kenya, and Senegal among many others.
Gumby, continues to share his musical talent in many local and international venues accompanied by renowned musicians well known around the world for their music and talent. “Gumby” can be found in several tourist places in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Facebook: Gumby Navedo
For hiring, interviews, parties of all kinds and / or activities please: email [email protected] or call: 786-715-4692
Article of Interest: David Lucca “My music is guaranteed to please dancers”
What effects does music have on our brain?
Undeniably, music plays a very important role in the life of every human being, even if he/she is not dedicated to it in a professional manner. This is because this set of sounds has very specific effects on the brain that might surprise those who deny how influential it can be at various levels.
Since we were just kids, we are fully exposed to all kinds of musical genres, some of which can help us develop our mental and brain capacities which, as an effect, can lead to a better memory, a higher concentration and much more attention to the activities we do. At the same time, our mathematical, language and conflict resolution skills.
The ear is an extremely powerful stimulation tool for our brain, which has made it to be taken into account as one of the many ways in which certain physical and mental suffering can be treated. In the specific case of music, we must remember that not all musical genres serve to achieve the same goals, so we should evaluate each of them individually.
What effect does salsa have on the brain?
Salsa
In the case of salsa, we can say that the brain will receive a very special cocktail of adrenaline and dopamine, which will bring as a consequence the activation and relaxation of certain areas of the brain at the same time. It might seem counterintuitive, but it is really not. Given that salsa is a genre that invites to body movement, the effects are numerous, such as the stress relief, the increase in cardio-vascular capacity and a tremendous improvement in the coordination and balance.
What is happening with salsa can perfectly happen with other dance rhythms such as bachata, merengue, kizomba and many others. There are many physical trainers and coaches who use these genres to relax their clients after having used other sounds of greater impact.
Jazz
One of the biggest benefits brought by jazz on the brain is total relaxation of the body and the mind in those moments when we can be full of stress or anguish. Many used to think that this genre induced sadness in those who listen to it, but it there is evidence that the opposite can happen.
In fact, it has been proven that jazz can have the same calming effect as a cigarette in a smoker. The same can happen with blues, which is very similar to jazz, so its effects on the brain are similar.
Classical Music
A lot has been said and studied about the effects that classical music can have in certain areas of the brain. There are also many myths about it, such as becoming more intelligent when we listen to it, which has already been proven to be completely false. What is true is that it can help us develop our ideas in a better way and learn in a more optimal way. In fact, it has been proven that several symphonies put the brain in a state of alert that can be highly conducive to learning in many cases.
More information here: Frequency 432 Hertz and what experts say on this issue