Gilberto “Papi” Oviedo la Portilla was born February 9, 1938. He was a Cuban tres player. Papi was the son of Isaac Oviedo, the world famous tres player and songwriter. Like his father before him, Papi was one of the most important tres players of the 20th century. The tres is a type of Cuban guitar, and as its Spanish name implies, it has six strings grouped together in three pairs.
Papi’s extraordinary style and energy, like his father’s, was rooted in the Afro/European traditions of Cuba. He lived through many different styles and evolutions of rhythms in Cuba: Son, the changüí, son oriental, classic son from Havana, son montuno (son from the countryside) and guaracha son (the current son). While his style of Afroson and the way he played was very similar to the blues, some of his work was also very similar to the Spanish gypsies’ Cante Jondo (deep singing in Flamenco).
Papi played and traveled the world with some of Cuba’s world famous groups including Típica Habanera, Enrique René, Estrella de Chocolate and Elio Revé.
In 1995 he formed Papi Oviedo y sus Soneros, getting together some of Cuba’s most outstanding musicians. All the instruments were acoustic: tres, guitar, contrabajo (acoustic bass), tumbadoras, bongos, maracas, güiro and trumpets. Both his vocalists, Maria Cristina Azcuy and Miguel Martínez Rojas, sang previously with 5U4, Changuey and Folklórico,
“I was born here in Havana, but my father came from Matanzas in 1926,” said Papi. “From an early age I followed my father from here to there, from one fiesta to the next.
“My father played the tres and I used to play a bit with the tumbadores, raising a peso or so to give to my father. One day I picked up my father’s tres and started playing it. I liked it but we couldn’t make a living that way. So I sold sweets, cleaned shoes and even cleaned up the rubbish in the streets. My father also had to work in a hospital at nights and play in his spare time.
“One day when I was about 15 my mother walked in with a tres and that was it for me. Then I started in my first group, a trio, playing in the streets and asking for money. Later on, I officially joined Enrique Pérez’s group. I was 21.
“A few years later, I started playing with Conjunto Chocolate and later on with Chapotín. Life wasn’t easy so with Chapotín. I started playing in the bars and restaurants, and as we say ‘making soup or making a kilo’.
“In 1981, I joined Elio Revé with whom I spent fifteen years. We traveled and recorded all over the world, Europe, Africa and Asia. In Japan, where I spent some time, I used to play with a band and give classes.
“Finally in 1995, I left Elio’s group… and recorded my first solo album.”
In November 1996 there was a gathering of artists in Havana in which about 120 musicians participated. The youngest guest was 13 and the oldest 92! It continued well through the night with the familiar smell of Cuban rum and tobacco filling the air. All the soneros came together forming one enormous group – Tiburón, Balloy, Caridad Cuervo and many more. In the middle of everyone was Papi with his tres. An album was recorded titled Encuentro entre Soneros (Gathering of Soneros), released in 1997, it assured him of a place on the international circuit.
El Mayombero, Papi Oviedo’s most recent album, recorded for Tumi Music, is a powerful example of Papi Oviedo y sus Soneros’ talent to offer truly magnificent son. Papi Oviedo’s three vocalists excel in different areas: Christina Azcuy in bolero-son, Miguelito Martínez in son and Osvaldo Montalvo in guaracha.
Papi Oviedo died on October 31, 2017.
Selected discography
Encuentro Entre Soneros (Candela, 1997)
El Mayombero (Tumi Music, 2000)
Chanchullo, with Rubén González (2000)
Bana Congo, with Papa Noel (Tumi, 2002)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
