Master bassist and composer Israel "Cachao" López died in Coral Gables, Florida, on Saturday, March 22, 2008. What follows is Part I of what might be the last and most extensive interview we have of this giant figure in Latin music history. A Descarga.com exclusive... [read]
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Interview:
Conversing with Cachao, Part 1
by Abel Delgado
Cachao leaves behind a legacy few can touch... Not only was he literally part of the beginnings of modern Cuban dance music, he played a huge role in its ongoing creation... In 2006 I conducted a wide-ranging interview with Cachao (by the way, this is not his nickname, it’s actually the last name of his mother), covering his life and career from the beginnings. What follows is the first part, in which he discusses not only the first band he played in, but also his years with Arcaño and what the mambo actually is, in musical terms. He also offers fascinating insights into lesser-known Afro-Cuban musical subgenres, such as the rhythms played on the yuka and mula drums. Overall, the venerable bassist clearly indicates that he was not only a witness to remarkable developments in Cuban cultural history, he played a role in them. More to come later, covering not only his legendary descarga sessions in the 1950s, but also his career in the United States, with a number of revelations along the way about Latin music history.
Continues here.
Also...
Obituary & discographic profile:
Israel "Cachao"López,
1918 - 2008
by John Child
Virtuoso bassist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer and bandleader Cachao (1918-2008) was one of the most influential of all Latin musicians, closely associated with the genesis of the mambo and a master proponent of descarga. In tribute, John Child offers a revised and updated version of a discographic profile first published in 1998. Continues here.
Obituary:
Laba Sosseh,
1943-2007
Master of Salsa Africana
by John Child
In tribute to the recently deceased Laba Sosseh, John Child offers this discographic profile of the Gambian-born singer and composer who was an early pioneer of the tradition of Africans journeying to New York to record with Latin musicians. "This monument of African music was amongst the first Africans to make an incursion into the international stage," said the Gambian newspaper The Point. Continues here.
Obituary:
Carlos "Patato" Valdés,
1926-2007
by John Child
Master conguero, percussionist and composer Carlos "Patato" Valdés died in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday, December 4, 2007. In tribute, John Child offers a revised and updated version of a discographic profile first published in 1998...
Carlos "Patato" Valdés (b 4 Nov. '26, Los Sitios district, Havana, Cuba; d 4 Dec. '07, Cleveland, Ohio)
Master conguero, percussionist, composer. Father played tres guitar with son group Los Apaches; initially learnt marímbula (African-derived bass instrument: wooden box with metal prongs sounding different bass notes when plucked); graduated to playing cajones (wooden box drums typical to rumba) at age 12; played conga in parading comparsa carnival groups. Joined La Sonora Matancera '46 for a brief stint; switched to influential Conjunto Kubavana de Alberto Ruiz '47; Kubavana recordings featuring Patato ...continues here.
Interview:
Nicky Marrero
Rhythm Travels A Thousand Ways With Ample Assumptions
A conversation with John Child and Ray Rosado
Master timbalero and percussionist Nicky Marrero was ubiquitous during the 1970s New York salsa boom, playing and recording with Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda, Típica Novel, Louie Cruz, Fania All Stars, Machito, and on, and on - not to mention Típica 73! One of the tightest rhythm guys ever, his style is a hybrid of the greats: Manny Oquendo, Tito Puente and Orestes Vilató. He is still mesmerising on stage, whether playing Latin or straight jazz. His place in salsa history is secure and truly deserved. John Child and Ray Rosado speak to Nicky about his extensive career, stylistic contributions and innovations. The interview is followed by a selected discography of the Latin and jazz albums on which Nicky has performed.
Continues here.
Recent postings:
Sergio George
We Will Never Return To The Horse And Buggy
Tito Gómez 1948 - 2007
Mario Grillo and The Machito Orchestra: Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow
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