A Bite From The Apple

Latin Beat Magazine, Nov, 1998 by Vicki Sola

November finds the Apple steaming despite the frost, still pulsating to the sounds of what many consider to be two of 98's hottest releases: Tito Puente's Live at Birdland Dancemania '99 (RMM) continues to garner acclaim. New York club DJ Jeff Stennett, who is spinning a lot of "cayuco" these days at La Maganette and the Copacabana, summed up my feelings when he stated, --The great thing about Dancemania 1999 is when you listen to it, you forget that it's a live recording." The other release scuffing up city dance floors, and being hailed by those welcoming what seems to be a long-awaited "back to real-Salsa" movement, is Eddie Palmieri'S El Rumbero del Piano (RMM).

Malagueña Salerosa is a much requested track, and more than several aficionados have commented to me that on this production, the voices of Wichy Camacho and Herman Olivera blend very well.

The name Eddie Palmieri, along with that of his brother Charlie, and those of others--Noro Morales, Peruchín, Jorge Dalto, Eddie Cano, Joe Loco, Markolino Dimond, Joe "The Professor" Torres, and Larry Harlow, inspire reverence and excite the senses. We're lucky to have a few of them around, still making magic. These greats have, by their very existence, galvanized another generation of pianists. The New York area is fortunate to be home to many of them-Gilberto "Pulpo" Colón, Jr., Oscar Hernández, Ricky González, Isidro Infante, Hilton Ruiz, Sergio George, and Lucho Cueto. In this, and coming columns, I'll be presenting short sketches of members of the Apple's--new generation" of pianists who are making lasting marks in the Salsa and Latin jazz worlds.

Gilberto "Pulpo" Colón, Jr. is a 16-year veteran of the late Hector Lavoc's orchestra, and perhaps one of the only pianists of his generation to be able to boast inclusion of Latin music's "three greats" on his resume. Colón, whose artistry has camed him the nickname "Octopus," has played with Frank "Machito" Grillo's original Machito Orchestra, as well as with those of Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez. Colon is, (despite some erroneóus reports to the contrary), the pianist of record, responsible for the breathtaking, extended piano solo on Hector Lavoe's Bandolera, on the classic 1978 Fama album, Comedia. Colón recalls the December 15, 1977 recording session which took place in New York City. "[Producer and mixer] Willie Colón aIways said if he didn't like a particular solo, he'd splice ¡t out so seamiessly, that you'd never even know you'd done ¡t." Suffice ¡t to say that Willie Colón liked this particular piano solo, as ¡t remains, in its entirety, on the recording of the José Febles arrangement of Bandolera on Lavoe's Comedia.

These days, Gilberto "Pulpo' Colón's tentacles are all over the Apple. He is the featured pianist with the current Machito Orchestra, under the direction of Mario Grillo, and he and his Latin jazz ensemble, Ensalada de Pulpo (Octopus Salad) are regulars at Tito Puente's Restaurant on City Island in the Bronx. In this ensemble, Colón features bassist Ramon Martínez, conguero Francisco "Alambrito" Valdés, Jr., who also performs percussion services for vocalist Vicki Sue Robinson, Ray Sepúlveda veteran Pablo "Chino" Nuñez on timbales, and bongocero Luis Mangual, of the "Mangual Dynasty." In addition to being an "in demand" studio musician, contributing to other artists' productions, Colón also finds himself being the regularly featured pianist at Jimmy's; Bronx Cafe's piano bar.

Isidro Infante is another pianist who has been making an impact on today's scene, in the Apple and beyond. Besides being an "in demand" pianist, Infante is also a prolific producer and arranger, with over 2,500 arrangements under his belt. Infante is a well-studied individual. He began by taking lessons with renowned pianist Carmen Duclerc, in San Juan. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Puerto Rico, and holds a Master's in music from Temple University. Also a proud collector of gold and platinum records, Infante is considered, along with the late Louie Ramírez, to have been a creator and pioneer of the "salsa romantica" period. The two co-produced that genre's first million-selling album. Infante himself has worked with Machito, Ismael Rivera, Cortijo, Hector Lavoe, Tito Puente, Grupo Niche, Oscar D'Leon, Johnny Pacheco, India, José Alberto "El Canario," and countless others, including Celia Cruz, whose latest CD (Mi Vida Es Cantar,) he has just produced.

Infante's own group, La Elite, has been on the charts with Licencia Para Engañar, a production that has something for everyone--it's danceable, has a pinch of boogalu, features a ballad and some of that "romantic salsa." Wichy Camacho is featured, as well as a horn section that includes super-players David "Piro" Rodríguez, Elias López, Tommy Villariny, and "Cusi" Castillo. Santo Military Montuno, from Isidro Infante & La Elite 2 is a personal favorite of mine, as I feel the track showcases Infante's abilities, in terms of actual Playing.

I must note, with sadness, the passing of Cuban pianist, composer, and conductor Marco Rizo, at age 78, this past September 8th. Rizo was best known to the world as Desi Arnaz's musical conductor, and creator of the I Love Lucy television program theme. I recall, years ago, how when I'd sit in the countryard of my apartment complex, daily, at 6 p.m., the sound of the I Love Lucy theme would come blaring out of TV sets from all directions. I remember thinking how Lucille Ball must have had to be the most recognizable woman on the face of this planet. The exceptional Rizo, who played, early on in his career, with the groundbreaking Don Azpiazu Orchestra, will be very missed.