Cubano Chant
Art by Robin Stearns - 2021
Cubano Chant is now available for streaming and/or purchase at Spotify and iTunes.
June 1, 2021:
I first heard this tune around 1974; Oscar Peterson recorded it with a big band. I was attending U.C. Berkeley and was playing in several different musical groups at that time, even though I was officially studying cell biology. I transcribed the Oscar Peterson arrangement as best I could (the band part, not Oscar's solos!) and we played it in the U.C. Jazz Ensembles big band, led by Lary Graber (RIP). Lary was great; we tried all sorts of tunes in that group: reggae tunes, Allman Brothers (In Memory of Elizabeth Reed), and a host of others. It was a real fun and creative time for me.
Fast forward 40 years or so and I started working on a version of Cubano Chant for solo guitar. That arrangement grew into the current guitar / bass / drums version. Kudos to John Cuniberti for suggesting that I add the bass. In fact, he insisted; I owe him one for that!
I also owe a lot to Oscar Peterson, may he also rest in peace. His incredible musicianship, solid rhythmic drive, and inspired soloing have been a major influence on me. Besides Oscar's musical gifts, he was also quite the prankster...often playing tricks and joking with his bandmates. Additionally, the Oscar Peterson Trio was an integrated group: this was quite revolutionary in the 1950s when they first started working in the trio format. The trio consisted of Oscar, Ray Brown (bass), and Barney Kessel on guitar. Herb Ellis, a guitarist from Texas, joined the trio after Mr. Kessel grew weary of touring. In the 1970s Joe Pass and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass) filled out the trio.
Written by Ray Bryant
GUITAR: John Imholz
BASS: Pat Klobas
DRUMS: Kelly Fasman
Mastering: John Cuniberti