Guillermo Barreto (August 11, 1929 – December 14, 1991) was a Cubandrummer and timbalero. He was a major figure in the Cuban music scene for more than fifty years and one of the first drummers in Cuba to play Afro-Cuban jazz.[2]
Like many Cuban musicians, Guillermo Barreto had several nicknames. He was usually credited as "Barretico" during the 1950s and 1960s. He was also known as "El Loro" (The Parrot) and "Pata de loro" (Parrot leg) "due to his constant chatter and parrotlike walk",[3] a nickname given to him by Rita Montaner according to Paquito D'Rivera.[4]
Biographyedit
Early life and careeredit
Barreto was born in Havana on August 11, 1929. His father was Primo Barreto, a clarinetist who taught music to all of his children: Lita, Josefina, Estela, Alejandro "Coco", Roberto "Bobby", and Guillermo.[nb 1][5] As a young man, Guillermo became a skilled interpreter of Cuban pailas. In the 1940s, he was part of several big bands: the Cabaret Tropicana resident orchestra (directed by Obdulio Morales), the Sans Souci resident orchestra (directed by Rafael Ortega) and Armando Romeu González's orchestra. Soon he was playing his own arrangements and compositions. Between 1943 and 1946, he studied piano under the supervision of Rafael Ortega.[6] This swing background would allow him to take his music into the realm of Afro-Cuban jazz as part of the Quinteto Instrumental de Música Moderna, which he founded in 1958 alongside Frank Emilio Flynn. He was so highly regarded that during a visit to Cuba by Stan Kenton's orchestra, Guillermo replaced an ill Buddy Rich for one night's performance.[7]
Descarga and Afro-Cuban jazzedit
Guillermo Barreto was one of the few Cuban drummers who understood the subtleties of playing jazz with an authentic American swing (...). In addition, he had a very special ear and, above all, an exquisite musical taste. His playing technique was low-key and understated.
Inspired by bop drummers like Max Roach and Roy Haynes, by the early 1950s, Guillermo would organize the Sunday afternoon jam sessions (known as descargas) at the legendary Cabaret Tropicana (featuring stars such as Bebo Valdés[nb 2]), often doing the transcription necessary to explain American jazz music to his bandmates to play.[8] He played in Cachao's famous 1957 sessions, and in 1959 the first Quinteto Instrumental de Música Moderna LP came out under the name Grupo Cubano de Música Moderna. By the early 1960s, he was amongst the most prolific drummers in the Cuban jazz scene, playing with the likes of Chucho Valdés, Fernando Mulens, Peruchín and, since 1967, the all-star big band known as Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna.[6]
The Quinteto Instrumental de Música Moderna, "which quickly gained stature as a benchmark in Cuban Latin jazz history",[9] would later evolve into Los Amigos in the 1980s. The band would include guest musicians such as Miguel O'Farrill and Elio Valdés, and they backed singer Merceditas Valdés, Barreto's wife since the late 1950s.
Friends with another younger Cuban drummer, Hilario Durán, (Hilario worked with Guillermo in the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna) in 1991, he introduced Hilario to the Canadian flautist Jane Bunnett. Both men then went on to appear on her famous Afro-Cuban recording Spirits of Havana.
Deathedit
On December 14, 1991, two months after the recording of Spirits of Havana, Barreto died in his hometown, Havana.[6] His wife died on June 13, 1996.[10]
Barreto has been considered a notable influence by many Cuban drummers such as Conrado "Coky" García.[11]
Bossa Cubana (World Circuit, 1999; recorded 1963–67)
Tributesedit
Havana Drum Festival: Celebration of the drum in memoriam Guillermo Barreto (Amadeo Roldán Theatre, November 5–10, 2002).
Notesedit
^Josefina would marry Giraldo Piloto Bea, one of Cuba's most prolific songwriters of the 20th century.[5]
^Bebo and Guillermo were neighbours and they became very close friends, often calling each other primo (cousin). This has led many to believe that they were actually cousins.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abPinelli, Tony (August 11, 2014). . Cubarte (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
^Timbale Icons From Havana to New York and Beyond – Latin Beat Magazine, November, 2001 – Luis Tamargo
^ abD'Rivera, Paquito (2005). My Sax Life: A Memoir. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press. p. 103. ISBN9780810125247.
