"Segue" - (in music) to proceed without pause from one musical theme or
number to another.
- A smooth transition.
Given recent commentary and the main topic of this thread, the Cachao "Master Sessions" clip is probably as perfect a segue as is possible.
Cachao (Israel Lopez), along with Lecuona, Brauer, More, D'Rivera to name a few, is one of the names that one thinks of when one thinks about Cuban music. Of the same stature in that music as Gershwin, Parker, etc. are in American music. A brilliant classically trained bassist from a family of bassists (!), he was also a composer of over 3000 pieces in the traditional Cuban "danzon" style which is the style most represented in this recording "Master Sessions Vol. 1". Importantly, he was responsible for the creation of the popular "mambo" style; similar to danzon, but at a slower tempo. The importance of Cachao in Cuban music is huge.
I don't mean to bring up the subject of politics again, and apologies for doing so, but Rok's perfect segue makes it almost impossible to not point out that Cachao left Cuba for the USA in order to escape the oppression of an ideology that is, in many respects, the ultimate expression of the opposite of the debated "greatness" of the USA. He is an outspoken critic of that ideology which while professing to want to help the poor, completely controls their lives, denies freedom of speech (and much worse), and keeps them in an equal (ity), but decidedly needy and deprived state; certainly as compared to what the "poor" experience in this country. Enough of that and back to music.
"Master Sessions Vol. 1". Love that record and have owned it since its release and its award of a Grammy. It not only covers many of the traditional styles of Cuban music, especially "danzon", which shaped what modern Cuban music (salsa, timba) is today, but is a great example of the breadth of Cachao's musical persona with elements of the traditional, of Classical music (intro to "Lluvia"), a bit of the modern, and features some fabulous playing. Is it Jazz? Not in the usual sense. If the question must be asked, I would say the answer is in another question: Is Ragtime jazz? If we can call modern Cuban music "Latin Jazz" then I think the Ragtime question applies. From a chronological standpoint and looking at all the styles that shaped what we now can agree is (American) "Jazz", then yes it's Latin Jazz. There is certainly a lot of improvisation in the instrumental solos and in the vocal call-and-response. Ultimately, the label doesn't matter; great music it is. For an interesting, subtle, but very telling example of how jazz and the tradition of this music come together listen to the horn solos on "Mi Guajira". The trumpet and trombone players are clearly more steeped in the traditional Cuban style of phrasing, less "swing" (in the usual sense) and an almost conversational style, while the tenor player's style, from his tone to the bending of notes suggests a leaning toward the Jazz side of things.
Great clip. Thanks!
