Salsa bassists...How's the scene?!?!?

[NickyBass]

In the past, I've done a few (quote/unquote) Latin jazz gigs, but these were mostly one-off dates where I really didn't get too deep into the music and style.

For the past few weeks, I've been rehearsing with a salsa group and I'm not sure what to expect as far as 'the salsa scene.' Where are you guys playing? What type of establishments? Who is coming out? Dancers? Diners?

I noticed that a few places around here have salsa nights---where a dance company will host salsa lessons for an hour or so, and then a band/DJ plays. Are these hip to play?

Any help would be appreciated.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

In the past, I've done a few (quote/unquote) Latin jazz gigs, but these were mostly one-off dates where I really didn't get too deep into the music and style.

For the past few weeks, I've been rehearsing with a salsa group and I'm not sure what to expect as far as 'the salsa scene.' Where are you guys playing? What type of establishments? Who is coming out? Dancers? Diners?

I noticed that a few places around here have salsa nights---where a dance company will host salsa lessons for an hour or so, and then a band/DJ plays. Are these hip to play?

Any help would be appreciated.

If you've played weddings, you know that sometimes, getting people to dance is like pulling teeth. With salsa dancers, there are NO such problems. They show up ready to dance! It's pretty cool actually.

The band I'm in usually plays in small jazz clubs with a smattering of private parties, casinos, and concert-in-the-park type gigs. There are plenty of dedicated "salsa clubs" but we haven't broken into those quite yet.

[NickyBass]

Thanks for the reply. It sounds like a nice scene out there. I'm sure it is similiar on the east coast--I just have to find it.

I'm excited to get moving.

Are the vetern players welcoming to new guys? Around here, some of the jazz guys can be down right rude. I've been in the scene for a while, and have seen some real nasty stuff go down. What about other nationalities? As an Italian-American, I want to respect the Afro-Cuban roots of the music and not step on anyone's toes. As a musician, I just want to play good honest music with good honest people.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

Thanks for the reply. It sounds like a nice scene out there. I'm sure it is similiar on the east coast--I just have to find it.

I'm excited to get moving.

Are the vetern players welcoming to new guys? Around here, some of the jazz guys can be down right rude. I've been in the scene for a while, and have seen some real nasty stuff go down. What about other nationalities? As an Italian-American, I want to respect the Afro-Cuban roots of the music and not step on anyone's toes. As a musician, I just want to play good honest music with good honest people.

Everyone out here seems pretty cool. It seems like the pool of people playing in the latin/salsa bands is pretty small, particularly the horn players. There seems to be plenty of sub work and no one wants to get skipped on the call list due to doucheiness.

Nationality-wise, I'm of Filipino descent and have never run into any attitudes. Of course out here, there are a lot of Filipinos in the salsa dance community for some reason. The main difference between the coasts is that out here, the Latin community is primarily Mexican. Cumbias go over very well. I know there are a lot more Cubans/Puerto Ricans on the east coast...salsa MIGHT be taken a bit more seriously over there than here, but that's pure conjecture.

[NickyBass]

In Philly/NJ, it seems that people are just happy to be making music. I don't think that there is a huge scene here. NY, no doubt, has alot more going on, and Florida seems to be pretty happening on the east coast.

It's refreshing to be making music with people who still have a fire going. Often times, guys get burned out on the straight ahead jazz gigs and start to take it for granted. I've been guilty of that myself at times. It's tough to play restaraunt/bar gigs where people are more involved in the sporting event on the tube.

[Jazzdogg]

IME, Latin jazz and salsa can be very fun to play!

However, there is a very strong expectation that each person in a Latin rhythm section knows what's expected of them rhythmically and harmonically. Breaking the rules (or being ignorant of the rules), can result in raised eyebrows or worse, especially when playing with seasoned Latin musicians.

[NickyBass]

Thanks for the reply, Jazzdogg. Yeah, I'm sure that there is alot of scrutiny, but that happens in other genres as well. Jazz, classical, tango and I've even seen some funk guys cop attitudes with other guys on the bandstand. I'm trying to be mindful of what is expected of me, and I'm studying the style alot deeper than I have in the past.

When I was starting jazz, I found a cool little jazz club in Merchantville, NJ called Serengetti. (It's been closed for 10 years now.) The house band was all older guys who were very supportive and accomadating. Surrounding myself with good people really helped me back then. They really guided me but knew when to kick my ass. It seems that the guys that I'm playing with now and firm, but supportive. I dig that.

[Jazzdogg]

Is there anything better than mentors?!!

You might want to check out this DVD:

Poncho Sanchez Fundamentals of Latin Music for the Rhythm Section (published by Cherry Lane Music, and distributed by Hal Leonard).

Styles covered include mambo, chachacha', merengue', and Afro-Cuban.

One of the things that makes this DVD good is that it highlights the rhythmic responsibilities of the entire Latin rhythm section.

The bassist featured on this CD Rene Camacho - great player!
__________________

[NickyBass]

I have that video. Great one for sure. Anything that I see on the subject, I try to digest. There are alot of great books and DVD's out there, especially from Shar Music. I'm also working through a few Cuban percussion books to get the feel for the other instruments and to hear how I interact with them.