^D'Rivera, Paquito (2000). Mi vida saxual. Barcelona, Spain: Seix Barral. p. 156.
^ abMarquetti, Rosa (May 7, 2014). Desmemoriados. Historias de la música cubana. (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
^ abcDalmace, Patrick. "Guillermo Barreto". Montuno Cubano (in French). Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^Tommy Dorsey: Livin' In A Great Big Way: A Biography - Peter J. Levinson
^Havana In The 1950s: Leonardo Acosta -cubanow.net
^Leonardo Acosta: Roots of Latin Jazz - A Century of Jazz in Cuba
^"Muere la cantante Merceditas Valdés". El País. June 14, 1996. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
guillermo, barreto, august, 1929, december, 1991, cuban, drummer, timbalero, major, figure, cuban, music, scene, more, than, fifty, years, first, drummers, cuba, play, afro, cuban, jazz, with, bassist, kike, hernándezbackground, informationbirth, name, brown, . Guillermo Barreto August 11 1929 December 14 1991 was a Cuban drummer and timbalero He was a major figure in the Cuban music scene for more than fifty years and one of the first drummers in Cuba to play Afro Cuban jazz 2 Guillermo BarretoGuillermo Barreto with bassist Kike HernandezBackground informationBirth nameGuillermo Barreto Brown 1 Also known asBarreticoBorn 1929 08 11 August 11 1929La Habana CubaDiedDecember 14 1991 1991 12 14 aged 75 La Habana CubaGenresBig band cha cha cha descarga Afro Cuban jazzOccupation s Musician arrangerInstrument s Drums timbalesLabelsPanart EGREM Contents 1 Nicknames 2 Biography 2 1 Early life and career 2 2 Descarga and Afro Cuban jazz 2 3 Death 3 Discography 4 Tributes 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksNicknames editLike many Cuban musicians Guillermo Barreto had several nicknames He was usually credited as Barretico during the 1950s and 1960s He was also known as El Loro The Parrot and Pata de loro Parrot leg due to his constant chatter and parrotlike walk 3 a nickname given to him by Rita Montaner according to Paquito D Rivera 4 Biography editEarly life and career edit Barreto was born in Havana on August 11 1929 His father was Primo Barreto a clarinetist who taught music to all of his children Lita Josefina Estela Alejandro Coco Roberto Bobby and Guillermo nb 1 5 As a young man Guillermo became a skilled interpreter of Cuban pailas In the 1940s he was part of several big bands the Cabaret Tropicana resident orchestra directed by Obdulio Morales the Sans Souci resident orchestra directed by Rafael Ortega and Armando Romeu Gonzalez s orchestra Soon he was playing his own arrangements and compositions Between 1943 and 1946 he studied piano under the supervision of Rafael Ortega 6 This swing background would allow him to take his music into the realm of Afro Cuban jazz as part of the Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna which he founded in 1958 alongside Frank Emilio Flynn He was so highly regarded that during a visit to Cuba by Stan Kenton s orchestra Guillermo replaced an ill Buddy Rich for one night s performance 7 Descarga and Afro Cuban jazz edit Guillermo Barreto was one of the few Cuban drummers who understood the subtleties of playing jazz with an authentic American swing In addition he had a very special ear and above all an exquisite musical taste His playing technique was low key and understated Paquito D Rivera 3 Inspired by bop drummers like Max Roach and Roy Haynes by the early 1950s Guillermo would organize the Sunday afternoon jam sessions known as descargas at the legendary Cabaret Tropicana featuring stars such as Bebo Valdes nb 2 often doing the transcription necessary to explain American jazz music to his bandmates to play 8 He played in Cachao s famous 1957 sessions and in 1959 the first Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna LP came out under the name Grupo Cubano de Musica Moderna By the early 1960s he was amongst the most