"Questions, Questions..."

A series of interviews with the members of The Latin Jazz Discussion List. All the questions were submitted by other members of the group, their peers. Each artist was given a number of questions with the option of answering as many as they wished. Further discussion with the artist in this forum is invited...

Today's Subject:

Bryan Vargas
Guitar, cuatro, voice, percussion
New York, NY
Band: Ya Esta
http://www.yaestamusica.com

Q: "Tell us a little about your childhood - where were you born and raised?"

I was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I spent my early childhood there,
and my teenage years in Queens NY. My mother was a school teacher and my
father a community activist. Both were born in Puerto Rico.

Q: "Who was the most influential person in your life that affected you,and
your decision to become an artist?

Geez, that's a tough one. I guess my parents. My grandparents. My
teachers over the years. My friends. My biggest heroes are: Malcolm X,
Albizu Campos, Jose Marti, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Fela Kuti, Rigoberta
Menchu, Tito Kayak and Cesar Chavez. All of the above have influenced my
life deeply. I don't feel like I chose to become an artist, it's just who I
turned out to be.

Q: "When did you first fall in love with Latin music - or - when did you
first choose Latin music as a career path? Can you remember which band or
artist turned you on?"

I am always grew up with Latin music - in the foreground and the
background. If my Dad wasn't listening to Willie Colon records, someone out
on the street was blasting it on their stereo. I guess I chose Latin music
as a "career path" towards the end of my college years. I spent a lot of
time mediating on who I was and what my place was in the world. It seemed
like a good idea at the time...

Q: "What piece or pieces of music made the most impact on you and why?"

As far as an artist or particular piece of music goes, as I said above I
was always listening to Latin sounds. But the turning point was when I
heard "Agueybana Zemi" the first track off of Ya Yo Me Cure by Jerry
Gonzalez. It features Frankie Rodriguez, Edgardo Miranda, Hilton Ruiz among
others. The shit made me flip. I was a junior in college and I remember
leaping around my dorm room thinking - "this is it! this is what I want to
do!" Also add "A Love Supreme." by Trane. I first heard that at age 15, and
it showed me what spiritual music truly was for the first time.

Q: "Who's an artist you think more people should be aware of..."

Well, despite his accolades in the latin music community I feel that
Chico O'Farrill needs to better recognized by the rest of the world. And
Eddie Palmeri and Mongo Santamaria too!

Q: "Are you a song writer?"

Yes, I am a songwriter and a composer.

Q: "What kinds of things do you do to inspire your writing?"

I try not to think about music or theory or things like that. I just try
and create sounds that I would like to hear and that I feel others can enjoy
as well.

Q: "What are your priorities when you go to the stage?"

To be relaxed and to have as much fun as possible. Being a musician is
TOO much work to justify not having fun.

Q: "How do you see yourself in relation to the 'tradition'?"

Well being a New York born Puerto Rican I kind of feel like this is my
heritage. This music is what my ancestors left for me and I need to help
keep it alive for the next generation.

Q: "What music do you listen to when you are relaxing?"

None. When I relax I prefer the sounds of silence, or the voices of a
good book.

Q: "What one CD of those you have recorded would you keep if the others were
forever lost??!!"

No CDs yet. Any interested indie labels out there?

Q: "What one CD of someone else's would you keep if all others were
lost??!!"

Ak! I can't decide! Too much great music in the world.

Q: "What musicians would you most like to play with, now living on earth or
elsewhere?"

Everybody. Palmeri. Jerry Gonzalez. D'Angelo. Ornette Coleman. Stevie
Wonder. Bjork. anyone hiring?

Q: "What band or musicians would you have wanted to play with from the past
and why?"

Oh my God, too many. Miles. Trane. Sun Ra. Arsenio. Marvin Gaye.

Q: "Would you still be a musician even if that means you´ll die of hunger?"

What kind of fool would say yes to this? No I wouldn't. I will always be
a creative and expressive person no matter what. But I would definitely
choose an alternate way of making a living if it meant a slow and painful
demise.

Q: "If you had to choose a short segment (a few bars) from your work to
represent you, which would it be?"

I would rather that people remember my music because it made them happy,
made them dance or communicated an emotion. People who focus too much on
short segments (for hip chord voicings or weird scales) tend to be missing
the point.

Q: "What food would you most liken your music to?"

Mofongo - platanos twice fried, smashed up, mixed with pork (or seafood
as I prefer) and a dash of ajo with a tasty red sauce poured over the top.
El sonido de Ya Esta es el sabor de mofongo. 'nuff said.

Q: "One piece of advice for musicians"

Listen to ALL types of music! The diversity of sounds in the world are a
reflection of the diverse beauty that god has given us all to see and hear.

Q: "One piece of advice for listeners (or dancers)"

Same advice to los musicos. see above.

Q: "One piece of advice for life"

I'm only 25! Give me some advice for life! I could use it.

Credits:
Allan Johnston - format questions
Eliseo Cardona - translations

Lea esta entrevista en Español visite www.anapapaya.com