Armando Gola on Gonzalo Rubalcaba's "Paseo"

Lorenzini · #1 01-12-2006, 10:05 AM

So I've been listening to this for like 5 months very consistently. It's a great album. So much to it, very complex harmonies but I don't know if many people on this forum would dig it, save for David Ben., r-raj and the fellow who loves Steve Swallow.

I urge you all to buy this album and check out Miami bassist Armando Gola's tone, which, if I'm not mistaken, comes from s maple boarded Modulus Q5.

He has a very original, sharp as a tac sound. My friend plays drums with him and says his axes include the Modulus, a Yamaha and in the past, a 55-94. He's also a virtuoso on the DB.

Brad Maestas · #2 01-12-2006, 10:55 AM

Armando Gola is the man! I freaked out when I first heard the Paseo album. I really like Armando's sound on that recording. More people should be exposed to that one. Without even hearing it, some people automatically expect it to sound like Rapsodia, with its' heavy programming, not-very-subtle keyboard patches and ultra-cerebral delivery. Paseo is quite different and Armando's playing on it is one of the key factors. Whenever I recommend Gonzalo albums to someone, this one is always included.

Wow, your friend plays drums with him? He must be a bad-@$% drummer!
I didn't know that Mr. Gola is equally proficient on DB! Tell us more, tell us more!!

Brad

**j-raj** · #3 01-12-2006, 11:49 AM

Gola is a badA$$!!!! Love his ability to groove.

Lorenzini · #4 01-12-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VintageBT6Lover

Armando Gola is the man! I freaked out when I first heard the Paseo album. I really like Armando's sound on that recording. More people should be exposed to that one. Without even hearing it, some people automatically expect it to sound like Rapsodia, with its' heavy programming, not-very-subtle keyboard patches and ultra-cerebral delivery. Paseo is quite different and Armando's playing on it is one of the key factors. Whenever I recommend Gonzalo albums to someone, this one is always included.

Wow, your friend plays drums with him? He must be a bad-@$% drummer!
I didn't know that Mr. Gola is equally proficient on DB! Tell us more, tell us more!!

Brad

Well, somewhere on my desktop PC, which I need to setup soon, is a recording of my buddy on drums, unnamed pianist and Gola on DB. Gola had only been playing DB for 2 months and he swings his arse off on it. My friend on drums, Andrew Atkinson & his friend on piano were only 16 at the time. Probably 5 years ago or something. I will do my best to dig up those tracks to show you.

Andrew is a badass drummer. He played with Randy Brecker a few months ago and was a part of the Melton Mustafa Big Band a while back (Mustafa was in Jaco's horn section a while ago).

I've heard Gola experiments with his sound a lot. I've heard he has a much deeper and smooth sound now, but that probably won't last. He's constantly evolving I guess.

The problem is that there are SO many great players out of Miami right now, and for the most part he's just gigging locally most of the time, not going on big name's records for the most part. I do not doubt he'll blow up big time pretty soon.

rulyøngo · #5 01-13-2006, 08:24 AM

I gotta check it out!!!.. i got Gonzalo's cd with Charlie Haden and he is amazing!!!

emjazz · #6 01-15-2006, 03:37 PM

Oh man, thanks for the head's up on this album and bass player. I'll check it out for sure!

Lorenzini · #7 01-15-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emjazz

Oh man, thanks for the head's up on this album and bass player. I'll check it out for sure!

Yeah! Check'er out.

Also go here to check out a bunch of the dudes who play together with this guy in Miami.

www.myspace.com/krossover

adrian garcia · #8 01-16-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

The problem is that there are SO many great players out of Miami right now, and for the most part he's just gigging locally most of the time, not going on big name's records for the most part. I do not doubt he'll blow up big time pretty soon.

that's why i got the heck outta there! there are a lot of great players and very little work-
another bad boy is Nicky Orta, who is world class but not very known outside Miami.

Lorenzini · #9 01-16-2006, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian garcia

that's why i got the heck outta there! there are a lot of great players and very little work-
another bad boy is Nicky Orta, who is world class but not very known outside Miami.

I've heard of Orta.
Yeah the caliber in Miami is above and beyond most cities. A lot of the top players in Miami could go to NYC and work all the time if they wanted.

I might wind up down in Miami, but playing piano and not bass. But I'd have to feel extra brave to make that move.

Chip Boaz · #10 01-20-2006, 05:04 PM

Yea, Gola is a monster with a serious groove. He's on a great Cuban timba album by Manolin called El Puente and will be touring soon with the Cuban Timba All-Stars. Some great electric playing and serious dance music. I don't have Paseo, but I really like Gonzalo's playing. Thanks for the heads-up, I'll have to check it out.

Lorenzini · #11 01-21-2006, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip Boaz

Yea, Gola is a monster with a serious groove. He's on a great Cuban timba album by Manolin called El Puente and will be touring soon with the Cuban Timba All-Stars. Some great electric playing and serious dance music. I don't have Paseo, but I really like Gonzalo's playing. Thanks for the heads-up, I'll have to check it out.

No problem, Chip. I've seen your name come up a few times here and it's great you caught this thread.

Gola is indeed a monster.

DaveBeny · #12 02-10-2006, 10:36 AM

Thanks for the headsup. Not musicians I'm familiar with, but I'll look into it over the weekend.

Chip Boaz · #13 02-11-2006, 12:29 AM

Finally this week I tracked down Paseo. Interesting album. Gonzalo goes in so many different directions - this is a lot more fusion and electric than I'm used to hearing him. Gola does sound great on this album - he's such a great player. I really like that I got a chance to hear him solo - most of the things that I've heard him on are dance-groove type stuff. Not a lot of soloing there. He's got some great melodic ideas - patitucci-esqe I might even say. Thanks again for the recommendation, really enjoying the album.

By the way, I get to see Gola live in a couple of weeks! He'll be here in the Bay Area with the Cuban Timba All-Stars, should be a great show!

Lorenzini · #14 02-11-2006, 07:25 AM

Great man, I'm glad you like the album!

Gola grooves his butt off and I'd give my right arm for his tone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip Boaz

Finally this week I tracked down Paseo. Interesting album. Gonzalo goes in so many different directions - this is a lot more fusion and electric than I'm used to hearing him. Gola does sound great on this album - he's such a great player. I really like that I got a chance to hear him solo - most of the things that I've heard him on are dance-groove type stuff. Not a lot of soloing there. He's got some great melodic ideas - patitucci-esqe I might even say. Thanks again for the recommendation, really enjoying the album.

By the way, I get to see Gola live in a couple of weeks! He'll be here in the Bay Area with the Cuban Timba All-Stars, should be a great show!

Whisper · #15 02-15-2008, 03:56 PM

Just listened to this album... seriously killer bass on this, playing and tone.

Tslicebass · #16 02-15-2008, 07:55 PM

This album is the real deal. The compositions are insane and the grooves are way beyond my "white american" comprehension

I was planning on transcribing a few of armando solos. But first I have to figure out the meters

damianerskine · #17 02-15-2008, 08:57 PM

Yeah man! That's the real deal there...

Lorenzini · #18 02-15-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian garcia

that's why i got the heck outta there! there are a lot of great players and very little work-
another bad boy is Nicky Orta, who is world class but not very known outside Miami.

Adrian, funny story man. The drummer - Andrew Atkinson - I was talking about in my post above is currently playing with Nicky Orta