this is conceivably the most comprehensive assessment of the very underestimated maestro's oeuvre that i have seen thus far. his reach is completely, and i mean completely, unprecedented. there is simply nobody else like him. he covers all bases.
a quibble, his excursions into the avantiste jazz space is almost completely unrecognized outside of what you mentioned, that is, with carla bley. he did some stunning piano work in last year's derek bailey tribute organized by john zorn and will play in this year's tribute redux at roulette.
btw, his son adam is a very skilled trompetista and particularly gifted composer in that space as well.
the entire family - mother on piano, arturo, zack on drums, and adam - played some of adam's compositions at roulette earlier this year.
another quibble, you failed to mention the 'peg as a potential location of musicians who might contribute to a musical event on the 49th parallel. i know, it's small and central.
11 million people invented two entire separate genres: Salsa and Afro-Cubana. And their musicians are good at many other genres, as well.
Then I started blogging the pandemic to vent, the conceit being the grading of countries by their final result (dead/million), and Cuba was simply a superstar. Doubly so, given lack of resources. And, just as they invented vaccines and sent doctors out with them to poorer countries, they are exporting not just their music, but their admirable spirit embedded in it. The spirit lives on, and grows in people generations away from Cuba.
I don't know if this is deep culture that goes back before Castro, or if strong community feeling grew because of decades of isolation; but I know that partying and singing together is a big part of it, and the most-visible expression of it.
Until it saved 31,651 Cuban lives, compared to the pandemic results of their tormentor, the USA.
Alternatively, American might theoretically have saved 940,235 lives, had they had the community spirit of Cubans.
I know this is a tangential topic, but the tangent is I couldn't even think how to separate Cuban music from Cuban community spirit.
I know it's a little superstitious to say this, but I keep thinking that if we listened to more of the music, we could pick up some of that spirit, and be much the richer.
Love this substack. Political commentary to jazz. I like the 'deeper dive' into events, political and otherwise. The music was a pleasant surprise. Look forward to 2024.
Thanks for writing about Arturo. He wasn't on my radar but he is now! My husband and I LOVE Afro-Latin jazz so we'll be happily listening to more of it.
this is conceivably the most comprehensive assessment of the very underestimated maestro's oeuvre that i have seen thus far. his reach is completely, and i mean completely, unprecedented. there is simply nobody else like him. he covers all bases.
a quibble, his excursions into the avantiste jazz space is almost completely unrecognized outside of what you mentioned, that is, with carla bley. he did some stunning piano work in last year's derek bailey tribute organized by john zorn and will play in this year's tribute redux at roulette.
btw, his son adam is a very skilled trompetista and particularly gifted composer in that space as well.
the entire family - mother on piano, arturo, zack on drums, and adam - played some of adam's compositions at roulette earlier this year.
another quibble, you failed to mention the 'peg as a potential location of musicians who might contribute to a musical event on the 49th parallel. i know, it's small and central.
Another beautiful, uplifting piece from you. What a lovely way to bring in the New Year!
To visit Cuba is to get a lightning strike of
a) frustration at their pointless poverty
b) admiration for their entrepreneurship
c) O.M.G. the music (!!)
11 million people invented two entire separate genres: Salsa and Afro-Cubana. And their musicians are good at many other genres, as well.
Then I started blogging the pandemic to vent, the conceit being the grading of countries by their final result (dead/million), and Cuba was simply a superstar. Doubly so, given lack of resources. And, just as they invented vaccines and sent doctors out with them to poorer countries, they are exporting not just their music, but their admirable spirit embedded in it. The spirit lives on, and grows in people generations away from Cuba.
I don't know if this is deep culture that goes back before Castro, or if strong community feeling grew because of decades of isolation; but I know that partying and singing together is a big part of it, and the most-visible expression of it.
Until it saved 31,651 Cuban lives, compared to the pandemic results of their tormentor, the USA.
Alternatively, American might theoretically have saved 940,235 lives, had they had the community spirit of Cubans.
http://brander.ca/c19#cuba
http://brander.ca/c19#cuba2
http://brander.ca/c19#cubanarmy
I know this is a tangential topic, but the tangent is I couldn't even think how to separate Cuban music from Cuban community spirit.
I know it's a little superstitious to say this, but I keep thinking that if we listened to more of the music, we could pick up some of that spirit, and be much the richer.
Thank you for a look at the world where not all is bleak disaster.
It is nice to hear of people doing things, rather than complaining and promoting hate.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 🍾 🥂 🎹🪇🪘🎷🎺 💥☀️
Love this substack. Political commentary to jazz. I like the 'deeper dive' into events, political and otherwise. The music was a pleasant surprise. Look forward to 2024.
JM
Thanks for writing about Arturo. He wasn't on my radar but he is now! My husband and I LOVE Afro-Latin jazz so we'll be happily listening to more of it.
Thank you for this brilliant end of year article. Just beautiful!
appreciate this. Happy New Year
How about that spot in the Eastern Townships where the border passed through the town library?
Earlier today downloaded the album (I paid). Thanks for this.