Mario Bauzá
Source: DAHR
Born in Cuba on 28 April 1911, alto saxophonist and trumpeter, Prudencio Mario Bauzá Cárdenas, is considered the father of Afro-Cuban jazz, that is, Cuban rhythms like the mambo (dance / music) finding their way to the United States to get christened as "salsa" (sauce), bringing with it characteristic percussion such as bongos, claves and congas. As well, Bauza is the link from Chano Pozo to Dizzy Gillespie and the creation of "cubop" in 1947. Herein we will sample Bauza's jazz career as it gradually meshes over the decades with salsa. This is actually more a progress through jazz and Machito over time until we arrive to Bauza's few recordings in his own name quite late in his career. Bauza was Machito's primary orchestra member for above thirty years so most of him on record is under Machito.
Bauza began performing professionally at perhaps age nine, playing clarinet for three years in the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra. He was sixteen when he went to New York City to play clarinet in the charanga (Cuban dance) band of Antonio María Romeu. Bauzá also first recorded on 7 June of 1927 with Romeu. I've lost the source from which I've previously quoted ten obscure tracks for Victor with Romeu, but Florida International University lists Romeu recording 21 titles on the 7th and 8th of June 1927 with Bauza on roster as Prudencio Bauza. Those are matrices BVE38852 through BVE38883 on the 7th and BVE38884 through BVE38891 on the 8th all released on Victor [Orquesta Antonio M. Romeu at DAHR]. One assumes he supplied clarinet to all titles calling for one. He then returned to Cuba where he studied jazz while learning saxophone toward his move back to NYC in 1930. DAHR has him on cornet in NYC with the Cuarteto Machín from July to October of 1931.
It was 1933 when Bauzá began playing trumpet for drummer, Chick Webb. He recorded eight tracks with Webb in two separate sessions of four each in September 1934, in catalogue order: 'That Rhythm Man', 'On The Sunny Side Of The Street', 'Lona', 'Blue Minor', 'It’s Over Because We’re Through', 'Don’t Be That Way', 'What a Shuffle' and 'Blue Lou'. Bauzá is thought first trumpet, Bobby Stark second, in the sample below. Bauza stuck with Webb until August 18 of 1938 for 'Who Ya Hunchin'?' and 'I Let a Tear Fall in the River'.
'Lona' Mario Bauza (trumpet) w Chick Webb (drums) & His Orchestra
Recorded 10 Sep 1934 in NYC Decca 173
Other personnel in the vicinity of:
Trumpet: Bobby Stark / Taft Jordan Trombone: Claude Jones / Sandy Williams
Clarinet: Pete Clark Alto sax: Pete Clark / Edgar Sampson
Tenor sax: Elmer Williams / Wayman Carver Piano: Joe Steel
Guitar: John Trueheart Bass: John Kirby
Composition by Bauza Arrangement by Sampson
Bauza joined the Don Redman Orchestra for a session in December before signing up with Cab Calloway, first recording with Calloway's organization at Liederkranz Hall in NYC on July 17, 1939: 'Trylon Swing', 'Crescendo in Drums', etc.. Bauza's last session with Calloway is thought to have been on January 16, 1941, for such as 'Run, Little Rabbit' and 'Willow Weep for Me'.
Working with Calloway had meant numerous sessions with Dizzy Gillespie, the latter hiring on with Calloway for such as 'Twee-Twee-Tweet' and 'I Ain't Gettin Nowhere Fast' on August 30 of 1939. Bauza had first met Gillespie during his days with Webb. Together with such as Chano Pozo, Machito, Art Blakey, et al, they would became prime movers of what was to be called cubop. Bauza would partner with Gillespie much later in 1975 on the album, 'Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods' (below).
