Jazz for aficionados
Although I heard strains of Spain, Mexico, and Cuba in the music, I find it interesting how many people like to lump them under "Latin" music, I don't. While the music originated in Spain, it took on it's own unique identity once it reached this hemisphere. There are too many distinct types of African music for me to identify, but it's just as well because from what I've heard, it's best blended with music from other lands, although African drumming can be quite compelling; especially when utilized by Diz or Blakey. Afro Cuban has achieved that just right blend of the two for me. Here's that compelling drumming as utilized by Blakey, this makes you want to go native. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnaD9gU9N80 |
"Does the Bass, the instrument, have any special place in Cuban music as compared to other Latin music??" Considered one of the original fathers of Cuban Descarga (Jam) is Israel 'Cachao' Lopez. This legendary Cuban bass player's been actively recording since the 50's. An interesting twist to his tale was that although considered a giant amongst musicians, he was largely unknown to the public. During the 90's, actor Andy Garcia found him in S. Fl. playing weddings and quinceneras (Cuban sweet 15 parties). He arranged a project for Lopez that resulted in the '2nd coming' of Cachao; the highly recommended 'Master Sessions - Vol. I & II'. The Lopez family is musical royalty in Cuba. Israel 'Cachao' Lopez is uncle to Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez, another legendary Cuban bass player, featured prominently in The Buena Vista Social Club. Interestingly enough, he's only recorded one self-titled solo record that's a total departure from his work with the BVSC in that it features (small doses) of Electronica & Cuban Dub music. One of my favorite Latin Jazz records! ANOTHER Cuban bass dynasty in the making features Carlos Del Puerto, the original bassist for the legendary Irakere (the band founded by, amongst others, Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, & Chucho Valdes), and his son; Carlitos Del Puerto, one of the busiest bassist/musicians currently on the Cuban scene! I could go on about how the bass-playing in Cuban/Latin music's not only melodic but has a unique percussive aspect that I find especially delightful but I've gone on for a bit too long already!;) I'll return you to yr regularly scheduled programming now. |
Excellent post Chazro. ****Does the Bass, the instrument, have any special place in Cuban music as compared to other Latin music??**** -Rok One of the most distinctive and unique aspects of bass playing in Cuban music as opposed to, say, Brazilian music is that the bass rarely plays on beat one (!). Think about it. Beat one is the musical arrival point of a measure, a basic building block of any music's structure. In Cuban music the feeling of rhythmic arrival to the beginning of a measure is implied by the bass line, as opposed to actually having a note right on that beat; the bass note on beat one is held over from the previous beat (four). That is a key reason for the music's amazing swagger. |
