Jerry Gonzales, the great congero, trumpet player, and band leader.
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We received these marvelous memories of Jerry from subscribers:
I remember a Fort Apache gig in NY at Sweet Basil. I was sitting right up front with my 9-year-old son. A group of young guys came and sat behind us—four of them—I think they were Cubans. They looked at Jerry’s set of five congas and started snickering… five congas? Nobody plays five congas, who is he kidding? And on, and on. Well, by the end of the set, they were whistling, clapping, and shouting the praises of Jerry. They became complete converts and had joined the church of the “Fort Apache Band” with the reverend Jerry González presiding!
– Yves Nazon
Born: Haïti, July 04, 1954
Jerry and Andy González, while with Conjunto Libre, played at my old Café Galería y Teatro – La Tertulia in the East Village, NYC in the late ’70s! Jerry was a consistent innovator, jovial, and a perfectionist when it came to his music! He respected those who respected good music. His live recording with Chano Dominguez, Rumba Pà Jerry, is evidence of how a master conguero transforms a simple tune into a great one! He also displays his ability to teach new musicians how to elaborate on a simple rhythm pattern without losing the original sound. I will always remember him doing what he did best!
– Raùl Cordova
Born: Puerto Rico, May 11, 1947
For a big chunk of time, I was their documentarian, photographer, and friend.
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Amado Borcelá “Guapachá” (Voz)
Chucho Valdés (Piano y Director Musical)
Carlos Emilio Morales (Guitarra Eléctrica)
Orlando Lopez “Cachaito” (Bajo)
Julio Vento (Flauta)
Papita Ampudia (Pailas)
Cala (Bongos)
Jazz on the Tube Interview with a Havana musician who lived in this scene
Note: A “milliner” is a hat-maker, not a millionaire.
Gilberto Valdés Zequeira was born in Havana on August 16, 1928.
As a kid, he listened to Chano Pozo’s rehearsals in the Colon neighborhood of Havana.
His vocal group had a weekly gig at the San Souci nightclub in Havana and he appeared on Cuba’s pioneering television channel twice a week in the 1950s.
Roy Haynes introduced him to American jazz drumming and gave him his first set of drumsticks.
He performed with his old friend Bebo Valdés when the two of them found themselves in Europe in the early 1960s.
He spent time as the #2 man at Egrem.
He was Dizzy Gillespie’s host when Dizzy visited Havana in 1977.
He introduced Irakere to Columbia Records and toured the world with them as their manager.
He helped save Cuba’s most important jazz club La Zorra y el Cuervo from being turned into a pizzeria.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of Gilberto’s remarkable life.
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Things are good, just very intense and insanely busy.
I hope things will settle down by September.
But hey, the show must go on, even if intermittently.
There are TWO clips here. Make sure you look at both.
The first clip is the English language section of an excellent documentary on Machito.
The second clip is the entire documentary.
The entire video
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
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Al Brothers – Percussion
André Siqueira – Bongos
Andreus Valdés Torres – Maracas
Becky G – Vocals
Carlos Santana – Electric guitar
Cindy Blackman Santana – Drums
Chouloute Minouche – Vocals
Cory Henry – Organ
Estevinson Padilla Valdés – Vocals
Jose´Valdés Terán – Vocals
Karl Perazzo – Congas
Luis Carlos Cassiani Simarra – Güiro and vocals
La Escuelita del Ritmo – Vocals
Manuel Pérez Selinas – Vocals
OBA Frank Lords – Cowbell
“Papi” Felix Garemua – Electric guitar
Paulo Heman – Tambourine
Rubén Rada & Family – Congas and vocals
Tal Wilkenfeld – Electric bass
Tito Puente, Jr. – Timbales
Washboard Chaz – Washboard
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
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A wonderful documentary with great music, eye-popping archival photos and film, and deeply informed commentary.
Septeto Nacional – The super group, its glorious history, and the indelible mark it made on Cuban and world culture.
A shoutout to the YouTube channel TresCubano that found and posted this gem.
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
Documentary about the blending of Cuban rhythms and American jazz, filmed in Cuba.
By: Dr. Mike Davison & Ed Tillett Supported by the University of Richmond
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
Charlie Parker