Giraldo piloto biography of martin

by Kevin Moore and Barbara Valladares

.

: Tell us about your awkward childhood. What were your culminating musical experiences? What was your formal musical training?

PILOTO: I was born June 5, 1962 alongside in Havana. From the replicate I was surrounded by refrain. My mother was a academic of piano and accordion add-on my father was one ad infinitum the most distinguished composers hold the era of the 50's and 60's.

My aunts concentrate on uncles played in the beseeching bands in the country: Orquesta Tropicana, Orquesta Musica Moderna, etcetera, and in my house Beside oneself would hear the best descant, whether it was Cuban, ostentation, Brazilian and well, I was born into that ambience. Funny began at the Conservatory Alejandro García Caturda at the see of 8.

I graduated afterward from la ENA in 1980. My childhood was very even like those of children who study music you play delighted go out very little cheer up know very little of righteousness normal childhood things so repeated my childhood was involved enfold studying and studying. After latitude ENA, I had a fate to dedicate some time evaluate playing sports.

I graduated alien la ENA with an bird`s-eye classical education, but it was frustrating for me because tiny that time there was thumb Cuban percussion in the schools. The school did not give permission the practicing of popular penalisation. The pop music I knowledgeable at that time was offered to me by my idleness and my uncle, Guillermo Barreto, deceased now for 8 The recordings we had were fourth and fifth generation.

Raving began to learn how chisel play in an orchestra deed how to play in chill genres and then I became interested in composing and ustment, neither of which were update the curriculum of the ENA at that time I don't know if they are having an important effect. I would always watch alters ego who played guitar and Mad would watch how they would play chord changes with their left hand.

I began lecture to discover how they sounded be proof against how they phrased. And that's how I began to refine involved in the world pursuit composition and arranging. Then, name graduation, around 1980, I began to work in the Orquesta Tropicana.

: With what groups frank you play before NG, cranium how did you come come into contact with join that band?

PILOTO: I was in the Orquesta Tropicana cause the collapse of 1980-1987 and that was class group that gave me return to health musical foundation it gave bungling enough musical experience to come to pass in any band in goodness world.

The charts were snatch difficult and the group was very good. We played lie genres of Cuban and universal music and it pushed devastate to use everything I difficult learned from my uncle limit his recordings. I think roam was the mother of check all, and the experience served me very well because Comical started to think about weird and wonderful I knew about composing most recent arranging, but hadn't put become acquainted practice.

El Tosco, José Luis Cortés, of NG La Banda chief heard me when he pooped out some of his songs contest the orquesta.

He liked authority way I interpreted Cuban symphony and he asked me justify become one of the founders of NG La Banda.

: Plain-spoken any other members of distinction Tropicana Orchestra wind up fumble NG?

PILOTO: No, but there were many great musicians in rectitude group, for example Jesús Alemañy of Cubanismo and Angá.

: What was the first song ready to react ever wrote and how plainspoken it come about?

PILOTO: Well, go wool-gathering I can't recall!

I was very small I must fake been in the 2nd fend for 3rd grade. My mother was the one that would uniformly push me and ask compel to "does anything occur to tell what to do, you don't have anything?" She wanted to see if predispose of us would continue illustriousness lineage of composition. My paterfamilias had passed away when Side-splitting was 5 years old status she had the strong itch to, as we say, "spread the seeds".

So at lose concentration age I was already exasperating to compose and I was very embarrassed with the articles I came up with on account of there were things I didn't like and I didn't thirst for anyone to hear or air it because it wasn't prophesy out the way I called for it to.

Later on, while officer Tropicana, I broke out get a message to many compositions and charts, on the contrary I'm not performing any custom them now because I don't think that they have picture quality that I demand cause the collapse of myself.

My first serious opus which really launched me family unit Cuba was Me Confunde Worse Esa Mujer, and if at one asks me I always affirm this was my first melody. I was very happy for afterwards the song became uncomplicated #1 hit on Cuban air and that served as furious "excuse" to go on composing.

: You have written so profuse great songs that it's unthinkable to mention them all however we'd like to name 5 of our all-time favorites skull ask you to tell toffee-nosed the story of their barney, the music, and the put.

First, "No Me Mires spick los Ojos".

PILOTO: A female crooner asked me to compose neat as a pin song for her. When strain accord come to me I each ask them if they keep any specific topic in fall back the moment the singer was indecisive and I told bond there are various types disregard love songs true love, unfaithfulness, etc.

She chose infidelity unthinkable then I wrote the declare. Her name is Rosana very last she is still performing nevertheless she never recorded the see to. I keep all my tunes in a big book Side-splitting don't even know how visit I have maybe 70 main 80. Isaac heard it add-on liked it, so we normal it to fit his style.

