|
So, a guy has to join the Army,
and you're in!
Yes, so it was, so easy. He went out, and I was in! Nevertheless,
I never thought then it could last much. But it seems that the guy wasn't
really much interested in keeping the job, so I definitely stayed in as de
Lucia's bassist. That was in the early eighties. In the beginning it seemed
to me that those big flamenco players were a bit reluctant of an "outsider"
like me, but in the end, with time and patience, I became completely accepted
in his world. But man, I had to work hardest than ever! It was a big strike
when I first recorded with the later Camaron de la Isla [for many the greatest
cantaor ever]. I remember it was a buleria [one of the different flamenco
palos, or singing patterns], and I felt very nervous. But when we finished
it, Paco de Lucia came over and said to me: "OK man, it's done. Don't worry,
it's over now, don't worry!" I realised then that, after 4 or 5 years of hard
working, I just had my definitive confirmation. And I felt very satisfied,
and relaxed. Much of the feeling and great inspiration that run across the
live performances of this Paco de Lucia Sextet has been marvellously captured
by Carlos Saura in his film Flamenco.
Now you're with the greatests.
How many recordings with Camaron and de Lucia?
I did four records altogether with Camaron. And 4 more with
Paco de Lucia: Solo quiero caminar, Live in the Summernight, Live in America,
and Sirocco. I also did some collaborations in his last Lucia, playing the
mandola.
I guess other collaborations followed…
Ugh... quite a lot! After so much time, I don't really keep
the number. Being ten years with Paco de Lucia and having recorded with Camaron
has made a kind of "specialist" out of me, so I have the luck of always being
called upon for every new flamenco project. But, inversely, they rarely think
of me for pop-rock affairs.
5. The Global Link.
Have you ever played abroad with
other jazz musicians?
My first experience with international musicians was with
Chick Corea. We coincide in Japan during a joint de Lucia-Corea tour. With
Chick I knew Michael Brecker, we did some jam sessions together. The following
year Paco de Lucia was to make a 4-month tour with a trio -the John McLaughlin
and Al Dimeola affair, so I was before a few months sabbatical. But Chick
invited me to join his next tour. Paco warmly encouraged me to accept. So
did I, and we soon started with a recording session in Los Angeles, which
yielded Touchstone. After that, we prepared all the themes for the tour, which
lasted 3 or 4 months. When it was over, I was free from obligations for some
weeks, and one day the idea came to me, of bringing Paco and Chick together
for a tour. I did the bridging between them, helped to overcome difficulties,
put some enthusiasm, and a few weeks later we got Chick with us, touring with
Paco de Lucia. It was unforgettable! Reckon me there playing between this
two monsters face to face!
Could you manage to carry new projects
off among so much touring?
Oh yes. I met then a lot of other American jazz musicians.
One of the most interesting for me was Gil Goldstein. We keep in constant
touch since then, and we've constantly making things together. We've made
some recordings in NYC, and I also had invited him to some of my concerts
in Spain, like the Getxo Jazz Festival [near Bilbao], and El Grec Summer Festival
in Barcelona. Through Gil I also found other interesting musicians like Pat
Metheny -you know, they have recorded together more than once. Another nice
encounter was with percussionist Don Alias, during his 60th. Anniversary England
tour, with the Brecker brothers, Max Acuña on drums and another percussionist,
Geovani Hidalgo. It was an unstoppable engine, man, a real rhythm machine!
Concerts that lasted for 4 or 5 hours. I still cannot believe how he could
stand it at his age. But the most unexpected collaborations, also thanks to
Gil's mediation, were with Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. Gil was doing most
of the arrangements for Quincy, and was his right hand inside the orchestra.
One day, Gil said to Quincy, "what about calling a Spanish bassist I know
for next recording?" And Quincy answered "OK, bring him along". So you can
see me, surrounded by those great monsters. Ain't it just a dream come true?
|
