"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:
Sonny Bravo
NYC
Piano, arranger.
I'm based in New York. I've been
a musician for 45 years. I've played all the major venues all
over the world. I've played, recorded with, or arranged for Conjunto
Caney, José Fajardo, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaría,
Vicentico Valdés, Miguelito Valdés, Celia Cruz,
La Lupe, Machito, Tito Rodríguez, Típica '73, Johnny
Pacheco, Bill Cosby, Tito Puente, etc.
Latest CD: "Masterpiece" with Tito Puente and Eddie
Palmieri.
Q: "Tell us a little about your childhood - where were
you born and raised?"
I'm of Cuban descent. I was born on 111th St. in West Harlem,
New York, and raised in Miami, Florida.
Q: "Who was the most influential person in your life
that affected you,and your decision to become an artist?
My father, Santiago "Elio" Osácar, who was
the bassist for the Conjunto Caney.
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 was born into it! Yes, the Conjunto Caney.
Q: "What piece or pieces of music made the most impact
on you and why?"
"Mambo en España" by Orquesta Riverside (Peruchín
on piano) It's a perfect piano solo. I'd never heard anything
like it before!! Also Jesús López' solo in "Mambo"
by Arcaño.
Q: "Who's an artist you think more people should be aware
of..."
Pianist Ernán López-Nussa
Q: "At what hour of the day are you most productive and
why?"
After midnight, because it's more peaceful.
Q: "Are you a song writer?"
Yes, I've written a few tunes.
Q: "What kinds of things do you do to inspire your writing?"
I never sit down to write anything. An idea will come and
then I'll get to the piano and start to develop it.
Q: "What things do you practice day to day?"
Lately, some Hanon, and some exercises of my own invention.
Q: "What are your priorities when you go to the stage?"
Make sure I'm mentally prepared and I also like to "connect"
with the audience.
Q: "How do you see yourself in relation to the 'tradition'?"
As someone who was fortunate enough to grow up in a home with
a father who's roots were firmly planted in that "tradition".
Q: "What music do you listen to when you are relaxing?"
Rachmaninoff, Borodin, Scriabin, etc. (Russian masters.)
Q: "Give us a mental image of your favorite view in the
world".
I once stood on the Mount of Olives and looked down upon the
walls of Jerusalem. I still get chills when I think of who else
had stood there.
Q: "If you have children what kind of musical education
have you given them or do you intend to give them?"
None have shown sufficient interest and I have not forced
the issue.
Q: "What does the music you play do for you, emotionally,
spiritually, socially, whichever-other-ly?
It frees my mind from mundane matters. It makes me realize
that I belong to a select group of individuals who bring something
special into the lives of others while enriching their own.
Q: "What changes or landmarks in your life can you attribute
to the music you play?"
I've seen the Mona Lisa, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the
Sistine Chapel, the Pietá, the Colosseum, the Holy Land,
and many wonders of the world including, of course, the "Pearl
(although slightly tarnished) of the Antilles"!
Q: "When the music is at it's best in your opinion, what
is it that's happening (to make it the best) and what do you
feel?
This occurs when the energy level of each musician is high
and everyone's in sinc with everyone else, including the audience.
And when it does occur, I feel like the band is going to explode!!
Q: "What one CD of those you have recorded would you
keep if the others were forever lost??!!"
Típica '73 en Cuba: "Intercambio Cultural"
Q: "What one CD of someone else's would you keep if all
others were lost??!!"
Afro Cuban: "Mi Gran Pasión" by G. Rubalcaba
and Grupo Proyecto. Classical: "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini"
S. Rachmaninoff on piano with L. Stokowski and the Philadelphia
Orch.
Q: "Name an all-star band of your favorite musicians
(and arrangers) or one band for each genre (charanga, conjunto,
big band, etc.)"
CHARANGA: Piano: Jesús López. Bass: Cachao.
Flute: Jose Fajardo.
Violins: Elizardo Aroche, Felix Reina, Rafael Lay. Cello: Orestes
López.
Conga:Tata Güines. Timbales: Ulpiano Díaz. Güiro:
Gustavo Tamayo. Vocals:
Pepe Olmo and Felo Bacallao.
CONJUNTO: Piano: Lilí Martínez. Tres: "El
Niño" Rivera. Bass: Santiago
"Elio" Osácar, or Bobby Rodríguez. Trumpets:
"Chocolate" Armenteros, "El
Guajiro" Mirabal, "El Negro" Vivar. Timbales:
"Changuito" Quintana. Congas:
Johnny Rodríguez. Bongoes: Carlos Soto. Vocals: Benny
Moré
and Miguelito Cuní.
"LATIN JAZZ" BAND: Piano: "Chucho" Valdés.
Bass: Rubén Rodríguez.
Trumpet: Claudio Roditi. Clarinet: Paquito D'Rivera. Alto: Bobby
Porcelli.
Tenor: David Sánchez. Bari: Mario Rivera. Bone: Conrad
Herwig. Flute:
"Maraca" Valle. Violin: Alfredo de la Fé. Guitar/Cuatro:
Edgardo Miranda,
Congas: Giovanni Hidalgo. Bongoes: Johnny Rodríguez. Timbales:
Orestes
Vilató. Drums: Julio Barreto.
Q: "What musicians would you most like to play with,
now living on earth or elsewhere?"
All of the above.
Q: "What band or musicians would you have wanted to play
with from the past and why?"
Arcaño y sus Maravillas. The epitome of the "charanga"
type orch. which is my preferred genre.
Q: "Are critics important? Or do you rather see your
music reviewed in the vanity press? Are you susceptible to bad
reviews?".
The only criticism that affects me is that of my colleagues.
Q: "Do you believe in music as art, as opposed to a product
for merchandising?"
For those of us who are creating music, it's an art. For the
Masuccis and Mercados of the world it's a product for merchandising.
Q: "Would you still be a musician even if that means
you´ll die of hunger?"
I'll always be a musician whether I make a living at it or
not.
Q: "If you had to choose a short segment (a few bars)
from your work to represent you, which would it be?"
The solo piano intro to "Rumba Caliente," and/or
the piano solo on "El Casabe" from Alfredo de la Fé's
CD, "Toca Alfredo Toca".
Q: "What food would you most liken your music to?"
Ajiaco: A spicy Cuban stew with many ingredients!
"Do you believe in aliens? (HAHAHAHA!)"
No.
Q: "If it were up to you, what would the names of Hermeto's
pig and rooster be?".
"Porky" (doesn't translate into Spanish!) or "Petunia"(
no alliteration in Spanish, either!) and "Kikirikí."
(doesn't translate into English!)
Q: "One piece of advice for musicians"
Do your homework, respect the roots of the music, and respect
the old guard "veterans" among you. Listen and learn.
"One piece of advice for listeners (or dancers)"
Same as above.
Q: "One piece of advice for life"
Life is short. Live it to the max! Love and respect your neighbor.
Credits:
Allan Johnston - format questions
Eliseo Cardona - translations
Lea esta entrevista en Español visite
www.anapapaya.com