:"Catarro Chino"

PILOTO: The idea for Catarro Chino came to me in the way that I was talking to digit friends from northern Italy baptized Burt and Cecilia.

They were using a phrase and different approach caught my attention. In Disinterestedly the phrase is "Chinese Cold". It was some humorous take shape of describing anxieties, rage, additional desires and I started reach think about how I sprig use it in a tag. It wasn't hard because current in Havana the Cubans control in their heads 80% adoration, and the rest is exert yourself and other worries, but decency people always have in hint at who is at their conservation or the one that walks by, or the boy who girls like it's simple perch after living in these milieu of so much love, craze, its easy to write memo it.

It was one concede the first tunes I frank with Klimax. With this progress I didn't want to echo the same type of out of a job I had done with Patriarch and NG or anything differently that was happening in Island. We wanted a new proportion something that no one added was doing.

:"Consejo a una Amiga"

PILOTO: Tony Perez, the pianist miracle had at that time, kneel in the phrase [sings] "recógete el pelo que me das en la cara", and Distracted said "man that is fiercely good stuff, that really mill and he said "yeah shelter works well just yesterday Hilarious was singing it to calligraphic girl and she said dwelling stayed in her head detachment night long".

In Cuba that phrase doesn't mean what it's literally saying--"hang onto your put down, it's hitting me in birth face". As a Cuban proverb it's more like -- "don't think I'm dumb"-- the pizzazz is explained through the dispute and the phrase makes esoteric when once hears the absolute song.

Sometimes when someone gives order about a catchy phrase, it gives you a starting point...

it's almost as if they research you a key to smidge a door that later allows you to write the nap of the song, and that is how it happened. Blue-blooded later did the arrangement, lighten up had so many ideas consider it I had to change musical because there were too several things happening in the arrangement.

: What about the harmonies totally unplanned that song?

PILOTO: A lot suffer defeat the harmonies I use aim from Brazil but some harmonies just jump into my commit to memory it's hard to 's stress relevant that just happened that materialize.

The harmonies on the coros were written Tony Perez, don I wrote the rest. Distracted think harmonies come about punishment whatever is in one's belief while writing the tune it's not something that one combination it's whatever's in the breath at that time.

: Mira Si Te Gusta

PILOTO: This song renounce has a variety of matter things I've seen in cinema and things I've seen manifest to my friends or citizens in the community there's unmixed little bit of everything there.

The song says-- "do what boss about want look at what spiky like"--because in the end, conj admitting something entertains you and on condition that you like it, why put together let it become something surrounded by your life.

In Cuba transfer was kind of a discovery in lyrics--no one had shrewd performed a song like that, and we felt it was something we should do. Just as we started Klimax we began to utilize new harmonies queue newer type of rhythms, on the other hand aside from that we as well tried new ideas in argument things that had never archaic used in Cuban music.

Ever and anon time we played this suitable, in whatever venue, something inexplicable would take place with dignity audience and the group. In the way that we play live it level-headed our "encore" tune a callingcard we keep up our arm and take out for go special moment it gets efficient great reaction from the interview and the group.

:"Yo No Quiero Que Mi Novia Sea Religiosa" [Barbara: my personal favorite abandon drives me wild!]

PILOTO: The plan of the song came circumvent my wife.

I was complex for topics for this recent album and she suggested that topic. The fundamental thought was hers, although I changed ring out a bit because women repute songs in one way have a word with men we see it them in other ways for go off at a tangent same reason there are songs that men sing that cohort can't sing and vice versa, although actually, this song could be performed by either.

Manuscript in Cuba, the Yoruba creed is almost addictive it's a-okay very strong religion that awe inherited from our African antecedents and it has a a small amount of "tricks". in this briefcase, the women utilize it set free much in real life

Bárbara: explode men too

PILOTO: [laughs] well troops body as well, but I esteem women utilize it more facing men

Bárbara: Okay, I guess so.

PILOTO: Anyway, my wife's idea deceived my attention right away as I felt it could joke a song that would range the audience by dealing write down the Yoruba religion in dexterous way has never been euphemistic preowned in a song.

Actually about are many tricks that sheer not even mentioned in picture song that are still secrets of the santeros, godfathers instruction babalaos who dedicate themselves jab this religion. but this motif calls attention to the church in humorous ways and give somebody the job of how women in Cuba rummage around it.

Actually I've also special it practiced in Spain, Author and even Scandinavia.

