Re: hermeto pascoal/cuban "son"

Tony Reid (t-bird@salata.com)
24 Oct 97 01:56:32 -0800


vd> The leader, Hermeto, who looks like a myhtical character with his long
vd> white hair and beard. played keyboard, a glass of water, which he used
vd> as a sax and a kettle to produce his mad rhytms and melodies. The sax
vd> player also played clarinet, flute and oboe. A great show. I know that
vd> Hermeto was a part of the old quarteto novo, together with Airto
vd> Moreira and Flora Purim. Does anybody know if there are any albums by
vd> this group?

hermeto and airto have always been considered "experimental"--which explains
their *unusual* battery of instruments--now that i've found out they were in
a group together, it makes sense...

vd> The other concert was by a group of old cubans playing son (the name
vd> was la vieja trova santiaguera if I am correct). Their average age was
vd> 83! There were almost carried onto the stage where they gave a nice
vd> show.

if you like son--and don't mind ry cooder--check out "buena vista social
club". it's an album that ry recorded in cuba w/living masters of the son
--they're actually known as the b. v. social club. i think one of the guys
is cachao's uncle or something...

in jazz, and a lot of folk musics, age is considered a *plus* and commands
respect--as opposed to the rock ethic ("do the stones still have 'it'?").
so i would be stoked to see someone who's "been around the block" as it
were.
on that note, if you get a chance to see *francisco aguabella* DO NOT miss
it!
he's another living legend--i'm not sure but i think he lives in l.a. he's
got to be in his 70s, at least, and he's always good for giving you
perspective on "our" music's roots--at least rhythmically...

t-bird