[TPIN] Afro-Cuban Jazz/Chico O'Farrill

[Glenn Bengry]

Matt,
 
     When I saw the band at the Blue Note in 98. I was sitting at a table right next to the band.  Chico was about 10 ft. from me, this tiny little guy about 84.  I didn't know what I was going to be in for when I got to NY and saw the band was playing.  I find out that its Chico, I was a little star struck.  Here is this GIANT of the music standing a few feet from me this tiny little fellow.  What a thrill to hear that band with Chico O'Farrill out front leading the band.  So, at the break I went up and shook the man's hand and told him  how thrilled I was to be able to meet him and hear his band.  I treasure the moment, since only 3 years later Chico was gone. 
 
 Mike Mossman was playing lead that night. I talked to him and some guys in the band at the break.  Mike sounded so big and fat.  He studied with Barney Pearson at Oberlin.  A marvelous versatile player.  It's great that he stuck with the band.  The section really sounded terrific with Mike there.  
 
    2 years ago I went to NY to see Wilmer Wise and Joe Wilder who were wonderful and gracious to me.  Thank you gentlemen.  I wanted to go see the Chico's band on monday night(I knew that Chico's son was leading the band), but some things prevented me from going.  I was pretty disappointed but am really glad to hear the band is still thriving.  What a great band with some of the most wonderful arrangements going back 60 years that sound as fresh today as they did then.  
 
Great to know that Chico's band is well represented here by Matt on this fine list of trumpet players.  
 
 
glenn
 
x
 
x


From: hilgenboogie at earthlink.netSubject: Re: Afro-Cuban Jazz recordingsDate: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:32:07 -0400To: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu; soundpretty at hotmail.comThanks, Glenn, for the plug. 

I've been playing in the Chico O'Farrill band since 1997, and it's the best musical experience week after week.  I haven't gotten tired of doing it because the music is just so much fun to play.  Even after Chico's passing in 2001, we have continued to play under Arturo O'Farrill, Chico's son and an amazing pianist.

I got to play with Victor Paz for about a year before he moved back to Panama, and that was pretty amazing.  One time we were rehearsing a tune called "Tres Palabras" (Three Words,) and at the end he said, "Wait, guys.  Let's try that again.  That was only Dos Palabras."  Even now, when Victor is brought up in conversation, the guys in the band have unending stories about Victor's sense of humor and his musicianship.  

If you guys are ever in New York on a Sunday night, drop by and see us at Birdland (not the Blue Note.)  The trumpet section is Mike Mossman, Jim Seeley, myself, and Valery Ponomarev.  Shoot me an email and I'll put you on the guestlist.  I'd love to meet some TPINners.

Matt

PS- Glenn, the Cucaracha recording you're talking about is titled "Variations on a Well Known Theme," and it is as great as you say.  We have done two more albums since that, called Heart of a Legend, and Carambola.



On Aug 20, 2007, at 1:06 PM, tpin-request at tpin.okcu.edu wrote:

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:11:32 -0400
From: Glenn Bengry <soundpretty at hotmail.com>
Subject: [TPIN] Afro-Cuban Jazz recordings
To: <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
Message-ID: <BAY124-W4837977AF91C796325BE71B2DB0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


Guys,

The seminal recordings where jazz and cuban music came together from '48-54 brought Dizzy, Charlie Parker, Machito and his band, Chico O'Farrill and his band with Chico arranging almost all the material.  Brilliant arranger who just passed away a few years ago.  He had a band that played at the Blue Note every Monday night in NYC that played a lot of those classic arrangements. 

 Chico's band continued to record through the late 90's.  There is a recording called PURE EMOTION with an arrangement of La Cucaracha that is exceptional.  The band is exceptional too with Victor Paz playing lead trumpet.  It is worth it to buy the CD just to hear that arrangement and Victor playing lead.

The double album "Afro-Cuban Jazz"  must still be available  with my favorite Charlie Parker solo on Mango Mangue and Dizzy on MantecaTheme.  If you dont' have that one in your vault, its a must.


glenn

PS  Mario Bauza played in Machito's 
band, then formed his own band. 
That band is where Tito Puente 
cut his teeth.  Tito's recordings with
Piro Rodriguez on trumpet are also
fabulous