[Dixielandjazz] Latin Bands in the US - 1930s and earlier.

[Stephen G Barbone]

On Aug 4, 2012, at 3:00 PM, dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com wrote:

> "Ken Mathieson" <ken at kenmath.free-online.co.uk> wrote (polite snip)
> 
> 
> Robert also mentioned the possibility of Caribbean music being played in NYC in James P's younger days. That was certainly the case. After Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917, East Harlem rapidly filled up with emigres and before long their dance halls were attracting jazz musicians to listen to the new rhythms and sounds. Robert will remember a much-missed Scottish musician, the late Francis Cowan, who was a fine guitarist, and outstanding bassist and cellist. After a gig with veteran saxophonist Benny Waters, who had played with one of King Oliver's later bands, Francis asked him what was hot in NYC after Benny had arrived in town from Boston. Francis had been expecting to hear about Fletcher Henderson at the Savoy or King Oliver, or Fats Waller and the piano professors in Harlem, but instead Benny said that all the young musicians used to go over to dance halls in East Harlem to hear the Puerto Rican bands. When Francis asked him what they sounded like, Benny replied "exactly like Dizzy Gillespie!" So, from at least the mid-1920s, "Latin" music was being played in NYC and laid the foundations for the Rumba bands of the late 1930s while at the same time exciting the younger generation of jazz players in the city.

For a discussion of Latin, or afro cuban bands in NYC in the 1920s/1930s,  see:

http://academic.cengage.com/resource_uploads/static_resources/0155062298/12031/ch08_puerto_rican_immigration.html

And don't forget that the great Cuban trumpeter Mario Bauza, was hired as musical director and lead trumpet by Chick Webb, circa 1933. You can hear his genius on some Webb recordings. He later joined Cab Calloway's band. At the same time he hung out with Dizzy Gillespie, introduced Chano Pozo to Diz and among them, that was how Afro Cuban Bop started. (Cubop)

Then, Machito, Perez Prado and Tito Puente started latin dance/jazz bands and played regularly at the Palladium, next to Birdland. In the 1950s. I walked in there by mistake, hearing a great jazz trumpet solo outside the door and thinking Birdland had a new entrance. The joint was filled with the most beautiful, sexy women dressed mostly in tight red outfits, dancing with their men. I stayed the whole night enthralled by the sight of them dancing, and the sounds of Prado's band. Those bands always featured a high note trumpeter and a loud bass sax as well several trombones and several drummers. Both the bands and the women were HOT. It was wonderful.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband