CD
Release Interview
(Salsa Dura)
JIMMY BOSCH
By Angel Ortiz
"Yo vengo de Amor, a mi no me tumba nadie"
– Lyrics by Jimmy Bosch
"SALSA DURA" CD (1999) 
From a Guaguanco, to a Guajira, to a Plena, to a Yambu, to a Descarga, Jimmy Bosch has covered it all in his latest production called "Salsa Dura". With 12 tracks covering an abundance of music, you will definitely find yourself listening to this CD repeatedly. You will not want to miss Mr. Bosch’s gift for writing, arranging and playing the music that he has come to personify with his trombone. With guest artists Chucho Valdez, Ricky Gonzalez, Jimmy Delgado, David Sanchez, Efrain (Frankie) Vasquez, Nelson Gonzalez, Frankie Morales, Steve Turre, Richie Flores, and Herman Olivera, you have a collaboration of the top names in the business.
Jimmy Bosch is full of passion and love for the music. This CD takes you on a journey through the many rhythms we call "Salsa" today. It is through his music that he conveys his experiences. "Salsa Dura" brings you rhythm, improvisation, traditional and contemporary sounds. The tunes are catchy (No. 10 "Yo Vengo de Amor") and infectious. For the dancer, there’s the Descarga. For the listener there’s, well, EVERY SELECTION! Many of the lyrics and melodies were created by Jimmy Bosch and contain positive contemporary themes. For example, in the song entitled, "Impacto Tendremos/We Shall Create an Impact, Jimmy writes:
"When I want to learn in many cases I need only to study what goes
on in the world recently I learned how widespread AIDS is and I could
not believe how terrible it has been the sad reality is that it can kill
us all so pay attention to all the information we can do so much to fight
the disease" ........Lyrics by Jimmy Bosch
Whether it’s sending a message through his music, or improvising
with the trombone as he shares the stage with the Greats in the business,
Jimmy clearly has a mission in life. "I don’t try to imitate
the others. What I have is simply what I have. What is important is that
you enjoy the way I play the slide trombone as much as I enjoy playing
it."- Jimmy Bosch
Interview
(year 1999)
Bosch: My CD entitled "Salsa Dura" has 12 tracks. I have a tremendous line up of artists. I am fortunate to have a great group of artists/musicians. We have a lot of mutual respect for each other. We recorded the production live.
Angel: Did you have more tracks in mind to record or was there
just twelve you wanted to record?
Bosch: Twelve are what we had in mind for this production. As I
go through life, I write ideas down on scraps of paper and put them in
my drawer. So when I need material then I go to the drawer. Things develop
like the melody, and pattern. Either I arrange the music myself or I will
hire someone to do that part. In my latest production, I had Ricky Gonzalez
arrange two of the selections. I had Mauricio Smith do one and Alfred
Valdez also do one. I try to keep within the nucleus of the artists who
have been working with me.
Angel: Your thoughts on Mr. Chucho Valdez
Bosch: He is one of those individuals that I call SUPERHUMAN. He's
loaded with talent and interestingly enough, right around the time I was
recording this CD, I received a call from his manager saying that he (Chucho)
wanted me to participate on a tour with him in July. I couldn't at the
time because I was going on tour as well. Then I asked if Chucho would
like to play on my CD. To my surprise, Chucho said he would love to be
a part of it. The idea was to have Chucho play the Latin jazz. The idea
for the Guajira number was partially developed in the studio and inspired
by Chucho. I had the idea but part of what I like to do is capture the
very essence of the moment in the studio.
Angel: On this latest production, it is very clear that you have
recorded a variety of rhythms such as Latin Jazz, Guajira, etc. Is that
what you like to do mostly?
Bosch: This is the kind of CD you can take home and not have to
change after one song. In fact, this is the way things were done back
in the 70s. Artists back then recorded a little bit of Bolero, Guajira,
Son Montuno, etc. What this CD represents for me is all the influences
that have been a part of the journey in my life as an artist. So I want
to share it with all the people.
Angel: Jimmy, I would like to talk a bit about Conjunto Libre.
I understand you were with Libre for many years and I notice that some
of your selections have the Libre influence.
Bosch: In the early 70s, I was studying at Rutgers University in
New Brunswick (New Jersey) I studied for two years. The focus of my studies
was Music Education. (During that time I went to Haiti on a gig and when
I got back to New Brunswick, I went straight to the registrar's office
and submitted my exit papers. The lady looked at me and said, "WHAT?".
I said, "I'm leaving school. I just got back from playing. I loved
it and I'm going to travel". Well, at the time I used to take my
horn and go to the clubs to play with the bands performing that night.
I would ask whatever band was playing to let me sit in with them. That's
how I met the guys from Libre. Soon after that, they called me to do my
first gig with them in 1978. These guys who possessed a lot of passion
and fire intimidated me. They had a lot of jazz technique that I did not
possess at the time. Libre to me is an institution. They are one of the
bands that never changed their commitment to play music as they always
have with fire, passion, and freedom to express. They allow everyone in
the band to express. So it's what I do as well. I love them to death.
