Les Moncada Chats with the Legendary Cuban Pianist Javier Vazquez

There are pianists in Latin Music, and then there are certain pianists in Latin music that stand out amongst all the others. I am speaking of the most recent times and not of the piano players of the past, in which there were greats too. Some that come to mind are my friend, the late Carlos Federico from the San Francisco Bay Area. Also Patricia Thumas. Nicaraguan by descent, who was the first female Latin pianist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She belongs to the Francisco Aguabella School of Music. She performed with Francisco Aguabella and Armando Peraza who was in Francisco’s Orchestra at that time. There is also Sonny Bravo from the Tipica ’73 Orchestra.

Javier Vázquez has contributed immensely to Latin Music for decades, having performed with the Cuban orchestra La Sonora Matancera in classic albums, with legendary Puerto Rican vocalist of all times, (although there are a few new greats up and coming), Ismael Rivera aka Maelo, and Vázquez has performed with other legends that are too many to mention. Let’s see what Javier has to say about his great musical past.

Javier, can you tell where you were born and your memories of hearing music during your childhood? Was your family musically orientated or did you come from a musical family of musicians?

I was born in Habana, Cuba in the Barrio of Jesus Maria, and I first remember hearing the music of the Sonora Matancera since my father Pablo Vazquez (aka Bubú) was one of the founders of the Sonora Matancera and he played the bass.

Javier, when was the first time that you decided that you were going to play the piano and that the piano was going to be your main instrument, the one that you would be known for in Latin Music?

I studied at The Conservatory of Music in Havana, Cuba and my first instrument was the violin, later I studied the piano.

 

With which masters or teachers did you study the piano with in Cuba?

Like I previously mentioned I studied in The Conservatory in Havana, Cuba and my teacher was Mercedes.

Javier, can you tell me whom your favorite pianist of all time is?

There are so many, Lino Frias comes to mind from La Sonora Matancera and for many years Nat King Cole.

 

With which artists of fame have you performed with in your great career?

Cuban female sensation Celia Cruz, Puerto Rican vocalist Ismael Rivera, Orlando Contreras, Felipe Pirela, Celio Gonzalez, Carlos Argentino and Leo Marini.

 

 

Javier, which event or events have been one of your all time favorites in your musical career that was your favorite and whom did you perform with?

It was in Central Park in New York City, celebrating the 65th anniversary of La Sonora Ponceña and there were 16 vocalist singing, amongst them was Celia Cruz, Daniel Santos, Vicentico Valdes & Celio Gonzalez.

 

You are a grand Latin pianist and have performed and recorded on the long play (LP) album distributed by then Tico Records in 1973, Traigo de Todo was the title of the album with singer Ismael Rivera. The album is an all time classic. Can you tell us a few things about that recording?

During the concert which was recorded with the Tico-Alegre All Stars in Carnegie Hall, that was a very sensual moment and there were so many stars of Latin music performing that night such as, Tito Puente and his Orchestra, La Lupe, Vicentico Valdes, Charlie Palmieri, Jose Fajardo and with Maelo (Ismael Rivera) was and is the “Sonero Mayor” the greatest singer and I was the individual that wrote all the musical arrangements for the album for the Cachimbos, Ismael Rivera’s group and I was the musical director and with the tune, Mi Negrita Me Espera, that is where it all started.

 

 

Javier, what do you recommend to the new musical students of Latin Music today?

Only one suggestion……STUDY.

 

 

Javier, what are your plans for the future?

That God has given me happiness to keep performing for more years and I have been extremely enjoying it, and I would like to hear what the public has to say about my performing and playing…….Juega Javier! Play Javier! (Juega Javier was always said for Javier on albums where Javier was about to begin his piano solo, so this is Javier’s trademark saying.

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Well I am very grateful that Javier Vazquez has taken the time out to contribute personally for his interview. I am very familiar with the Tico-Alegre scene because I was a young FM DJ & Latin percussionist in those years on the Tico DJ mailing list, where they would send me most of the albums produced to play on the air. In those days it was extremely hard to find out what was happening on the music scene in New York City. I was invited and Tico Records sent me 2 tickets to the concert at Carnegie Hall but I was a youngster and did not attend. The album is still available and I do suggest to get a copy of Ismael Rivera’s LP Traigo de Todo, a legendary classic album that Tico Records sent me. I truly hope you enjoyed this interview. Thanks to Angel Romero for making this possible.