Musical Notation
by George Rivera
October 23, 2000 – Last week NBC premiered the documentary, TITO PUENTE…THE KING OF LATIN MUSIC, a documentary on the life of the crowned King of Latin Music which culminates with his April 28th Bellas Artes concert, which united Tito’s orchestra with the Symphonic Orchestra of Puerto Rico. Unlike the documentary airing on Galavision, the NBC documentary presents a very good glimpse on just who Puente was, and what he was about. Producer George Rivera (Not I!) managed to bring together many of those individuals that were truly close to Tito such as his closest confidant, Joe Conzo, his musical director and chief arranger, Jose Madera, his groups manager and bongocero, John “Dandy” Rodriguez, dancer “Cuban Pete” Aguilar, musicologist Rene Lopez, Tito Puente Scholarship Board member Robert Sancho, and arranger Ray Santos, and of course his children, Ronnie, Audrey, and Tito, Jr., as well as his granddaughter Julianne. George managed to cover a lot of ground within the programs forty-five minutes. The program also features some rare footage of the scene at the Palladium, as well as some of the orchestra’s performances. One of the documentary’s brightest moments for me comes during the opening number of the concert at Bellas Artes. Tito comes on stage and begins conducting the orchestra and after the number’s intro turns and begins to play the timbale mambo bell pattern and the expression of amazement on the faces of the violinists directly behind him tell the story of this legendary musician. The documentary will be making the rounds on PBS, and other television networks throughout the country. If you’d like more information regarding the documentary, or would like to make a donation to the Tito Puente Scholarship Program you can visit the foundation’s website @ http://www.titopuente.org.
I had the opportunity to attend a private screening of CALLE 54, a documentary, or rather a musical, as it is referred to by it’s producer/director, Fernando Trueba, this past week. This is a really great project that will definitely bring a new audience to Latin Jazz. The film is being released by Miramax and should be playing throughout the country, as well as throughout South America and Europe. The film features some of the best performances I’ve heard from some of the giants of Latin Jazz. There’s Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdes, Chico O’Farrill, Bebo Valdes, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, the Tito Puente Latin Jazz Ensemble featuring Hilton Ruiz, Giovanni Hidalgo, Johnny Rodriguez, Dave Valentin, and Mario Rivera, Michel Camilo, and Chano Dominguez. The performances throughout the film are some of the best from these legendary artists. One of the best performances for me was that of Chano Dominguez and his group, which included a flamenco dancer trading licks with Chano. Great stuff! This is one you all have to run and see. Don’t let this one slip by.
In keeping with this week’s Latin Jazz theme I’d like to hip you all to one of the coolest happenings here in NYC. Back in the 70’s there was a place where all the musicians in town would hang in search of expanding their musical horizons. It was where guys like Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Michel Camilo, Hilton Ruiz, Paquito D’Rivera, and eventually Tito Puente would hang and jam. The name of the place, Soundscape. Bands like Tito Puente’s Latin Jazz Ensemble and the original Fort Apache Band would be forged out of the musical experimentation going on at Soundscape. El Taller LatinoAmericano located at 2710 Broadway (corner of 104th Street, 3rd floor) is the place to be if you would like to see some of what is happening today. I had the opportunity to stop by this past Friday where Yosvany Terry’s Quartet was holding court, only the piano player didn’t show which made for a really interesting setting. Yosvany, on alto sax, was joined by two of the baddest cats on the jazz scene today, Avishai Cohen (bass) and Dafnis Prieto (drums). The chemistry between these three musicians was smoking! You would not believe the comping and exchanges that were going on between Yosvany, Avishai, and Dafnis. As if that wasn’t enough in walks trombonist, Dana Leong, who winds up jamming with the guys on the nights finale, Coltrane’s “Giant Steps”. What a night! It was a night to remember, and one that I hope to catch again, and again, and again. However, I am a realist and do realize that both of these guys are pretty much in demand, especially Avishai, who is currently keeping busy with Chick Corea, among many others. If you haven’t had the opportunity to make it down to El Taller LatinoAmericano, make some time and pay them a visit. If Latin Jazz is to survive as a genre, it is in “labs” like El Taller that the next new formula will be concocted.
Hasta la proxima, ciao…
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