Jerry González
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Jerry González (June 5, 1949 – October 1, 2018)
Biography
Early life and career
Jerry González was born in 1949 in Manhattan, on 158th Street and 3rd Avenue, and moved to the Edenwald Houses in the Eastchester section of the Bronx at the age of 4.[3] He was raised in a strong musical atmosphere, with the strains of Latin, Afro-Cuban and jazz music always in his ear, establishing his musical appreciation and molding his future work as an artist. His father, Jerry González Sr., was a master of ceremonies and lead singer for bands during the Palladium era and sang with musicians like Claudio Ferrer. In junior high school he began playing trumpet and congas and jamming with local bands. After deciding this was his calling, González completed his formal studies at New York College of Music and New York University. He started his professional career playing with Lewellyn Mathews in the 1964 New York World's Fair. In 1970 he started playing congas with Dizzy Gillespie. With Gillespie's support and encouragement, González was able to fuse the African-based rhythms onto jazz elements without compromising the essence of either.
The next year, González joined Eddie Palmieri's band until 1974, when he moved on to work with Conjunto Libre, the band led by
He played with Tito Puente's ensemble (1984 to 1999), McCoy Tyner's band (1984 to 1990), and Jaco Pastorius's band (1984 to 1987).
The Fort Apache Band
In 1979, González published his first album as a leader: Ya yo me curé. Soon he formed his best-known group, The Fort Apache Band, which included his brother Andy and Kenny Kirkland, Sonny Fortune, Nicky Marrero, Milton Cardona, Papo Vázquez, Wilfredo Velez and the late Jorge Dalto. The ensembles' first two albums were recorded live at European jazz festivals, The River is Deep in 1982 in Berlin and Obatalá in 1988 in Zurich. These were followed by their hit album, Rumba Para Monk, in 1988, earning them recognition from the French Academie du Jazz with the Jazz Record of the Year award. This was the record that caught the ears of the jazz community, and is still considered a stellar project. After that, the 15 member band was compressed into a sextet: Larry Willis (piano), Andy González (bass), Steve Berrios (drums) and Carter Jefferson (saxophone) and Joe Ford (saxophone).
González and the band subsequently released Earthdance (Sunnyside, 1990) and Moliendo Café (Sunnyside, 1991). These albums again demonstrated the band's ability to play Latin inspired jazz with genuine sensitivity and virtuosity. After Moliendo Café, Carter Jefferson died and was replaced by
González and group continued their creations on the 1996 album Fire Dance, recorded live at
Jerry González & the Fort Apache Band offered a tribute to
In 2008, the Heineken Festival paid tribute to Jerry González and his brother Andy, the first Puerto Ricans to be honored by the Heineken Festival. In October 2011, the Grammy awarded Arturo O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra paid tribute to Jerry and Andy at the Symphony Space Theater.
His years in Spain
González's popularity rose after his contribution to the documentary film
His hiatus in Madrid resulted in the production of Los Piratas del Flamenco (2004) a band and album that included the flamenco guitarist
González's latest albums have been A primera vista (duet with
In 2010, he was given the "Latino of the Year Award" in the 100 Latinos Awards-Madrid.
His next releases were an album with the Spanish contrabass player Javier Colina, a duet album with the flamenco guitarist Niño Josele and a Fort Apache album recorded live at the Blue Note in 2012 for the label Half Note Records.
Collaborations
In the long run of his career, González performed and recorded with musicians such as
Discography
- As a leader
- Ya Yo Me Curé (American Clavé/Sunnyside, 1979/1982)
- The River Is Deep (Enja, 1982)
- Obatalá (Enja, 1988)
- Rumba Para Monk (Sunnyside, 1988)
- Earthdance (Sunnyside, 1990)
- Moliendo Café (Sunnyside, 1991)
- Crossroads (Milestone, 1994)
- Pensativo (Milestone, 1995)
- Fire Dance (Milestone, 1996)
- Jerry González & The Fort Apache Band: Live (1996)
- Calle 54 (Calle 54, 2000)
- Jerry González & Federico Lechner: A Primera Vista (2002)
- Jerry González & Los Piratas del Flamenco (Lola Records/Sunnyside, 2004)
- Rumba Buhaina (Sunnyside, 2005)
- Music For A Big Band (Youkali/Universal, 2006)
- Avísale a Mi Contrario que Aquí Estoy Yo (Cigala Music/Warner, 2010)
- Jerry González y El Comando de La Clavé (Sunnyside, 2011)
- Jerry González & Miguel Blanco Big Band: A Tribute to the Fort Apache Band (Youkali, 2014)
- As sideman
- George Benson: The Other Side of Abbey Road (A&M/CTI, 1969)
- Bobby Paunetto: Commit to Memory (Pathfinder/Tonga, 1970/1976)
