Help me get my clave straightened out

[David Kaczorowski]

Originally posted by Gard
And the bassist you're referring to is Cachao (Chah-chow). Amazing player, really laid the foundation from everything I understand.

I've always heard pronounced ka-chow by all the Spanish cats I work worth. But anyway, he played some nice arco solos as well. That's always a big plus in my book.

 

[deanobg]

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
Thanks for clearing up the father/son thing - it does make sense, but as I say Cachaito is 68, so it's difficult to think of him as the "son"!

Hi Bruce

Well I got out the liner notes from the BVSC album last night to clarify this.

Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez is the bass player on the BVSC. His father Orestes and uncle Israel 'Cachao' learnt to play from their father Pedro.

In the late 1930's the brothers experimented with an African influenced syncopation of the 'danzon' to lay the foundations of the mambo rhythm.

Then in the 1950's Israel played a seminal role in the creation of the 'descarga' which fused jazz style improv with Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Thanks for all the input

Dean

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

So he's the nephew of Cachao - well I said I didn't know - I just believed Gard! But I expect that there was a large "extended family" thing going on and that he would have learned a lot from his uncle anway. They're both very good bass players in their own right anyway and I think we're very fortunate to be able to go along and see someone play who has this direct link back to the origins of the music in the 1930s.

 

[Gard]

OOPS!!!!

::wiping egg off face::

Well, I blew that one, eh? Thanks for the correction, Deano!

 

[Marty Forrer]

I play in a 6 piece latin band. I would add that most modern latino bands DO have a regular drum kit, although few older ones do. The ability to listen to the congas and play with them is the secret to good bass playing. Another excellent book to use in conjunction with the Latin Bass Book, is The True Cuban Bass by Carlos Del Puerto, also a Sher Music publication. For some very challenging stuff, try transcribing some of Ray Barretto's records. Some tracks have myriad key changes, and wicked unison fills, as do Anthony Jacksons lines on Michel Camillo's album One More Once, although this is latin jazz. Ah, el bajo latino!

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally posted by deanobg
Thanks Bruce

That Jools Holland show sure has some interesting stuff on it - I lived in London from 93-97 and it was one of my regular viewing treats!!

I'll have to keep an eye out for Cachaito's solo album as I enjoyed the BVSC music a lot!

Cheers

Dean

While looking trough some other stuff, I found the "Later" website and it has pages on each of the artists who play on the show - so here is a link to the page on Cachaito :

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Oh and a PS to Marty - my band has been attempting Ray Barretto's "Indestructible" - I really like the basslines on that tune - but our horn section is having trouble, so we may not get to play it.

 

[Marty Forrer]

Bruce; thanks for the link. We tried Indestructible also, but after some rehearsal (which is precious time, as we're all involved in other bands) we decided it would be better to learn three easier songs than persevere with that one! It's a mother!! Another of that ilk is "Papa Upa".