December 12, 2009
The Sun Of Latin Music
'In uncertain times, one must try even harder to count one's blessings.' That's one of the gems of advice that my much-beloved late grandmother imparted to me so many years ago. It's also one of the things that came into my mind this past Thursday as I sat enraptured listening to the great pianist Eddie Palmieri lead his agglomeration La Perfecta II through an inspired second set at the Blue Note. What a pleasure it was to see this now 73 year old artist reinvigorate and reinterpret his massive catalog with the skill and energy of a man half his age. What a blessing to not only be able to see a master musician but to also hear him at a new melodic peak. See, so few of our genuine American musical legends are even around much less playing an extensive concert schedule and many of those few - unfortunately - are past their halcyon days. Often, after those lackluster shows, what lingers in the air is just a hint of what once used to be. (Sort of like a former flamethrowing pitcher now relying on a knuckleball and guile to get over.) Not so with Palmieri. I've seen him no fewer than six times this year in all sorts of venues and settings and not once has he failed to excite and delight. Which is why another thought came to mind during yet another scintillating solo. How is it possible that this giant talent could have been left out of the recent 4-part PBS documentary "Latin Music USA"? Four hours without this nine-time Grammy winner? Four hours without a mention of the man, the innovator, who over his half-century career effortlessly fused jazz, classical, rock and soul with Latin music? Four hours without the musician who collaborated so brilliantly with such gifted performers like Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, and La India? (All who were mentioned during the four episodes.) Four hours without the artist who gave us such great albums like "El Sonido Nuevo," "Harlem River Drive," "Unfinished Masterpiece," "Obra Maestra/Masterpiece" and "The Sun Of Latin Music"? Who gave us such classic anthems like "Puerto Rico," "Justicia" and "Vamonos Pa'l Monte"? Yet, he was just wiped away from the history of Latin music in this country as though he was a speck of dust on a windshield. It's like doing a documentary on jazz and leaving out Miles Davis or Duke Ellington. All one has to do is to attend a Palmieri show to see what an unfathomable egregious oversight "Latin Music USA" committed. All it takes is one song, one solo, to see he is not only a glorious part of our musical past and an important element in our present but also our future. Again, I must say what a blessing it is to hear him and I wish the same joy for all of you.
Labels:
eddie palmieri,
latin music,
latin music usa,
richard torres
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