Annotations for People: Cruz-alfredo

[Background--Music--Piano] Like his music, Eddie Palmieri is intensely energetic. His piano solos have been known to go from delicate esoteric explorations to fist pounding accents, all within the same phrase. He has developed his own musical identity. When Eddie plays the sound of a note or a chord is immediately recognizable as unmistakably Palmieri. He admits however, he didn't always want to be a pianist.

One of Palmieri's earliest and most important musical influences was his older brother Charlie. Also a pianist who not only served as mentor but helped Eddie get started in the business over 30 years ago.

The big new trombone sound he had developed revolutionized Afro-Cuban music in the 1960s. Eddie Palmieri had found the perfect combination and called his new band La Perfecta. [Background--Music--Piano] They were sensation at dance halls like the now legendary Palladium, where battle of the bands were common and Palmieri reigned supreme. His influence, however, wasn't limited just to the East Coast. A classic collaboration with California vibraphonist Cal Tjader came about when word got out that no one could go toe to toe with Palmieri's band, La Perfecta.

Eventually, for Palmieri, even La Perfecta wasn't perfect. And his classic recording Champagne signaled a change in his musical direction.

Over the last 25 years, many of Palmieri's recordings have become classics and his orchestras have provided approving ground for promising young Latino and jazz musicians. Much like Art Blakey's messengers was to jazz. But in spite of winning five Grammy awards, record companies have met his innovative musical experiments with skepticism. Recently, however, Palmieri finalized negotiations on a new contract with Electra Asylum records.

As to what's in store for the future, whatever musical direction he might take, Palmieri says the core of his music will always remain in Latin rhythms.

Yeah.

[Background--Music--Afro-Caribbean Jazz] Eddie Palmieri's new recording is scheduled for a fall release. From Newark, New Jersey for Latino USA, I'm Alfredo Cruz.

During the first half of this century, Cuban music was a very popular source of entertainment in the United States. The Mambo y cha-cha-cha, and other rhythms dominated radio waves and dance halls across the country. Cuban music was being heard here, and jazz over there. But in 1959, following the Cuban Revolution, all cultural and political connections between the two countries were cut. And in Cuba, jazz became a Yankee imperialist activity. Playing or listening to jazz was done in an underground clandestine manner. Since then, things have changed. For one, the Havana International Jazz Festival, now in its 14th year, has attracted world-class musicians and helped raise the social and political acceptance of jazz in Cuba. But as pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba says, it wasn't easy.

At 30 years of age, Gonzalo Rubalcaba is considered one of Cuba's premier pianists. His father played with the orchestra of Cha-cha-cha inventor Enrique Jorrín, and later became one of Cuba's most popular band leaders. Gonzalo himself played with the legendary Orquesta Aragón while still a teenager, but it is through his solo playing that Gonzalo has made his mark in Cuba and around the world. Because of political differences, however, the United States audience remained out of reach to Cuban jazz and musicians like Rubalcaba.

American bassist Charlie Haden met and played with Gonzalo Rubalcaba in Switzerland at the 1989 Montreux International Jazz Festival and brought him to the attention of Blue Note Records. Haden, along with Blue Note executives and Lincoln Center in New York City, negotiated with the US State Department to grant the young pianist a performance visa. And finally, in what seems to have been a political icebreaker last May 14th, Gonzalo Rubalcaba made his US debut performance before a sold-out audience at Lincoln Center.

Many artists in both countries do agree that a relaxation of political policy between Cuba and the United States would be a positive development. And Rubalcaba's US debut has generated a renewed optimism within the cultural community, even though the visa he was issued allowed him to play only one concert, and on the condition that he would not be paid. Recently, Gonzalo Rubalcaba's recording, entitled Suite 4 y 20, was released in this country on the Blue Note record label. For Latino USA, I'm Alfredo Cruz in Newark, New Jersey.

[Background--piano music] Like his music, Eddie Palmeri is intensely energetic. His piano solos have been known to go from delicate, esoteric explorations to fist pounding accents all within the same phrase. He has developed his own musical identity. When Eddie plays the sound of a note or accord is immediately recognizable as unmistakably Palmeri. He admits, however, he didn't always want to be a pianist.

[Background-- Afro-Cuban Jazz] One of Palmeri's earliest and most important musical influences was his older brother Charlie, also a pianist who not only served as mentor, but helped Eddie get started in the business over 30 years ago.

The big new trombone sound he had developed revolutionized Afro-Cuban music in the 1960s. Eddie Palmeri had found the perfect combination and called his new band La Perfecta.

[Background--Afro-Cuban Jazz] They were a sensation at dance halls like the now legendary Palladium were battle of the bands were common and Palmeri reigned supreme.

[Background--Afro-Cuban Jazz] Over the last 25 years, many of Palmeri's recordings have become classics and his orchestras have provided a proving ground for promising young Latino and jazz musicians. Much like Art Blakey's Messengers was to jazz. But in spite of winning five Grammy awards, record companies have met his innovative musical experiments with skepticism. Recently, however, Palmeri finalized negotiations on a new contract with Electra Asylum records.

[Background--Afro-Cuban Jazz] As to what's in store for the future, whatever musical direction he might take, Palmeri says the core of his music will always remain in Latin rhythms.

From Newark, New Jersey for Latino USA, I'm Alfredo Cruz.