Eddie Palmieri

A True Reveler of Latin Music's Soul

by Robin Davies

According to the dictionary, the definition of a reveler is one who takes great pleasure and delight in celebrating what they do best. R&B has Marvin Gaye; classical music, Yoyo Ma; jazz, Coleman Hawkins; and Latin music has legendary pianist Eddie Palmieri.

For over five decades, Eddie Palmieri has delighted and awed millions of fans around the world with his Caribbean, urban-edged tickling of the ivories. Along the way, he has recorded and performed with such greats as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Tito Rodríguez, Cal Tjader, Israel "Cachao" López, Fania All Stars, Cheo Feliciano and countless others.

His peers long ago dubbed him the "Maestro Del Piano" for his technical and improvisational piano expertise. "He's one of the best. There are very few artist that can play with the heart of a maestro like he does," comments Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz.

"When I was a kid, my parents instilled in me and my brother the importance of education and what a disadvantage ignorance can be," reflects Palmieri. At 67, Palmieri has entered the wisdom period of his life, turning his efforts toward educating younger generations via music clinics and seminars on the roots of Latin music. He delights in sharing his wealth of knowledge surrounding the cultural similarities he‚s observed in his worldwide travels. On Saturday, June 1, 8pm. Palmeri performs at Spotlight on the Square, 2203 Mariner Square Loop, Alameda, proceeds will benefit Park Day School, a primary school whose mission is to bridge the educational gap between socio-economic and cultural differences for tickets www.parkdayschool.org .

Of Puerto Rican descent, Palmieri was born in the Bronx area of New York and, at the age of five, began singing traditional WWII-era songs at local radio and music hall contests. "My mother would dress me up in this army-like suite and I‚d sing the songs of Daniel Santos, the songs about going to war, and I‚d win a prize," recalls Palmieri. At age 8, by then a seasoned veteran of local singing contests, he fell ill and his mother, "put an end to that and enrolled me in piano lessons."

By 13, the cha-cha and mambo craze was taking New York by storm. "My brother was playing with Tito Puente‚s orchestra. I idolized Puente," comments Palmieri. Young Eddie soon decided to become a timbale player, pushing the piano aside and joining his uncle‚s band. After a few years, Palmieri's passion for the piano returned and he was soon performing with Eddie Forestier, Johnny Segui and Vicentico Valdés.

In 1958, he was asked to join Tito Rodríguez‚s Orchestra, but left after a brief, two-year stint. "I told my wife that I wanted to start my own orchestra. I knew I wouldn't be happy working in anybody else's," comments Palmeri. In 1961, Eddie exploded onto the Latin music scene with his band, La Perfecta. The group helped reshaped Latin jazz and salsa, and developed a two-trombone and flute sound dubbed "trombanga." La Perfecta went on to break nightclub box-office receipts records and sold thousands of albums, feats that placed the group in the royal court of Latin music.

In the late sixties, the group disbanded. "I was not taking care of business and it all fell apart · I went into a mental recession," recalls Palmieri. During the seventies, Latin music hit an all time slump. But in 1978, Eddie received his first Grammy nomination for "Lucumi Macumba" on Epic Records. The nomination revived his career, and since then Palmieri has received seven Grammies.

It's now a new millennium and Palmieri has "mellowed personally." He's come full circle and reformed a new version of La Perfecta, aptly titled La Perfecta II. The current group is comprised of the same searing elements of the original band, staying true to Palmieri's innovative and dynamic montunos and rich, refined charangas.

La Perfecta II is set to release their self-titled debut CD, "La Perfect II," (Concord Records) on June 1. "All the compositions are executed with the same degree of sophistication, expertise and understanding of the original sound of my first eight-piece ensemble performed," states Palmieri. "The band is hot!" Words spoken like a true reveler.

Robin Davies is a freelance writer based in the Bay Area. For the past seven years she has traveled extensively throughout the Americas in an effort to preserve and document cultural rituals, customs, arts, music and the socials issues of the times.

Interview ©2000 by Robin Davies
All rights reserved. No reproduction without written persmission.