'I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You' Mario Bauza (trumpet)
Recorded 27 June 1940 in Chicago 1 of 2 masters issued on either Okeh 5687 or Meritt 12
Cab Calloway & His Orchestra in the neighborhood of:
Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie / Lammar Wright
Trombone: Quentin Jackson / Keg Johnson / Tyree Glenn
Alto sax: Jacinto Chabani / Hilton Jefferson
Tenor sax: Chu Berry / Walter Thomas Baritone sax: Andrew Brown
Piano: Bennie Paine Guitar: Danny Barker
Bass: Milton Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition by Victor Young 1932
Bauzá had become musical director for Machito in 1941, beginning a collaboration of thirty-five years during which he distinguished himself as an arranger and trumpet player. Among their numerous sessions was one held for Jazz at the Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall on January 11, 1949, resulting in 'Blen Blen', 'No Noise', et al. Saxophonist, Charlie Parker, was in on that, having joined Machito in latter 1948 to remain into 1950. Working with Machito also meant an important relationship with bandleader, Chico O'Farrill, who arranged and conducted for Bauza since late 1949. Bauza directed for Machito until 1976. In the meantime he joined Machito and Gillespie in June of 1975 toward 'Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods'.
'Mambo Inn' Mario Bauza (trumpet) w Machito & His Afro-Cuban Orchestra
Recorded 18 March 1952 in NYC
Harmony HL7040 / Caliente CLT7056 / Columbia/Legacy CK62097
This issue: Tumbao Cuban Classics TCD-004 1991
Composition by Bauza / Grace Sampson / Bobby Woodlen
'Hold On, I'm Comin'' Mario Bauza (trumpet) w Machito & His Orchestra
Recorded 1 Aug 1967 in NYC
Album 'Machito Goes Memphis' RCA Victor LSP-3944 1968
Arrangement: Bert DeCoteaux Composition by David Porter / Isaac Hayes
'Pensativo' Mario Bauza w Dizzy Gillespie & Machito & His Orchestra
From 'Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods' recorded 4 & 5 June 1975 in NYC
Pablo Records 2310 771 1976
Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie
Trumpet / flugelhorn: Victor Paz / Raul Gonzales / Ramon Gonzales Jr. / Manny Duram
Trombone: Barry Morrow / Jack Jeffers Clarinet: Bauza / Jose Madera Sr.
Alto sax: Bauza / Mauricio Smith Tenor sax: Jose Madera Sr.
Bass clarinet / baritone sax: Leslie Yahonican
Fender bass: Carlos Castillo Electric piano: Jorge Dalton
Drums: Mickey Roker African drums: Julito Collazo / R.Hernandez
Various Latin percussion by Machito et al Synthesizer: Dana McCurdy
Composition / arrangement /conducting: Chico O'Farril
'Pensativo' is not 'Pensativa' composed by Clare Fischer toward issue in 1962
Bauza collaborated with vocalist and foster sister to Machito, Graciela Grillo, toward 'La Botánica' in 1976. He then waited another decade to record 'Afro-Cuban Jazz' in 1986, also with Graciela. Come 'Tanga' in 1992 with vocalist, Rudy Calzado who also appeared among other vocalists on 'My Time Is Now' in 1993 and '944 Columbus' sessioned in latter May of 1993.
'Que Falta' Mario Bauzá (alto sax) w Graciela Grillo
From 'Afrocuban Jazz' recorded 1986 in NYC
Caiman Records CLP 9017 / 1986 Yemayá Records YY9426 / 2003
Trumpet: Claudio Roditi / Victor Paz / Danny Chan / Charles Camille
Trombone: Conrad Herwig / Gerald Chamberlain
Alto sax: Paquito D'Rivera (sop ax) / Rolando Briceno (flute)
Tenor sax: Ron Grunhont / Ray Santos Baritone sax: Leslie Johnakins
Piano: Jorge Dalto Bass: Joe Santiago Drums: Ignacio Berroa
Percussion by various Composition by José Vargas
'Mambo Rincon' Mario Bauzá & His Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
From 'Tanga' recorded Dec 1991 Messidor 15819-2
Trumpet: Victor Paz / Ross Konikoff / Stanton Davis / Larry Lynetta
Flugelhorn: Tracy Turner / Gregory Williams
Trombone: Conrad Herwig Gerry Chamberlain / Bruce Eidem / Douglas Purviance / Nathan Durham (b)
