A Bite From The Apple - Columna

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2000 by Vicki Sola

Summer seems to have gone by like a "New York minute" this year in the Apple, with October-like temperatures and non-stop rain. It was as if the city's dark clouds were competing with the giant shadow cast by Tito Puente's death; life and music managed to continue despite the grayness and sadness. This month's column is a summer city wrap-up.

In the week that Puente passed away, the music world also mourned the death of another timbalero. La Sonora Matancera's Mario Muñoz Papaíto died on June 4.

Many tributes have been given in Puente's honor, including a star-studded jam at S.O.B's which featured Papo Lucca, Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentín, Larry Harlow, Ralph Irizarry, Marc Quiñones, Bobby Allende, Nicky Marrero, Jimmy Delgado, Frankie Figueroa, Ray Castro, Lefty Pérez, José Bello, Julio Romero, Olatunje, and the members of the Tito Puente Orchestra. Memorable moments included an Allende/Marrero percussion duel and a blessing performed by Olatunje. Also present was actor Edward James Olmos, who suggested that this event honoring Puente's memory should be celebrated annually.

A benefit for the Tito Puente Scholarship Fund at the Bronx's Willie's Steakhouse high-lighted Latin jazz. Vibraphonist/bandleader Sonny Rivera, supported by Jimmy Sabater, Ramón Martínez, Hector Martignon, Papo Pepín, and Georgie González, turned in a fiery performance of Puente classics like Ran Kan Kan. Guests José Fajardo, Connie Grossman, Nicky Marrero, Joey Pastrana, and Dave Valentín also jammed. Valentín played flute and then executed an astonishing timbal solo in Puente's honor.

Manhattan became a sea of banderas as approximately two million spectators lined Fifth Avenue to experience the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Featured entertainers included India, Tito Nieves, Domingo Quiñones, George Lamond, Frankie Negrón, Michael Stuart, Jerry Rivera, Brenda K. Starr, Grupo Caribe, and the Barrio Boyzz. Huge images of Tito Puente floated up the avenue, which pulsated with rhythms of salsa, bomba and plena. Son Tito, Jr. marched his late father's customary route as daughter Audrey, serving as an on-air host for WNBC Channel 4 TV, shared memories of her late father with parade viewers.

The 111th Street Oldtimers Stickball Reunion Festival, one of the city's yearly summer highlights, was dedicated to Puente. Armando Mojica and Latin Beat's Louis Laffitte began the entertainment portion of New York's "biggest single block party" by presenting a special timbal program which showcased Ralph Irizarry, Bobby Sanabria, Jimmy Sabater, Nicky Marrero and Luisito Quintero, who were accompanied by the likes of Oscar Hernández, Rubén Rodríguez, and Lewis Kahn. Ray Sepúlveda & Orchestra turned in a dynamic performance. The Tito Puente Orchestra, under the direction of Johnny Rodríguez, did their fallen leader more than proud as they played to a huge, emotionally responsive audience.

The JVC Jazz Festival dedicated their Carnegie Hall Salsa Jam, starring Eddie Palmieri and orchestra, to Puente. It was reported to me that when the Palmieri and Puente orchestras collaborated that evening, playing tunes from the Puente/Palmieri release Masterpiece, the results were absolutely spectacular. Cheo Feliciano, Domingo Quiñones, Michael Stuart and special guest David Sánchez were also on the bill for that evening.

Clave in the Catskills... Memorial Day Weekend found the Friar Tuck Inn hosting a Memorial Day Weekend bash with El Gran Combo, Los Hermanos Moreno, Steve Colón's Siglo "20" with flautist Connie Grossman, and Toby Rivera & Orchestra. Los Hermanos Moreno are known for their showmanship and the audience just loved it when the band was joined on stage by EGC singer Charlie Aponte.

Around town... Battery Park City's free summer-long series Sounds on the Hudson has been presenting acts like Orlando Marín, Yomo Toro, Ray Vega & Sextet, Los Jóvenes del Barrio, Lucrecia, Ray Sepúlveda, and Manny Oquendo & Libre. Orquesta Broadway, Johnny Pacheco, and Manny Oquendo & Libre were among performers playing at the Mamoncillo, the annual Cuban festival which always seems to fall on the same date as the annual 111th Street Oldtimers Stickball Reunion Festival. Papo Lucca & La Sonora Ponceña were in exquisite format the Copacabana recently. The much-loved band is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Orquesta Aragón, founded six decades ago, made a historic debut at Carnegie Hall on June 20. Their timbalero made a lasting impression on concert-goers as he took off his shoes and used them to play, (his sticks kept breaking). Johnny Pacheco's reunion with singer Monguito "El Unico" took place in front of a standing-room-only crowd at S.O.B.'s. Patrons couldn't get enough as they witnessed the long overdue encounter during an evening in which singer Lucrecia also took to the stage, singing in a manner reminiscent of Celia Cruz in her prime. Demetrios Kastaris' Latin-Jazz Coalition held their CD launching concert at Flushing Town Hall in Queens. The CD, Trombón Con Sazón, features special guests Dave Valentín, Claudia Roditi, and Edy Martínez. International Latin Music Hall of Fame President Joe Hernández presented Hector Lavoe's posthumous ILMHF Induction Award in front of 50,000 people at Flushing Meadow Park during Colombian Independence Day celebrations there. Gilberto "Pulpo" Colón, Jr. also participated, playing piano with the Hector Lavoe Orchestra.