prolific drummers in the Cuban jazz scene playing with the likes of Chucho Valdes Fernando Mulens Peruchin and since 1967 the all star big band known as Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna 6 The Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna which quickly gained stature as a benchmark in Cuban Latin jazz history 9 would later evolve into Los Amigos in the 1980s The band would include guest musicians such as Miguel O Farrill and Elio Valdes and they backed singer Merceditas Valdes Barreto s wife since the late 1950s Friends with another younger Cuban drummer Hilario Duran Hilario worked with Guillermo in the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna in 1991 he introduced Hilario to the Canadian flautist Jane Bunnett Both men then went on to appear on her famous Afro Cuban recording Spirits of Havana Death edit On December 14 1991 two months after the recording of Spirits of Havana Barreto died in his hometown Havana 6 His wife died on June 13 1996 10 Barreto has been considered a notable influence by many Cuban drummers such as Conrado Coky Garcia 11 Discography editWith Jane Bunnett Spirits of Havana Messidor 1993 With Cachao Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature Descargas Panart 1957 With Frank Emilio Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna Los Amigos Grupo Cubano de Musica Moderna Panart 1959 reissued by EGREM 1964 Drume negrita Areito 1964 EP Jazz 6 PM Areito 1964 Algo bueno Areito 1964 EP Color y ritmo Areito 1964 Rico melao Areito 1964 Estos son Los Amigos Siboney 1982 Los Amigos Warner Music 2007 archival recorded 1960 75 Complete Recordings 1960 1962 Yemaya 2007 recorded 1960 62 With Juanito Marquez Combo Siboney Cuba Sax Cha Cha Velvet 1960 Descarga latina Discmedi 1995 archival recorded in 1966 With Fernando Mulens Piano y ritmo Areito 1964 With Chico O Farrill Chico s Cha Cha Cha Panart 1957 With Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna Consejo Nacional de Cultura Areito 1967 With Peruchin Piano con mona Gema 1960 With Tojo Ritmo Kubaney 1957 With Chucho Valdes Por la libre Areito 1964 EP Jazz nocturno Areito 1964 With Los Zafiros Bossa Cubana World Circuit 1999 recorded 1963 67 Tributes editHavana Drum Festival Celebration of the drum in memoriam Guillermo Barreto Amadeo Roldan Theatre November 5 10 2002 Notes edit Josefina would marry Giraldo Piloto Bea one of Cuba s most prolific songwriters of the 20th century 5 Bebo and Guillermo were neighbours and they became very close friends often calling each other primo cousin This has led many to believe that they were actually cousins 1 References edit a b Pinelli Tony August 11 2014 Afinando la pluma Guillermo Barreto Cubarte in Spanish Archived from the original on 6 January 2016 Retrieved 9 March 2015 Timbale Icons From Havana to New York and Beyond Latin Beat Magazine November 2001 Luis Tamargo a b D Rivera Paquito 2005 My Sax Life A Memoir Evanston IL Northwestern University Press p 103 ISBN 9780810125247 D Rivera Paquito 2000 Mi vida saxual Barcelona Spain Seix Barral p 156 a b Marquetti Rosa May 7 2014 Giraldo Piloto el de Anorado encuentro duele Desmemoriados Historias de la musica cubana in Spanish Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 9 March 2015 a b c Dalmace Patrick Guillermo Barreto Montuno Cubano in French Retrieved 30 August 2014 Tommy Dorsey Livin In A Great Big Way A Biography Peter J Levinson Havana In The 1950s Leonardo Acosta cubanow net Leonardo Acosta Roots of Latin Jazz A Century of Jazz in Cuba Muere la cantante Merceditas Valdes El Pais June 14 1996 Retrieved 24 May 2015 Latin Beat Magazine Nov 2003 by Luis TamargoExternal links editGuillermo Barreto EcuRed Guillermo Barreto Rate Your Music Guillermo Barreto Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Guillermo Barreto amp oldid 1182244539, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
