Re: [Harp-L] Re: Hispanic Harp Players

[Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

That Texas player may have been Dale Spalding, who was based in Austin,
Tx., for a period of time after Katrina forced him to move from New
Orleans.  He is currently playing and singing with Canned Heat and has
finally moved back to New Orleans.  We miss him, but he does occasionally
come for visits -- especially to play with Jimi Lee.  The two of them
together is a real show.  He has been a real asset at the harmonica
workshop at the Old Settlers Music Festival.

Cara

On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 8:53 AM, Jp Pagán <jplpagan@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hola Rubben, everyone,
>
> Now that the conversation is opening up a little past just hispanic harp
> players... I'm originally from Puerto Rico, and I listen to a lot of latin
> music, especially Salsa and the many styles that went into and came out of
> that. Practically no harmonica in any of that. I come to harmonica from the
> Blues. I assume that Michael's student is looking for blues-style players
> who happen to be hispanic, and not harmonica players playing in latin
> styles but... Howard Levy plays some salsa. He was (is?) with a Chicago
> salsa band. I've yet to hear it myself, but I bet it's interesting. As for
> Charlie, I talked to him once about his playing on Ochoa's album and the
> latin pieces he did on his own CDs. Charlie is a blues player, and that's
> what he knows, so he plays the blues "over" the latin music that moves him.
> I agree it's not a perfect mesh — but it's an interesting musical hybrid.
> I'd love to hear some Cuban players be inspired by him and take it in a
> different direction.
>
> One player I should mention who does both blues and latin VERY well is
> Damien Masterson. I don't think he's hispanic by birth, but he gets an
> honorary Latino Pass from me any day. He has a few albums out, including
> one called ¡Cubacambio! which is just about all latin music iirc. There is
> also a Texas player named Dave Spalding who is just a great all around
> musician. He's very close to Poncho Sanchez, and has recorded with him,
> though I have only heard him on a latinized cover of Ray Charles' "Mary
> Ann," which was great. If he's at SPAH, I'll have to ask him if he's done
> more recording with Poncho.
>
> Rubben mentions Jibaro Cuban music, well, Puerto Rico has its own Jibaro
> music — Plena (among others). Back in the day, there *were* some plena
> bands that used harmonicas, but practically none survive on record.
> However, a 70s band from NYC — Grupo Folklorico y Experimental
> Nuevayorquino — revived many of those old forms, and one of their founding
> members was a harmonica player, Francisco "Tan" Martinez. He does some
> EXCELLENT playing on their "Concepts in Unity" album, all on a tremolo
> harmonica. It's great, latin playing that fits in perfectly. I've tried to
> find out more about Martinez, but haven't gotten anywhere. Yet.
>
> Also, in Harmonica Happenings I ran an article about the harmonica in
> Cuba. It's from a few years back, but I'll try to get off my duff and post
> it spah.org for those who are interested.
>
> Rubben, drop me a line off-list at jplpagan AT mac DOT com. I'd love to
> talk to you more about your playing...
>
>
> JP
>
>
> --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Rubben Emmanuelli <comunadesantos@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > I am...  i play merengues, salsa, bachata with my corporate gigs band. It
> > was not planned. I was just bored so i started diggin it and the music
> > director likes it and clients too. The other day i play for the first
> time
> > a cumbia version of Pretemders Back on the Chaingang by Selena named as
> > Fotos y Recuerdos (not sure was the name) It was fun..
> >
> > About Charlie Musselwhite..the first time i heard him playing Cuban music
> > sound to me kind of strange but not bad playing. I love Charlie and he's
> > one of my heroes. But to me as a latin player the flow was very strange
> for
> > my taste. Not Bad..Just strange..Great fills and bendings plus the sound
> > man..No one sound like Charlie Musselwhite..and he's expanding his music
> > makin it more global.  Still is a great effort and we can learn from what
> > he does. I think it was the fact that Jibaro Cuban Music just depends on
> > Triple,Guitar,bongos and guiro. Some add flute or trumpet for those who
> > want to beautify it. No Sax..If you want to practice harmonica on some
> > latin flavor stuff. Look For La Murga..from Hector Lavoe. Steady beat and
> > plenty of space to fill it out. You'll find it on You Tube Karoeke
> > versions..try it out. Have fun
> >
>
>
>