My Influences:
Israel "Cachao" Lopez (Sept. 14, 1918 - Mar. 22, 2008)
String bassist, bandleader, songwriter
This week, I'd like to spend some time on Cachao.
What a great bassist!
Where to start?
Cachao was born into a family of musicians and began playing string bass at nine years of age. At thirteen, he joined the Havana Symphony in Cuba and held the job for over thirty years.
In 1937, springing from the danzon music of the day, Cachao and his brother, Orestes Lopez, developed their style of music and together, wrote thousands of tunes.
(There's lots more biographical info available on this man and his many accomplishments. Please, take a moment to study him.)
I can't think of any remaining direct links to my instruments early roots in popular music.
This man was a traditional player in all respects and remained that way throughout his entire life.
Let me define traditional player using his example and perhaps, you can see why I'm moved by the man's spirit. Cachao's playing came from a solid foundation, deep within himself. He played with great fire and intensity. He meant what he played without giving it too much intellectual process. Cachao, also very important to this definition, did not rest on old, frozen ideas from the styles in which he played, he used those ideas and added his own ideas as well as his own feelings (fire) to the existing tradition. Thus, he allowed the tradition to expand and continue to live on as it should. He shared all of that through his music and, in doing so, gave a great gift to both the tradition, itself and those of us who listen to music.
Furthermore, he gave so much to that style that other styles have picked up on his contributions and use them with great liberty (some unknowingly --- whether you know it or not, you've been listening to Cachao's music in some way for a long time.)
That's a traditional player, friends - playing with and from a fiery soul, respecting and adding to the tradition, sharing that gift with great generosity and excitement and openly allowing his own style, much like the traditions he played, to be interpreted and encouraged to not only survive but to blossom.
In a much more superficial, physical manner, Cachao was just a great bassist with a great concept of time and rhythm! Wow! You must check him out.
There's a good documentary by Andy Garcia available. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106501/ It's well worth renting (or owning!) In it, you can see how the man carries himself (and his bass) and what I mean by playing from deep within himself and giving.
Folks, he was still carrying his bow in his hand! -- until some time in the Thirties in our country - in the jazz tradition - string bassists considered it a character flaw to not have the bow in your hand (vs. in a bow caddy or rested on some nearby music stand or something) whether slapping, plucking or bowing during a song. -- That's a commitment to his tradition, if you ask me.
So, if you care and if you can, take a few moments this week to look into Israel "Cachao" Lopez. If you're not already hip to his contributions, you will find that he has affected a notable bit of what you've probably been enjoying all these years.
He was a great man and gave us all a lot. We are better for it.
Thanks, Cachao!
Some links to get you started:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachao_L%C3%B3pez
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2004/10/24/PKGMU9AQQG1.DTL
An obituary:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-cachao23mar23,1,1563983.story
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"The evils of government are directly proportional to the tolerance of the people."
~Frank Kent
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