A Night in LA

by Joe Manich

I’m such a fortunate human being!  I just turned 45, and during the last four years I havemanaged to meet many of my musical and professional heroes:  Willie Colón,Larry Harlow,Tito Puente and Bill Gates.

On May 19^thI was in Los Angeles.  That night I added two names to my listof friends.  I had the pleasure, that evening, of meeting a couple of greatmusicians: Johnny Blas and Dan Weinstein.

Johnny is apercussionist, composer and band leader.  Although born in New York, he has been living in Los Angeles since he was ateenager. 

I first heard Johnny’smusic in a record store in New York City in 1999.  Mydaughter Crystal and I were in NYC looking at different college opportunitiesfor her.  We went to a large record store, smack in the middle of Times Square.  The place was fascinating.  It had different rooms thatcontained different music selections in addition to be able to play musicloudly over the speakers, without disturbing other rooms.  Only in NY!  Ientered the Salsa room and was having a great time, when I heard this trombonesolo blasting away.  I noticed immediately that it was a trombone-only band andthe solo was terrific!  I pride myself in knowing or at least recognizing mostsalsa acts, particularly this style of playing.  I’ve never heard the piece.  Irushed to the cash register and like a lunatic I frantically asked theattendant: “Who is this?” By this time he was terrorized and wondering whatkind of mental case he was dealing with.  He simply picked up the CD Jewel caseand showed me the cover.  It happened to be titled Mambo 2000,the artist: Johnny Blas!  I reached for my wallet and proceeded to purchase thealbum.  I later learned that the blasting trombone solo was performed by noother than Mr. Dan Weinstein, nephew of Mark Weinstein, of Orchestra Harlowfame.

So fast forwardback to May 19^th, I was in the west coast on a business trip andthanks to the internet; I found out that Johnny’s band was playing in a Jazzplace called Steamers Café (www.steamerscafe.com)just east of the city in Fullerton, CA. 

The show was tostart at 8:30 PM, and I got there promptly at 7:00 PMand had a great dinner.  By 8:00 PM the band started totrickle in and the instruments started to appear.  I first spotted DanWeinstein, who was very friendly and interested in my visit.  Dan not only islead trombone, but also plays the tuba and the violin and is one of thecomposers and/or arranger of some tunes that make up the 4 albums that the bandhas recorded to date.  The other two composers/arrangers are Johnny Blas andthe pianist Mark Gutiérrez.   

The band openedwith a great tune: Manteca. Wasting no time the band went into fullswing and delighted the capacity crowd in Steamer’s Café with a hot mambo tunewith plenty of solos.  The assembled band had 3 trombones, with full percussionsection.  Johnny played timbales that evening leaving conga duties to MikeVazquez.  Piano was played by Matt Amper, a very talented young pianist.  Iadmit that I would have wanted to see Mark Gutierrez, but Matt didn’tdisappoint me one bit.  His playing, including the numerous solos, definitivelyhit the spot!

The musicselection, a joint Johnny Blas/ Dan Weinstein collaboration,was excellent. It was a spectacular combination of selected original tunes fromtheir various recordings, some Salsa classics like, Sabor, Sabor(from the Fania All-Stars Red Garter album) and Vamonos Pal Monte(Eddie Palmieri), and some interesting Jazz from the likes as John Coltrane.

I really, reallyenjoyed this concert tremendously: the intimate setting of Streamer’s Café, andthe hot Latin rhythms made this night one to remember!

Personnel:

Johnny Blas	Leader, timbales, conga, bongo
Dan Weinstein	co-leader,trombone, tuba, violin
Matt Amper	piano
Leonardo Luna	trombone
Steve Johnson	trombone
Mike Vazquez	conga
Jose Blackman	Bass

Johnny Blas' Discography

More Pictures

Created with the CoffeeCup HTML Editor