I would like to ultimately be a good salsa bassist, but this project is more of a part time thing. I am approaching it with 100% commitment to the style and band, but it is more a passion project. In other words, I'm not looking to move to Miami and jump into the scene. I'm just looking to light a fire under some local's feet and have a great time with it.

Are you involved in the scene in San Diego?

[NickyBass]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

Is there anything better than mentors?!!

Oh yeah. These guys were so good to me. I wish I knew where they were now......

On a side note....in high school, I had a band teacher who was a great jazz guitarist. He would meet with me and 3 or 4 other guys in the bandroom every morning at 6 o'clock before school started. We would play for an hour or so everyday. I learned so much in that room.

It's hard to find people who genuinelly want to help---but they are out there.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

I have that video. Great one for sure. Anything that I see on the subject, I try to digest. There are alot of great books and DVD's out there, especially from Shar Music. I'm also working through a few Cuban percussion books to get the feel for the other instruments and to hear how I interact with them.

I would like to ultimately be a good salsa bassist, but this project is more of a part time thing. I am approaching it with 100% commitment to the style and band, but it is more a passion project. In other words, I'm not looking to move to Miami and jump into the scene. I'm just looking to light a fire under some local's feet and have a great time with it.

Are you involved in the scene in San Diego?

I spent the last four years in a band that played a lot of music with a Latin flair, but we weren't strict adherants to the traditions; for us it was more about the flavor than following the recipes to the letter, largely because our conga player was musically illiterate and looked like a deer in the headlights whenever we asked him to count or subdivide rhythms.

I'm about to embark upon a project with a hard core Latin keyboard player that should prove fun, and I am very much looking forward to learning more!

[NickyBass]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

but we weren't strict adherants to the traditions; for us it was more about the flavor than following the recipes to the letter

I think that is what I will take away from this project. My goal is to learn the strictest approach, and then slowly move away from that and allow it to influence my composition.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

I think that is what I will take away from this project. My goal is to learn the strictest approach, and then slowly move away from that and allow it to influence my composition.

Yeah, I usually like to learn the rules and become proficient before I break or bend them; otherwise, there's too great a risk of appearing totally clueless to musicians who are familiar with the conventions of a given style.

We had a guitarist sit in with my jazz trio back in the seventies who hadn't a clue about jazz conventions for electric guitar in a small jazz combo; he was regurgitating rock and blues licks that were totallly inapporopriate to jazz. The leader, a seasoned jazz pianist, threw him off of the bandstand before the first song was over.

[NickyBass]

It's been a few months and the project is going very well. It is on the large side, so scheduling is tough. We have a conguero, timbalero, bongosera, piano, bass (me), 2 trumpets, 1 (sometimes two) saxophonists, trombone and 3 vocalists. The band is made up of a few guys with jazz backgrounds (me, piano and the horns) and a few guys from Puerto Rico. The conguero and one of the vocalists were born here.

We are obviously playing the Puerto Rican style salsa and some numbers with the NYC jazz scene influence. I am really excited to be a part of this group. I can only think how lucky I am to be playing this music that I love.

Sólo necesito para trabajar en mi español un poco!

[jpTron]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

It's been a few months and the project is going very well. It is on the large side, so scheduling is tough. We have a conguero, timbalero, bongosera, piano, bass (me), 2 trumpets, 1 (sometimes two) saxophonists, trombone and 3 vocalists. The band is made up of a few guys with jazz backgrounds (me, piano and the horns) and a few guys from Puerto Rico. The conguero and one of the vocalists were born here.

We are obviously playing the Puerto Rican style salsa and some numbers with the NYC jazz scene influence. I am really excited to be a part of this group. I can only think how lucky I am to be playing this music that I love.

Sólo necesito para trabajar en mi español un poco!

Glad it's working out for you! Where you guys from? I'm in NJ too and love salsa (and like you I'm an Italian-American). I go dancing on Thursdays. I'm even trying to incorporate salsa style basslines into my band's songs (which is hardrock/metal/prog-ish style)

[NickyBass]

I am in southern Jersey--about 10 minutes from Philly. The guys in the band are from all over---Vineland, Atlantic City, Collingswood, Egg Harbor.....We are still in the rehearsing stage, but we have about a set of strong material ready. Once the personal was straightened out, things started coming together quickly. We should be getting out soon.

Where are you from? I would love to go out dancing, but it's rough with two young kids. I met my wife at University of the Arts. She was a dance major, so she is excited about finding a nice place to salsa.

And just for fun:

[jpTron]

I live in WHitehouse now but I'm originally from New Brunswick which is also where I go dancing. A place called Perle'.
Good luck with the band! I'd love to play bass in a salsa band but I have no theory knowledge or anything of the sort and I'd be way too intimidated. So for now I'll just try to add a little salsa flavor into my band's songs. haha

[Tumbao]

Originally Posted by jpTron

I'll just try to add a little salsa flavor into my band's songs. haha

Check out Puya