Hello all. Figured it was time to catch up. New year and all. Just got back from being in Cuba for a week. It was amazing on so many levels. I experienced the usual confusion that accompanies the pre travel Cuba stuff. Not knowing if the visa and license went through, booking agent booking a flight too late for me to catch my flight back from Miami to Newark etc. So, finally the night before I was supposed to leave, with my flight at 7:40 in the AM, I found out everything worked out. I ended up traveling with the film crew who are doing a documentary on the Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Band. They were great! So positive, funny, smart, and well traveled. We finally got on the plane from Miami and ended up waiting and hour and a half for the baggage to get on the flight. People bring the most essential things to their families and there were hoards of things! So there we are on the flight chatting away when the producer gets a text that Arturo and family did not get on the flight. Not good as the documentary would be nothing without the star, yes? So about an hour into the wait I had closed my eyes and suddenly had a thought which I voiced to the producer. What if he had gotten on the plane? About 5 minutes later a text arrived stating just that. I was then crowned, and I quote, “The Witch of All Witches.” It seems as though lately, as a result of some very intense spiritual experiences, I am finally in the vortex of pure energy. I say things and they happen, I feel things, and they manifest. Interesting. I hope I can stay in this energy field as it feels great!
So we finally get to Cuba which was an hour flight. Walking off the plane catapulted me into a different dimension which lasted from the time I left. It’s hard to describe. I guess because the Cubans have virtually nothing, they are in a continual state of creativity to survive. I had not been there for 7 years and although people have told me that things are not good, the feeling I got was very different. I guess one can get used to anything and do well. So we were at the airport and waiting for the band to arrive. They took a flight about an hour after us. Oh, I forgot! Previous to the trip I had made a phonecall to the stepson of the guy who I signed my first Latin Jazz contract with. He passed away suddenly a couple of months ago and I knew he and his stepson were very close. So I call from time to time to see how he is doing. The last time I called he was very glad to hear from me and a little surprised. He said at that particular moment he had been looking at 4 flutes which Ray had and didn’t know what to do with them. So I told him that I was going to Cuba and I could give them to people there. It was decided and the flutes arrived about a week before I left for Cuba. I also managed to receive a flugel horn for Bobby Caracasses, the person who invited me to participate in the Jazz festival in Cuba. So there I am at the luggage carousel getting my bags and when I finally get them, they are tagged with a note saying there are flutes inside. I had been pre-warned that if I had a letter of explanation about the flutes that I wouldn’t get hassled. Oftentimes, they take the instruments or ask that a certain amount of money be paid for them. So I get to the customs officer who questions me about the flutes. I asked him to wait a second in order for me to pull out the letter. Upon reading the letter he says, very seriously I might add, that the letter ain’t worth the paper it is written on. So I respond, ok and say nothing. Then he says that I need to tell Bobby Carcasses, who is famous, so he knows of him, that I need to tell Bobby that the letter is not worth a thing. So I respond, ok. He looks at me as though I am from a different planet and says, “Go quickly through that door.” So I say, ok. It was great! I must have said ok a million times during the trip because wonderful things kept happening to me!
OK. We’re finally on the bus going to the Hotel Nacional, one of the best in Havana. Upon arrival everyone checked in etc. and ate etc. That night the people in the next room kept their TV on all night so in the morning I went to the reception and asked them if they could ask the people to please turn the TV off at a reasonable hour. They asked me if I wanted to change my room to which I responded no as I didn’t deem it necessary. Oh! I forgot! When I got to the hotel, my friend Rafaek Quinones was there to greet me with flowers! Very sweet. He basically took care of me for the entire trip, introducing me to people, taking me to places, making sure I ate and slept.
Anyway so I go to the first rehearsal and meet all the musicians. They were great! Such nice guys and monster players. What happens in Cuba is that since there is very little sheet music and books, the musicians need to learn everything by ear which is the best way to learn jazz anyway. They help each other and they have a very supportive and close knit musical community. So there was also a wonderfully talented pianist from New Zealand named Jonathan Crayford. He was invited by Bobby as well to play the festival. I found out later that he was a very famous multi talented musician, film maker and photographer. So the rehearsal went great as did all the others every day that followed. When I got back to the hotel I was immediately approached by the management who profusely apologized for the TV in the room next door and told me that I was going to be moved to the suite on the 7th floor! What a surprise! They also asked me if it was ok for them to take a picture of me to be put in the Hall of Fame of the Hotel. So, I guess you know what I said! OK! Anyway. Not to get into every single detail but suffice to say that the trip continued in that wonderful energy vein. I met tons of people from festivals, gave the flutes away to teary-eyed musicians who instantly became my friends for life, played with those amazing musicians and had the time of my life.
Oh, wait, here’s another story. I have a friend, Phil Unger, who owns a flute shop just across from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Whenever someone comes into his shop who speaks Spanish, he immediately calls me to speak to them. So one day I get a call from Phil who puts Niurka on the phone. She is an amazing classical flutist who plays with her husband, Silvio Rodriguez, a very famous singer in Cuba. She lives in Cuba and I was already trying to get the letter of invitation to play the festival from Bobby. I asked her if I could give a masterclass in Cuba when I get there during the festival time. So she says, of course, so we started to communicate about that. The day we had reserved for me to do the class I had still not heard from her so I assumed that it was not happening. I had gone down to eat breakfast and usually I didn’t go back up to my room after I eat but for some reason I chose to do so this time. As soon as I walked in Niurka called to say that she would be at the hotel at 1 o’clock! Another serendipitous event which at this point is the norm for me. So that day Jonathan, who by now is a great person to hang with, and I go down to meet her to go to the school. Jonathan also, very kindly, videotaped it for me so eventually I will be getting that footage. We get to the school and I find myself in front of about 20 students. At first I was a little nervous but within seconds my teacher vibe kicked in and it was cool. The students were very attentive and, of course, very talented. The class went well. On the way back Niurka, Jonathan and I started to talk about starting a Jazz School in Cuba. So this is in the process. We’ll see where it goes.
So I guess the only other great story I can think of is when I went to see Arturo’s rehearsal Chucho Valdes walked in to do the rehearsal. I went over to him to say hello as I had met him years ago when Irakere had first come to the states in 1979. At first he didn’t recognize me then when he did he gave me a huge hug and kiss! Then he immediately needed to go to rehearse. As soon as he came off the stage he motioned to me to come talk to him. Many other people came over as well, as you can imagine, because of his fame. I ended up translating for Lois Gilbert of Jazzcorner and Larry Blumenthal, the jazz journalist for the interviews with Chucho. Then Arturo came over to talk to Chucho with the film crew right behind him. I asked them if I should leave but they said no, so I stayed. Chucho was so kind to include me in the conversation mentioning that we had known each other for a long time. He also complimented me on a CD I had made saying that the music and arrangements were great! So kind. Anyway, then the days for the concerts arrived. We played at the Theatro Mella and La Casa de la Cultura. Both concerts went really well. I was invited to come back next year so you can imagine I said yes! Okay, so if I think of anything else I will include it in another entry. Off to transcribe some more solos! Have a great year everyone and thank you all for your continued support!
Peace.
Andrea