|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Carlos Federico Memorial Sextet Tribute To A Mambo King! |
|
|
|
Written by Ronaldo Oregano
|
|
Wednesday, 13 December 2006 |
 Carlos Federico
Panamanian-American pianist Carlos Federico lit up the Bay Area in the
1950s with a mambo quintet that had dancers spinning. His compositions
were recorded by George Shearing, Malo, Chepito Areas, Ritmo 74 and
others. As an educator, he started the community Salsa Workshops at the
Mission Cultural Center, Eastbay Center for the Performing Arts,
Merritt College and many other spots where he taught students the art
of Salsa and Latin Jazz. He passed away ten years ago without ever
recording an album of himself playing his own music. The Carlos
Federico Memorial Album is a Descarga Latin jam session recorded at the
old KPFA studios in Berkeley in late 1985. It stands as testament to an
unsung Bay Area Latin music pioneer.
Carlos Federico Smart was born on Dec.12, 1930 in Colon, Panama. The
son of a doctor, he came to the Bay Area in the late 1940s to study
medicine at U.C. Berkeley. Growing up in Panama his family had a piano
that he naturally gravitated towards. As a teen, he became captivated
by the sounds of Afro-Cuban music and starting picking things out.
Piano players like Noro Morales, Pedro Justiz “Peruchín” and
Perez Prado, served as early influences.
Into the 1950s, as San Francisco’s North Beach became a cultural mecca
of the Beat generation and bongo fever struck, Carlos Federico and his
Panamanians fueled a golden age of Latin music and dance playing around
the Bay Area. The initiation of the Sunday afternoon "Mambo Sessions"
at the Gold Room of the California Hotel in Oakland is what uplifted
the band. The original quintet consisted of various musicians but
prominently featured vibist Lionel Samuels, bassist Lou Gottlieb,
drummer Ricardo Lewis, and timbaleros Willie Vargas or Bayard “Benny”
Velarde.
Television appearances on the Del Courtney Show helped the group garner
a large loyal following. Federico and his pals had already grooving
with their small group Afro-Cuban jazz thing for some time when Cal
Tjader rose to prominence. In fact, Tjader grabbed players from
Federico’s band for his 1954 album, Modern Mambo Quintet. Musically,
Carlos matured greatly in the 1950s thanks to his friendship with
percussion great Armando Peraza, who he considered to be his first
teacher.
It was through Armando that Federico encountered jazz great George
Shearing, who asked to hear his compositions. Impressed, Shearing
recorded his “Mambo Caribe” and "Rondo” on his Capitol LP, Latin Lace.
It was also around this time that Federico brought a 17-year-old named
Pedro “Pete” Escovedo into his band to play timbales.
As the 60's began, Federico tired of the rigors of leading a band and
joined the Escovedo Brothers Band (Pete, Coke, Phil) as pianist. The
Escovedo's energy was an inspiration, and Federico would later tell
stories of a heyday when Pete and Coke would jump on the stage at
Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland and start jamming with Tito Puente.
From 1969 on, after Santana made their powerhouse debut at Woodstock,
Latin Rock ruled the Bay Area. Federico’s contribution to this youthful
movement includes collaborations with the group Malo and with Chepito
Areas, who played timbales in Santana.
In 1974, Federico was recruited to be musical director of RITMO 74, one
of the first real Salsa bands in the region. Federico helped organize
and enrich the band. They worked hard in rehearsals and established a
high musical standard that had them opening for The Fania All Stars and
other out of town acts. The only document of this group is a 45-RPM
single on Palo Monte Records with "Tu Problema," a tune that features
Federico on a smoking solo. This group would only last a couple of
years, when Federico fell on hard times and battled alcoholism.
During 1980s, Federico regained his focus and began his journey into
teaching. Students like Rebeca Mauleón and Karl Perrazzowere led
down a musical path that became their career and passion. In his last
years, Federico played with a wide variety of bands and never
discriminated as to their level of ability. Whether they were
up-and-coming or established veterans, Federico always did what he
could to further their music.
At the time of his passing, Federico was about to start recording what
would have been his first album under his own name. It never happened
there is really nothing out there showing the wonderful piano playing
and musical ideas of Carlos Federico. Now, a decade later, we finally
have a document of his music, passion and skill.
Jazz at Pearl's will host a CD release party for The Carlos Federico
Memorial Album, a glowing tribute album to mambo legend Carlos Federico
on December 22nd and 23rd with shows at 8pm & 10pm. Jazz at Pearls
is located at 256 Columbus Ave.,
San Francisco
- 415.291-8255. |
|
 Tuesday, 02 December 2008
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
