In the late '70's and early '80's I toured extensively as a bone player, including a fair amount of time in Los Angeles. Saw a lot of bands in a lot of places, but the high points of those LA trips would always be nights at the Baked Potato where Abraham Laboriel held forth with his band "Koinina." The lineup was usually Abe, Alex Acuna, Bill Maxwell, Dean Parks and Hadley Hockensmith, along with others...How 'bout guest stars like Jay Graydon and Ernie Watts!
The musicianship was marvelous, inherently slick in that LA kind of way, but the essence of the whole thing was the bouyant and sparkling upbeat groove as Mr. Laboriel pushed things along. He could also step back and subsume his thing to the overall groove -- and I wish the band had explored more contemplative material each time I saw them, because they didn't spend a lot of time in that mode, but they did it really, really well -- and then he could step out and just light the room up with some popomatic propulsive burst of energy, stomping around, with both hands in a blur of percussive movement, with this huge, blissed-out smile on his face. Even now, almost 30 years later, that was some of the very best music-making I've ever, ever seen. Not just a high standard for bassists, but for all musicians to aspire to!
I understand Koinina is a greek word meaning communication or communion, and the band had a strong Christian undertone, but it never felt preachy.
I also understand he started out as a drummer, and grew up in Mexico City, before finding his way to guitar and bass, and I've often wondered if flamenco techniques had something to do with his approach to the bass. I should get the video - and I should get my sorry self out the door and see one of current bands, like Tolu, in action! His recorded work is wide and diverse, and it almost always seems to exude "personality," even when simple. I'm suspecting that his first-call status in the LA studios is a function of him bringing such exuberance and good vibes to the table along with chops, eyes and knowledge. But based on comparing Koinina records with the live experience, I've got to tell you there is no comparison whatsoever. Abraham Laboriel is a National Treasure, and you should do what you can to see him live, if you have the chance.
The musicianship was marvelous, inherently slick in that LA kind of way, but the essence of the whole thing was the bouyant and sparkling upbeat groove as Mr. Laboriel pushed things along. He could also step back and subsume his thing to the overall groove -- and I wish the band had explored more contemplative material each time I saw them, because they didn't spend a lot of time in that mode, but they did it really, really well -- and then he could step out and just light the room up with some popomatic propulsive burst of energy, stomping around, with both hands in a blur of percussive movement, with this huge, blissed-out smile on his face. Even now, almost 30 years later, that was some of the very best music-making I've ever, ever seen. Not just a high standard for bassists, but for all musicians to aspire to!
I understand Koinina is a greek word meaning communication or communion, and the band had a strong Christian undertone, but it never felt preachy.
I also understand he started out as a drummer, and grew up in Mexico City, before finding his way to guitar and bass, and I've often wondered if flamenco techniques had something to do with his approach to the bass. I should get the video - and I should get my sorry self out the door and see one of current bands, like Tolu, in action! His recorded work is wide and diverse, and it almost always seems to exude "personality," even when simple. I'm suspecting that his first-call status in the LA studios is a function of him bringing such exuberance and good vibes to the table along with chops, eyes and knowledge. But based on comparing Koinina records with the live experience, I've got to tell you there is no comparison whatsoever. Abraham Laboriel is a National Treasure, and you should do what you can to see him live, if you have the chance.
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