Live at the Village Vanguard
Bebo Valdes & Javier Colina
Calle 54 Records
There are many treasures that can benefit an artist’s pursuit for musical definition, yet perhaps the most valuable asset is experience. This is not a commodity that can be easily purchased or a skill that can be quickly mastered. It is a specific insight earned over time that involves a combination of hindsight and spontaneous decision making. It allows musicians to compare experiences and make artistic judgment calls based upon their past. With each passing gig, descarga, or recording session, the artist adds a bit more experience to their musical personality. Their performances become more refined and exciting as their artistic decisions become increasing informed by their past performances. Musicians with several years of experience serve as role models and artistic leaders; musicians with a lifetime of musical experience sparkle like a priceless gem. Pianist Bebo Valdes shares his lifetime of experience on Live at the Village Vanguard, a duo performance with bassist Javier Colina that resonates with taste, joy, and excitement.

Keeping Latin Standards Fresh
Valdes and Colina interpret several Latin music classics with sensitivity and creativity. The duo gives an energetic lift to the bolero “Sabor A Mi” with a quicker tempo, bluesy fills, and an implied cha cha cha. Colina delivers an inspired solo that travels through the changes with repeated rhythmic phrases, quick runs, and coy references to the melody. Valdes pushes aside the sentimentality commonly associated with the song and blazes rapid notes through his improvisation before returning to the melody. The two musicians establish a mysterious mood with a sparse ostinato on Ernesto Lecuona’s “Siboney” as Valdes presents the melody with a distinguished elegance. Colina revisits the melody with a bowed variation, exposing his instrument’s expressive possibilities and rhythmic propulsion. A familiar groove announces Moses Simons’ “El Manisero” as Valdes playfully twists the melody through several variations. Colina follows with an energetic bowed solo that captures Valdes’ joyful spirit while recalling the rhythmic phrasing of bass legend Israel “Cachao” Lopez. Valdes combines pieces of the melody with long running phrases to construct a captivating improvisation around the classic groove. There’s a refined beauty that shimmers around the melody on “Tres Palabras” as Valdes expertly embellishes the classic song. Colina adheres to the established mood with a short bowed bass solo that revels in the instrument’s deep tone and dynamic range. As Valdes revisits the melody he throws himself into the song with subtle reharmonizations and several variations. Valdes and Colina approach these performances with a sense of appreciation, breathing new life into each historically important song.

Looking Into The Valdes Songbook
Valdes incorporates several of his own compositions into the set, adding a sense of his personal history to the performance. The classic descarga “Con Poco Coco” opens the set with power and a wealth of tipico phrases from Valdes. As the classic phrases develop, Valdes moves into a more extensive improvisation that utilizes rhythmic syncopations and longer ideas. Colina grabs his bow and develops an intriguing series of ideas that combine a melodic sensibility and rhythmic momentum. The two master musicians continue improvising, trading complimentary phrases that stretch into a fascinating conversation. “Bebo’s Blues” places the two musicians in a swing context, playing over an original blues. Valdes jumps enthusiastically into his improvisation, soloing with the phrasing of a straight-ahead jazz musician. Streams of bebop ideas and blues influenced licks pop out of Colina’s bass, making a definitive traditional jazz statement. Indulging themselves in the alternate context, Valdes actively incorporates his left hand for a boogie woogie solo, until Colina makes his bass sing with a bowed solo. The duo implies a cha cha cha rhythm with a strong forward motion on “Ritmando El Cha Cha Cha,” until Valdes delivers a beautifully simple and memorable melody. Without forcing the matter, Valdes simply allows his melody to evolve into a new statement that rings with character. Sensing the song’s overall soul, Colina lets his bow work off Valdes’ melody, embellishing it with rhythmic variations and charming personality. As the two musicians explore Valdes’ compositions, they reveal another important piece of his years of experience.

Exploring Another Side of The Duo’s Musicianship
A group of songs outside the traditional Latin Jazz repertoire constitute the remainder of the set, allowing Valdes and Colina to indulge another side of their musicianship. Valdes explores the melody with an unaccompanied solo on “Yesterdays,” until Colina subtly implies an open swing feel behind him. While Colina falls into an ostinato, Valdes creates an understated solo full of space - the type of solo that pulls a listener closer as it evolves. Colina contrasts Valdes with a more active improvisation that begins with the melody and builds into a series of engaging ideas. The duo assertively performs the melody and well-known breaks to the classic salsa song “Bilongo,” impressively capturing the dance feel between the bass and piano. As the two musicians jump into the song’s coro, the audience responds to their enthusiasm by singing the coro while Valdes improvises through the pregón section. Continuing to improvise, Valdes boldly treats the song like a jazz piece with fearless runs and aggressive syncopations. Colina captures the energy flying through the room with a bowed solo; he pushes the song with double stops and pulsating rhythms that reach into the upper registers of his bass. Valdes reaches into the club’s history with a respectful reading of Bill Evans’ “Waltz For Debby” that simultaneously references the classic recording and show Valdes’ knowledgeable perspective. Colina maintains a waltz feel behind Valdes, who reveals an Evans influence with a solo that combines the famous pianist’s introspective ideas with Valdes’ pure bravado. Colina strings together a series of runs and inspired thematic development into an intriguing statement that leaves his own original stamp on the song. Valdes and Colina once again reveal their mastery, showing their ability to step into several different musical worlds.

An Essential Portrait of a Master Musician
Valdes brings his vast experience to the performance on Live at the Village Vanguard, resulting in a classic recording. Much of the repertoire has passed through decades of repetitions among hundreds of musicians, yet it never becomes trite or cliché. Valdes maintains such an intimate familiarity with each piece and a pure appreciation for the possibilities inherent in each composition. The joy that he experiences with each piece shines through his performance like the happiness found in encountering an old friend. Valdes and Colina engage in an exciting give and take throughout the performance, keeping the material spontaneous and exciting. The two musicians obviously trust each other’s abilities, allowing them to explore any idea without hesitation. This unbridled sense of joyful indulgence permeates the album, giving it an intoxicating and irresistible quality. Live at the Village Vanguard shines with the benefits of experience, and as a result, we get an essential portrait of a master musician’s lifetime commitment to the art form.

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Check Out These Related Posts:
Musical Dynasties: The Valdes Family on Video
Essential Cachao Recordings, Part 4: Cachao’s Revitalized Career
Reflections Upon An Influential Education: Albums From Irakere Alumni

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