So, I also give a lot of acknowledgment to the musicians. It's not about
Jimmy Bosch. It's about 22 musicians in the production. The Libre influence
is in my music, the influence of Israel "Cachao" Lopez is there
as well. What I'd like is for the people to know that my music comes from
love and I get to give out love and hopefully get it back.
Angel: Jimmy I saw you at the Marc Anthony concert at Madison
Square Garden in September 1998. Marc acknowledged you. Were you selected
to be musical director for him for a period of time?
Bosch: Well, Angel Fernandez was the musical director. I was called
and asked to do it for a while and I agreed. It was fun. I did it for
about a year and a half but then our schedules became busy and my first
CD got off to a very good start and I started touring. So we had to make
some changes.
Angel: What are your plans for the future? Where do you see Salsa
going? New artists continue to inject their own vision about music and
introduce different styles. Where do you see the music going?
Bosch: Well, there's room for everything. There are a lot of people
buying music. Thank God for the DLGs, the Ricky Martins. That's good for
all of us in the business. What I do is different from Salsa romantica,
different from what everybody else is doing. The evidence that I see and
the experience I have when I travel with my band all over Europe is that
people are loving the music I'm putting forward. People are coming out
in great numbers. Groups of people from all cultures. In Amsterdam, (Holland)
for example, the site was sold out. It was great, it was exciting. We
had to do a second show. One of things I try to do with the music and
format is to educate the audience. I would like them to know who is playing
the conga, and introducing the musicians is one way of doing that.
Angel: Jimmy, a question that some of the readers wanted me to
ask you is do you have any thoughts on some of today's music being "doctored"
or "altered"?
Bosch: Well, as I mentioned before, there's room for everything.
However, that is not something I would do. It is not an authentic representation
of how this music is played. If someone wants to "doctor" the
music, it's ok with me for them to do it. But it's not something that
I would do.
Angel: Could you name for us some of the artists on this production?
Bosch: Yes. Our lead singer Herman Olivera, is a handsome and talented
sonero. He can improvise on the spot. We have Frankie Vazquez, another
individual who can do that. I also have Frankie Morales who sang with
Tito Puente's group. He sings the Bolero "Amor Por Ti". We also
have Nelson Gonzalez on bass; there is Chucho Valdez on piano.
Angel: Jimmy, you've played for and with the top names in the
business. There's always the question of "Who haven't you played
for that you wish you could have the opportunity"?
Bosch: I've had a fascinating journey as a musical artist in that
I've been able to record with a lot of my heroes. Cachao is one of the
ultimates, and I had the opportunity to work with him. I also finished
a production for Paquito D'Rivera (his new CD). That was one of my visions
that came true - to do a big band production. I also had a chance to play
with Machito and that was exciting for me. That experience never left
me.
Angel: Jimmy, your future travel plans. Where will you be going?
Bosch: There's Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and
we are also putting together a tour for Europe for the summer of 2000.
That's when all the Jazz Festivals take place. So we are focusing on July
and August in Europe.
Angel: Jimmy, when you're not busy, what do you like to do? Any
hobbies?
Bosch: I love the outdoors. I hate shoes and I like wearing sandals
(Jimmy points to the sandals he is wearing) I like to spend time with
my two sons, (five and ten years old). I took my older son to Europe once
and he was excited hearing people call out my name. When he heard somebody
for the first time from the audience call out, "Jimmy, I love you"
he said, "Wow, dad, that was great!!!!" My son gets a good sound
out of the trombone. They are always around the music so maybe they have
absorbed some of the influence.
Angel: Jimmy, your bio says you write your songs from personal
experiences. The influences in your life inspire you. What can you say
about that?
Bosch: I do it to make a difference, to touch people. If you want
to know about Jimmy Bosch, listen to his music. My life is an open book.
My overall statement is that one does not have to turn to drugs and alcohol
or settle for depression and check out or commit suicide. If I can reach
one person and make a difference, then it works.
Angel: Another great musician with the trombone is Willie Colon.
You have worked with him. Can you tell us about your experience with Willie
Colon?
Bosch: It was a lot of fun working with Willie. If it's his production,
I want to make sure he shines. I work like that with everyone. He gets
his solo and I don't interrupt him. If he gives me a chance for a solo
then I go out there and do what I do. I don't feel restricted. So I just
play like I play. I have a lot of respect for him. Willie's contribution
spans over 40 years. He was one of the artists that I listened to when
I was a kid. He would play raw, and yes that is what I do.
JIMMY'S PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy is to allow themselves to experience the experience. If
the music brings tears, then cry. If the music makes you want to dance
then dance. Move forward in life, keep communication open. Have love for
life. Respect each other. Change negative thinking to positive. I can
only tell you how I do it. I don't have all the answers. Don't get stuck
in one path. Learn how to shift. Be creative. Stay on a healthy path.
If it's negative, get off. Create a new one.
THE END
to contact Jimmy Bosch, go to his official website at JimmyBosch.com