Alto sax: Rolando Briceno / Eddie Alex / Paquito D'Rivera
Tenor sax: Dioris Rivera / Jerome Richardson / Enrique Fernandez (flute)
Baritone sax: Pablo Calogero
Piano: Marcus Persiani Bass: Guillermo Edgehill Drums: Bobby Sanabria
Percussion by various Composition by Ray Santos
Leverkusener Jazztage Concert Mario Bauzá & His Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra Film 1992
Trumpet: Michael Mossman / Victor Pàz / Daniel Colette / Manuel Duran (flugelhorn)
Trombone: Gerry Chamberlain / Bruce Eidem / Don Hayward
Alto / soprano sax: Lily White Baritone sax: Pablo Calogero
Tenor sax / flute: Enrique Fernandez / Dioris Rivera
Piano: Marcus Persiani Bass: Joe Santiago Drums: Bobby Sanabria
Percussion by various
'Jack the Knife' ('Mack the Knife') Mario Bauzá & His Afro/Cuban Jazz Orchestra
From 'My Time Is Now' recorded Dec 1992 Messidor 15824-2
Trumpet: Victor Paz / Michael Philip Mossman / Daniel Colette / Manny Duran
Trombone: Gerry Chamberlain / Noah Bless / Douglas Purviance
Alto sax: Rolando Briceno / Eddie Alex
Tenor sax: Dioris Rivera / Enrique Fernandez
Baritone sax: Pablo Calogero
Piano: Marcus Persiani Bass: Joe Santiago Drums: Bobby Sanabria
Percussion by various Composition by Kurt Weill (1928) Arrangement: Ray Santos
'Heatwave' Mario Bauzá & His Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra
From '944 Columbus' recorded 27 & 28 May 1993 Messidor 15828-2
Trumpet: Victor Paz / Michael Philip Mossman / Daniel Colette / Manny Duran (flugelhorn)
Trombone: Gerry Chamberlain / Bruce Eidem / Don Hayward
Clarinet: Pete Yellin / Pablo Calogero (b)
Alto sax: Rolando Briceno / Pete Yellin
Tenor sax / flute: Dioris Rivera / Enrique Fernandez
Baritone sax: Pablo Calogero
Piano: Marcus Persiani Bass: Joe Santiago Drums: Bobby Sanabria
Percussion by various
Composition by Holland–Dozier–Holland (1963) Arrangement: Ray Santos
Bauza's '944 Columbus' was released posthumously, as Bauza died in Manhattan on 11 July 1993 only several weeks after its recording.
Sources & References for Mario Bauzá:
Cordelia Candelaria (Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture Volume 1 / Greenwood Press 2004)
Latina Stereo (chronology)
Nathan Brad Miller (Mario Bauza: Swing Era Novelty / University of Missouri Columbia 2007)
VF History (notes)
Audio of Bauzá: Internet Archive
My Time Is Now (album / 1993)
Concerts: Leverkusener Jazztage (Germany 1992)
Bauzá in Film / Television: IMDb
Interviews: 1989 (Stan Woolly for Jazz Journal / subscription)
Recordings of Bauzá: Albums referenced herein:
944 Columbus (Bauza / Messidor 15828-2 / 1993 posthumous)
Afro-Cuban Jazz (Bauza w Graciela):
Caiman Records CLP 9017 (1986) Yemayá Records YY9426 (2003)
Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods (Machito w Gillespie / Pablo Records 2310 771 / 1976):
All Music Wikipedia Latin Jazz Net Wikipedia
La Botánica (Bauza w Graciela / Lamp Records LLP 504 / 1976)
Machito Goes Memphis (RCA Victor LSP-3944 / 1968)
Mambo Holiday (Machito):
Harmony HL7040 (1957) Caliente CLT7056 (1973)
Mambo Mucho Mambo (Machito / Columbia CK 62097 / 2002)
My Time Is Now (Bauza / Messidor 15824-2 / 1993)
Tanga (Bauza / Messidor 15819-2 / 1992)
Tremendo Cuban (Machito / Tumbao Cuban Classics TCD-004 / 1993)
Recordings by Bauzá: Catalogs:
Recordings by Bauzá: Sessions:
DAHR (Bauza 1931-38)
DAHR (Machito's Afro-Cubans 1941-58 of which Bauza was director 1941-76)
DAHR (Orquesta Antonio M. Romeu / 7 & 8 June 1927 / Bauza prob all titles w clarinet / unidentified)
Florida International University (7 June 1927 as Prudencio Bauza w Antonio M. Romeu)
Tom Lord: leading 4 of 87 sessions 1933-1993
Brian Rust (Jazz and Ragtime Records, 1897-1942 / Mainspring Press 2002)
Repertoire:
I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You (Victor Young 1932)
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