By Chris M. Slawecki
Theres something unique about hearing a new style of music for the first time, and taking those few first steps as you grow in appreciation. A sense of new vistas, of expanding your palette. New colors and horizons.
It sounds elitist, but being among the first to hear something new and exciting is part of the coolness of digging music, isnt it? All the great ones recorded at least one moment where you just dont believe your ears. For whatever reason it simply defies description and leaves you the mere lame exclamation, "Incredible!" Such moments exist for greats from Tatum to Hendrix, Parker to Burton, for them all. And you always seem to have that one friend with whom you just cant wait to share this new and exciting, wonderful thing. How many times have you insisted, "You have GOT to hear this!," to a friend with whom you share music?
Caravana Cubana: Late Night Sessions is an all-star Afro-Cuban jam that opens up the past, present and future of Cuban music. A style of music new to this writer, so in addition to its considerable superstar charms, it seems at this writing somehow particularly bright and beautiful. Listening to non-English lyrics requires some adjustment, but thats part of the newness too.
Late Night Sessions was occasioned by the funeral of disc jockey Emilio Vandenedes, a champion of Cuban music in the US through his public radio broadcasts in Miami and Los Angeles, who passed away in 1998. At his memorial service, pianist Chucho Valdés, founder and musical director of the influential Latin collective Irakere, met bassist Al McKibbon, who held down the bottom for Latin groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, George Shearing, and (with Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo) the Cal Tjader band.
In time and with help, McKibbon and Valdés put together sessions with other Afro-Cuban stars like Jose "Perico" Hernandez (Late Nights musical director and main songwriter), conguero Francisco Aguabella, 83-year-old cabaret vocalist Pio Leiva, firebrand trombonist Jimmy Bosch, and others. What began as a small project in respect for the music and a friend began picking up steam as the ensemble Bamboleo, flute player Orlando "Maraca" Valle and other young Cuban artists came onboard.
Its been a struggle to determine why Late Night Sessions sounds and feels like jazz. Because this probably isnt jazz to most people. But the arrangements are inventive and expansive and played with boldness and passion, with echoes of the 1950s heyday of Cubas glamorous nightclubs and their swinging big bands (and frequent percussion breakdowns).
Everything sizzles and percolates with the rhythms of rumba, son, bolero, and descarga (annotated, thankfully). The interplay between these percussionists, pianists, guitarists, and horn players seems more than just instrumental. Theres no doubt it IS instrumental some passages during the descargas (the middle of "Chucho Carabal" and just about ALL of "Anga Y Jimmy," where Bosch rocks the trombone like hes trying to blow it clean apart at the seams) almost overwhelm your ears like a torrent, building interlocking percussion line upon line, everybody simultaneously riffing on the rhythm and melody until they all become one.
"They all become one" reads rather funny in a column about music. Most of these players are recognized masters of their instruments. Valdes introductory piano solo to "Chucho Carabali" is strong and tender, like McCoy Tyner in a beautiful blues, while Bosch and other fine soloists step out on vocals, trumpet, and guitar. The percussionists are magnificent, and often mind-blowing, throughout. But Late Night Sessions isnt great because of the way everyone plays its great because of the way everyone plays together. Sometimes the interplay between six, seven, eight people seems so intense its almost transcendent. As a listener, you feel it too. These Late Night moments are
uh, incredible.
Youve got to believe that Emilio Vandenedes is smiling if he can. Comparisons with 1997s star-studded Cuban exploration Buena Vista Social Club are both obvious and accurate. Late Night Sessions is an all-star Afro-Cuban jam that opens up the past, present and future of Cuban music. If you enjoy Afro-Cuban music, this is pretty close to a "must." If youre unfamiliar with the multicolored, spectacular passion of the music from this tiny island, it sure seems like a great place to start.
