I wrote the review for Colaboradores Salseros del Mundo earlier this year.
And what message does he wish for those throbbing rhythms to convey to fans?
"The only thing I ask is that they try to preserve the roots," he says. "In other words, that they remember the origin, the beginning, the starting point. The music has such a diversity of rhythms and I make every effort possible so all these rhythms can be exposed." - From Strings magazine, March 2005, No. 127.
Cuban bassist Cachao accepts his Latin Grammy Award
for Best Traditional Tropical Album in 2005.From CNN.com
Descarga Guajira by Cachao y Su Conjunto
Most often at SalsaForums.com, a member will post a question about Salsa music and its pioneers. As a lover of the infectious Cuban rhythms, Maestro Cachao always comes to my mind and I have been a fan his music since I first heard ‘Descarga Cachao’ and ‘Finally, I Saw You’, used in the movie, Dance with Me, over ten years ago.
Descarga Guajira by Cachao y Su Conjunto, is a rare gem for the collector of Latin music. All songs on this CD were recorded between 1959 and 1961 in Havana, Cuba. As you listen to the CD, you’ll find yourself in Cuba soaking in the percussion on ‘La Inconclusa’ and ‘La Luz’ and then transporting yourself to Africa on ‘Rumba Sabrosa’ and Popurrit de Congas and then to the 1950s dance floor with the ultimate descarga on this CD, ‘Cachao te Pone a Bailar’. Just over sixteen minutes of straight jazz-influenced old school Mambo.
Also interesting, is the Mexican musical touches that you will hear throughout Descarga Guajira, Popurrit de Congas and Descarga Ñañiga with the trumpet as an echo behind the African influenced congas and in the interesting intro to ‘Descarga Mexicana’ which features the genius in Maestro Cachao’s double-bass.
‘Descarga Mexicana’, my favorite from this CD, seems to be one of those songs that transcend time. I first heard it while watching a dance video from a Salsa congress in 2005. The bass line drew me in immediately along with the infectious percussion. I knew it was Cachao but could not find it on any of his recent CDs. I looked a little deeper and there it was, a diamond hidden somewhere between 1959 and 1961 that could have easily been created just yesterday. Musicians on this CD include:
Maestro Israel López "Cachao", Contrabajo
Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar, Trompeta Armando Armenteros, Trompeta
Generoso "El Tojo" Jiménez, Trombon Enemelio Jiménez, Saxo alto
Orestes Lopez "Macho", Piano Andrés Echevarria "Niño Rivera", Tres
Rogelio "Yeyo" Iglesias, Bongos Guillermo Barreto, Timbales
Gustavo "El Caimán" Tamayo, Guiro Tata Güines, Tumbadora
Israel “Cachao” Lopez is approaching his 90th birthday this year as he still educates us with his deep knowledge and musical history of Cuba. For the Latin music enthusiasts, I also recommend masterpieces such as Master Sessions, Vol. 1& 2 and the movie produced by Andy Garcia, Cachao...Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos. From the rural elements of Changui to Latin Jazz, in my opinion Maestro Cachao is indeed, The Rhythm of Cuba.
And what message does he wish for those throbbing rhythms to convey to fans?
"The only thing I ask is that they try to preserve the roots," he says. "In other words, that they remember the origin, the beginning, the starting point. The music has such a diversity of rhythms and I make every effort possible so all these rhythms can be exposed." - From Strings magazine, March 2005, No. 127.
Cuban bassist Cachao accepts his Latin Grammy Award
for Best Traditional Tropical Album in 2005.From CNN.com
Descarga Guajira by Cachao y Su Conjunto
Most often at SalsaForums.com, a member will post a question about Salsa music and its pioneers. As a lover of the infectious Cuban rhythms, Maestro Cachao always comes to my mind and I have been a fan his music since I first heard ‘Descarga Cachao’ and ‘Finally, I Saw You’, used in the movie, Dance with Me, over ten years ago.
Descarga Guajira by Cachao y Su Conjunto, is a rare gem for the collector of Latin music. All songs on this CD were recorded between 1959 and 1961 in Havana, Cuba. As you listen to the CD, you’ll find yourself in Cuba soaking in the percussion on ‘La Inconclusa’ and ‘La Luz’ and then transporting yourself to Africa on ‘Rumba Sabrosa’ and Popurrit de Congas and then to the 1950s dance floor with the ultimate descarga on this CD, ‘Cachao te Pone a Bailar’. Just over sixteen minutes of straight jazz-influenced old school Mambo.
Also interesting, is the Mexican musical touches that you will hear throughout Descarga Guajira, Popurrit de Congas and Descarga Ñañiga with the trumpet as an echo behind the African influenced congas and in the interesting intro to ‘Descarga Mexicana’ which features the genius in Maestro Cachao’s double-bass.
‘Descarga Mexicana’, my favorite from this CD, seems to be one of those songs that transcend time. I first heard it while watching a dance video from a Salsa congress in 2005. The bass line drew me in immediately along with the infectious percussion. I knew it was Cachao but could not find it on any of his recent CDs. I looked a little deeper and there it was, a diamond hidden somewhere between 1959 and 1961 that could have easily been created just yesterday. Musicians on this CD include:
Maestro Israel López "Cachao", Contrabajo
Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar, Trompeta Armando Armenteros, Trompeta
Generoso "El Tojo" Jiménez, Trombon Enemelio Jiménez, Saxo alto
Orestes Lopez "Macho", Piano Andrés Echevarria "Niño Rivera", Tres
Rogelio "Yeyo" Iglesias, Bongos Guillermo Barreto, Timbales
Gustavo "El Caimán" Tamayo, Guiro Tata Güines, Tumbadora
Israel “Cachao” Lopez is approaching his 90th birthday this year as he still educates us with his deep knowledge and musical history of Cuba. For the Latin music enthusiasts, I also recommend masterpieces such as Master Sessions, Vol. 1& 2 and the movie produced by Andy Garcia, Cachao...Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos. From the rural elements of Changui to Latin Jazz, in my opinion Maestro Cachao is indeed, The Rhythm of Cuba.