So I wanted to write about some really great things that have been happening! I just got back from Dallas, Texas where I presented the Charanga workshop at the National Flute Convention. It was really great! It was the first time that I presented it and I was really surprised at how comfortable I felt doing it. I felt like I was in my classroom! The audience was very receptive as well. The majority of the flute players there were classical players and I felt that they were really open to hearing about Charanga music and Afro-Cuban rhythms. They told me that it was the first time anyone had ever presented a workshop about Afro-Cuban music and it seemed as though they were eager to learn so there is still hope.
Just to backtrack a bit, I went to Cuba in April for 8 days and I am still glowing from the trip. I found the people there to be incredibly friendly and helpful. I was able to connect with a number of people concerning my research as well as many musicians. I really didn’t sleep too much as I hung out every night playing somewhere. I met Changuito’s father who has a great son group. They play at La Casa de Infusiones a couple of times a week, so I was there a couple of nights sitting in. The singer is 94 years old and still sings and dances his behind off!! I met Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s brother who told me that Gonzalo was on tour, of course. I hung out with Paquito D’ Rivera’s good friend Felix Duran who is also a flute player. On Sunday I went to a rumba session at La Calle de Hamil. (Not sure about the spelling) The session was great !! There was a great all women’s band there and the guys were cookin’ as well!! As a matter of fact, there was music in every restaurant in Old Havana and everyone was burnin’!! Unfortunately musicians don’t get paid what they’re worth. Surprise, surprise!! I guess that’s a global phenomenon.
When I wasn’t playing with Changuito’s father’s band I played at La Zorra y El Cuervo with Gilberto Valdez and his group. I checked out EGREM studios and saw another Buena Vista Social Club rehearse, not the one we all know. I guess the highlight of my trip was going to Richard Egues’s house. I had toured with him back in the late 70’s when he was playing with Orquesta Aragon, in Venezuela, so it was nice that he remembered me! We played together and he invited me back to his house the next day to eat. I was going to go to Matanzas but he insisted that I return to his house! The food was great and the company was even better. He made me a tape of some of his favorite Aragon music. The best part is that he sold me one of his 5- keyed flutes! That flute has now become a permanent part of my Charanga workshop.
Moving on, my summer was great. I was able to accomplish most of what I set out to do. I learned how to use the music writing program, Finale, so now it’s so much easier to read the music and print out parts. I’ve also gotten into transcribing solos which is wonderful for improving my improvisation. I’m continuing to study Jazz theory and harmony which is always an inspiration to me.
Well I guess that’s it for now. Andrea