Papo Vázquez - músico; conducta de vida - TT: Papo Vázquez - TA: musician; conduct of life - Artículo Breve

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 1999

At The Point

(Cubop)

This month we're going to be hearing alot about the anniversary of Duke Ellington's 100th birthday. I believe there's a crop of semi-young Latino trombonists today, like Papo Vasquez, who owe a debt to Ellington and pioneer Puerto Rican trombonist Juan Tizol, who joined his orchestra in 1929 and brought in some of the first Afro-Caribbean influences to big band jazz (remember Caravan or Porto Rico?). In this superb debut for Cubop Records, Philadelphia's own Papo Vasquez proves heir to Tizol's legacy with a fine trombone sound and a unique compositional ability to reflect his Boricua heritage. Not only does Papo swing with his band Pirates and Troubadors, the former alumni of the Fort Apache Band and Batacumbele roars through five original compositions and a beautiful rendition of the Mexican bolero, La Puerta. With a variety of players interchanging chairs like Michael Brecker, Andy Gonzalez, Richie Flores, and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, the only constant, and an impressive one, is pianist Arturo O'Farrill. The son of legendary Cubop arranger and composer Chico O'Farrill, Arturo has a beautiful harmonic sense. Overall, At The Point, is a tour-de-force effort with deep jazz leanings that grooves with long tracks and intense interaction. My favorite is Coqui, which begins with the high-pitched croaks of P.R.'s indigenous frog (which Papo recorded in El Yunque Rainforest), and flies with excellent solo efforts by Vasquez and Brecker. I'm sure Tizol would be proud of Papo not only for a great project but for letting his roots show and setting a new standard in jazz and Afro-Caribbean fusion. (JV)