- Dizzy Gillespie: Portrait of Jenny (Perception, 1970)
- Clifford Thornton: Communications Network (Third World, 1972)
- Houston Person: Island Episode (Prestige, 1973)
- Eddie Palmieri: Sentido (1973)
- Clifford Thornton: The Gardens of Harlem (JCOA, 1974)
- Eddie Palmieri: Unfinished Masterpiece (Coco/MPL, 1974)
- Bobby Paunetto: Paunetto's Point (Pathfinder/Toga, 1974)
- Charlie Palmieri: Impulsos (Coco/MPL, 1975)
- Grupo Folklórico y Experimental Nuevayorkino: Concepts of Unity (Salsoul, 1975)
- Grupo Folklórico y Experimental Nuevayorkino: Lo Dice Todo (Salsoul, 1976)
- Paquito D'Rivera: Blowin' (Columbia, 1981)
- Totico: Totico y Sus Rumberos (Montuno, 1981)
- Kip Hanrahan: Coup de Tête (American Clavé, 1981)
- McCoy Tyner: Looking Out (Columbia, 1982)
- Kip Hanrahan: Desire Develops An Edge (American Clavé, 1981)
- Tito Puente: On Broadway (Concord Picante, 1982)
- Abbey Lincoln: Talking To The Sun (Enja, 1983)
- Kirk Lightsey: Isotope (Criss Cross, 1983)
- Jaco Pastorius: Live In New York, Vol. I & III (Big World, 1985)
- Carlos "Patato" Valdés: Masterpiece (Messidor, 1984)
- Virgilio Martí: Saludos a Los Rumberos (Caimán, 1984)
- Jaco Pastorius: Punk Jazz (Big World, 1986)
- Soundtrack of the motion picture: Crossover Dreams (Elektra, 1986)
- Franco Ambrosetti: Movies (Enja, 1987)
- Hilton Ruiz: El Camino (RCA/BMG/Novus, 1987)
- Steve Turré: Viewpoints on Vibrations (Stash, 1987)
- Santi Debriano: Obeah (Free Lance, 1987)
- Kip Hanrahan: Days and Nights of Blue Luck Inverted (American Clavé, 1987)
- Steve Turré: Fire and Ice (Stash, 1988)
- Kenny Vance: The Performer (Rockaway/Gold Castle, 1988) https://web.archive.org/web/20120330222429/http://www.kennyvance.com/vid13performer.html
- Larry Willis: Heavy Blue (Steeplechase, 1989)
- Kirk Lightsey: Everything Is Changed (Sunnyside, 1989)
- McCoy Tyner: The Turning Point (Birdology, 1991)
- Charles Fambrough: The Proper Angle (CTI, 1991)
- Kenny Kirkland: Kenny Kirkland (GRP, 1991)
- Dave Valentin: Tropic Heat (GRP, 1993)
- Bobby Hutcherson: Acoustic Masters II (Atlantic, 1993)
- McCoy Tyner: Journey (Birdology, 1993)
- Hilton Ruiz: Heroes (Telarc, 1993)
- Don Byron: Don Byron Plays the Music of Mickey Katz (Nonesuch, 1993)
- David Sánchez: Sketches of Dreams (Columbia, 1994)
- Sonny Fortune: A Better Understanding (Blue Note, 1995)
- Don Byron: Music for Six Musicians (Elektra, 1995)
- Afro Blue Band: Impressions (Milestone, 1995)
- Chico O'Farrill: Pure Emotion (Milestone, 1995)
- Giovanni Hidalgo: Time Shifter (Tropijazz, 1996)
- Bobby Matos: Footprints (Cubop, 1996)
- Abbey Lincoln: You and I (Jazzfest, 1997)
- Deep Rumba: The Music of Marlon Simon (K-Jazz, 1998)
- Arturo O'Farrill: Blood Lines (Milestone, 1999)
- Batacumbele: Hijos de Tambó (Batá, 1999)
- Rumbajazz: Tribute To Chombo (Sunnyside, 1999)
- Abbey Lincoln: Over The Years (Verve, 2000)
- Diego "El Cigala": Corren Tiempos de Alegría (2001)
- Andrés Calamaro: Tinta Roja (2001)
- Martirio: Mucho Corazón (2001)
- Enrique Morente: Pequeño Reloj (Virgin/EMI, 2003)
- Paco de Lucía: Cositas Buenas (2004)
- Diego "El Cigala": Picasso en Mis Ojos (2005)
- Lierhouse Project: Siegfrieds Olé In Spain (2005)
- Niño Josele: Paz (2006)
- Diego Amador: "El Aire de Lo Puro" (2006)
- Javier Limón: La Tierra del Agua (2007)
- Javier Limón: Son de Limón (2008)
- Andrés Calamaro: Obras Incompletas (2009)
- Andrés Calamaro: On The Rock (2010)
- Alain Pérez: Apetecible (2010)
Filmography
- Crossover Dreams (Leon Ichaso, 1985)
- Calle 54 (Fernando Trueba, 2000)
- Piñero (Leon Ichaso, 2001)
Notes
[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
- ^ Robayo, Luis. "Jerry González Dies After a fire in his home in Madrid, Spain: Report". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- ^ "Muere tras un incendio en su casa Jerry González, pionero del jazz latino". elmundo.es (in Spanish). El Mundo. October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ ‘’Jerry Gonzalez, Latin Jazz Visionary dies after House Fire from NPR 1 October 2018
- ^ "Jerry Gonzalez at All About Jazz". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
- ^ "Jerry Gonzalez biography at Sunnyside Records site".
- ^ "Analysis of Jerry Gonzalez solo on "Obsession"".
- ^ Ben Ratliff (October 16, 2011). "Scholarship You Could Dance To". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Article about the tribute to Jerry Gonzalez and his brother Andy held at the Symphony Space Theater". Archived from the original on 2011-10-29.
- ^ "Jerry González & el Comando de la Clave". 3 November 2011.
- ^ "Jerry Gonzalez is given a Latino of the Year Award in 100 Latinos-Madrid". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26.
- ^ "The album Jerry Gonzalez & El Comando de la Clave voted Best Latin Jazz Album by Ted Panken and Doug Ramsey".