Eddie Palmieri

A True Reveler of Latin Music's Soul

by Robin Davies

According to the dictionary, the definition of a reveler is one who takes great pleasure and delight in celebrating what they do best. R&B has Marvin Gaye; classical music, Yoyo Ma; jazz, Coleman Hawkins; and Latin music has legendary pianist Eddie Palmieri.

For over five decades, Eddie Palmieri has delighted and awed millions of fans around the world with his Caribbean, urban-edged tickling of the ivories. Along the way, he has recorded and performed with such greats as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Tito Rodríguez, Cal Tjader, Israel "Cachao" López, Fania All Stars, Cheo Feliciano and countless others.

His peers long ago dubbed him the "Maestro Del Piano" for his technical and improvisational piano expertise. "He's one of the best. There are very few artist that can play with the heart of a maestro like he does," comments Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz.

"When I was a kid, my parents instilled in me and my brother the importance of education and what a disadvantage ignorance can be," reflects Palmieri. At 67, Palmieri has entered the wisdom period of his life, turning his efforts toward educating younger generations via music clinics and seminars on the roots of Latin music. He delights in sharing his wealth of knowledge surrounding the cultural similarities he‚s observed in his worldwide travels. On Saturday, June 1, 8pm. Palmeri performs at Spotlight on the Square, 2203 Mariner Square Loop, Alameda, proceeds will benefit Park Day School, a primary school whose mission is to bridge the educational gap between socio-economic and cultural differences for tickets www.parkdayschool.org .

Of Puerto Rican descent, Palmieri was born in the Bronx area of New York and, at the age of five, began singing traditional WWII-era songs at local radio and music hall contests. "My mother would dress me up in this army-like suite and I‚d sing the songs of Daniel Santos, the songs about going to war, and I‚d win a prize," recalls Palmieri. At age 8, by then a seasoned veteran of local singing contests, he fell ill and his mother, "put an end to that and enrolled me in piano lessons."

By 13, the cha-cha and mambo craze was taking New York by storm. "My brother was playing with Tito Puente‚s orchestra. I idolized Puente," comments Palmieri. Young Eddie soon decided to become a timbale player, pushing the piano aside and joining his uncle‚s band. After a few years, Palmieri's passion for the piano returned and he was soon performing with Eddie Forestier, Johnny Segui and Vicentico Valdés.

In 1958, he was asked to join Tito Rodríguez‚s Orchestra, but left after a brief, two-year stint. "I told my wife that I wanted to start my own orchestra. I knew I wouldn't be happy working in anybody else's," comments Palmeri. In 1961, Eddie exploded onto the Latin music scene with his band, La Perfecta. The group helped reshaped Latin jazz and salsa, and developed a two-trombone and flute sound dubbed "trombanga." La Perfecta went on to break nightclub box-office receipts records and sold thousands of albums, feats that placed the group in the royal court of Latin music.

In the late sixties, the group disbanded. "I was not taking care of business and it all fell apart · I went into a mental recession," recalls Palmieri. During the seventies, Latin music hit an all time slump. But in 1978, Eddie received his first Grammy nomination for "Lucumi Macumba" on Epic Records. The nomination revived his career, and since then Palmieri has received seven Grammies.

It's now a new millennium and Palmieri has "mellowed personally." He's come full circle and reformed a new version of La Perfecta, aptly titled La Perfecta II. The current group is comprised of the same searing elements of the original band, staying true to Palmieri's innovative and dynamic montunos and rich, refined charangas.

La Perfecta II is set to release their self-titled debut CD, "La Perfect II," (Concord Records) on June 1. "All the compositions are executed with the same degree of sophistication, expertise and understanding of the original sound of my first eight-piece ensemble performed," states Palmieri. "The band is hot!" Words spoken like a true reveler.

Robin Davies is a freelance writer based in the Bay Area. For the past seven years she has traveled extensively throughout the Americas in an effort to preserve and document cultural rituals, customs, arts, music and the socials issues of the times.

Interview ©2000 by Robin Davies
All rights reserved. No reproduction without written persmission.