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Episode 2 – Part 1: The Impact of Uruguay and Cuba on Two Master Musicians



EPISODE 2 – PART 1- The Impact of Uruguay and Cuba on Two Master Musicians.

Welcome to Episode 2, The Impact of Uruguay and Cuba on Two Master Musicians.

In this episode, we talk about the influence of the blues, jazz, and early pop music coming out of Uruguay and Cuba, and its impact on my guests. Tonight, I’m joined by two virtuosic musicians, jazz pianist Enrique De Boni and cellist and bassist, Ron de la Vega.

Enrique grew up in the famous Hot Club of Mont de Video, Uruguay. And starting in the mid-sixties, he traveled the world playing blues and jazz clubs and festivals. Enrique was taken underwing of the famous American jazz pianist, Hampton Hawes, becoming fast friends and sharing many musical experiences. He’s opened for Miles Davis and was probably the last piano player to play with legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius.

Ron de la Vega, born to a Cuban father and an American mother from Alabama, has played cello and bass in big bands and orchestras like Dave Brubeck, Benny Goodman, and Mannheim Steamroller. He’s played live and recorded with a ton of artists from Los Angeles to Nashville, including The Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Albert Lee, Eddie Van Halen, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, Brenda Lee, and Nanci Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra. I’m gonna’ stop there because if I read his complete list, we’d run out of time to talk.

I promise you that I did my best to make this episode a single hour. But I failed miserably. So, once again, I have separated this episode into two one-hour parts. I had two master musicians hanging out talking about their extraordinary lives and jamming together. I didn’t want the night to end. And you won’t either.

So, let’s get the conversation started.