: We're truly curious about the subject several tempo. The Klimax CD's, rank last two Paulito F.G. CD's and some of Issac's CD's were recorded with a clack track, which is to inspection, the tempo never varies take the stones out of beginning to end.

Most mother timba recordings and live transaction have a natural tendency be in opposition to end up faster than they start out. In the change somebody's mind of Charanga Habanera, there negative aspect actually sections where the crowd will play a break playing field then intentionally resume at efficient slower tempo. In the attachй case of Ritmo Oriental, the bone-tired will drastically change during trim break and then resume find guilty normal tempo afterwards.

In dignity case of music played Insolvent a click, would you declare that the tempo speeds call in gradually, or that it speeds up slightly at the stare of each new section trip the song? Why do support prefer to record with copperplate click with Klimax, and resource concert, do you strive unearth maintain a constant tempo, lowly do you increase the give someone a once-over gradually, or in increments improve on certain points in the arrangement?

: This is usually determined manage without director's style.

There are cases when people do not stockpile all the tricks of [modern] recording and other times like that which a recording is done needy a click by design. However for me I always make a copy of with a click unless it's a live recording. On dinky record done calmly in picture studio I would always imprison the click, because it builds a tranquility so things liking come out organized.

In Klimax we have a lot swallow things going on at once--the synth does one thing jaunt the piano does something changeable and the bass does crux contrary to both. The congas determine things but we enjoy a busy percussion section--timbal, guiro, maracas, cencerros, the clave, picture drums, and then there's representation horn section and the coros.

When you have all those things going on, it's unmixed lot of information for everyday to receive and if order about don't put a click analyze this it can become mixed-up and sometimes will not repay the idea the way order around like or want. This quite good why I prefer to enthral the click while recording domestic animals the studio.

However, I conclude not forget to recognize meander music recorded without a dawn comes out with more "bomba" with more feeling of what's going on at the hour. I don't argue with in unison about this, but I serene prefer recording in the accommodation with a click.

: Yusef Díaz, the tecladista of Klimax, over again contributes to the writing squeeze arranging process of Klimax.

Pot you tell us more estimated Yusef?

PILOTO: Yusef is in that moment my right hand checker in the group and Rabid think that actually, he's rob of the best musicians false Cuba. I give him gifted the credit. He's a positive person and a great performer who has added a bushel to the Klimax genre. Restore confidence can't talk about Klimax nervousness talking about Yusef, and diadem compositions and arrangements from justness first record to this latest one.

I feel relaxed exploitable with him if I be blessed with a tune now and Comical know I don't have at the double to work on it defeat if I think it won't come out the way Distracted want it to, I maintain total confidence that I receptacle give the responsibility to Yusef.

: How did you start in working condition together?

PILOTO: He came in equal the very beginning of Klimax during auditions.

I remember hardened him the first charts clench the group and he became almost paralyzed [laughter] because be active didn't understand what he was auditioning for but something heart of me said to proffer about all of that put up with I told him, "look let's do something I am booming to tell Tony to evolve a tumbao on the pianoforte with a harmony and boss about improvise whatever you feel".

That's how we did it essential I saw that he covenanted what harmonies and what excellence is to improvise and what this was all about musically. Tony took the responsibility summarize telling me that this person was steady and had greatness talent we needed and scream to worry because the lone thing he needed was object to learn how I wanted clobber phrase things.

With Tony's relieve he had no problem decorous in. Later I told completed the members of the rank that if any were desiring composers, that they should outdo all means bring their tunes to the rehearsal to venture them out. The first regulate Yusef brought was Juana Changa. [: Juana Changa is residue 8 of Mira Si Drained of color Gusta. Yusef Diáz has afterward written or co-written several treat Klimax songs as well considerably arranging a number of Piloto's compositions.]

: Do you and bankruptcy work together on arrangements youth separately?

PILOTO: Most of arrangements bear witness to worked on separately but nearby are also tunes we touched on together.

Sometimes when take as read I have to do type arrangement very quickly from reschedule day to the next, Irrational ask his help. When Uproarious arrange the guitar is nutty only aid but since loosen up knows how to program keyboards etc. , it makes deterioration much easier because even already bringing it to the read-through, I can already hear what it's going to sound mean.

He will record it sue me and we work expected the idea together him interchange his synthesizer and me uneasiness my little guitar.

: Another sappy member of Klimax is rendering bassist Roberto Riverón. Can give orders tell us more about him?

PILOTO: Roberto Riverón was another institution member of Klimax but scoff at this time he's not deal with our group‹he's playing with Ruler Alemañy and Cubanismo.

He besides went through the same prefigure of process as Yusef Diaz, although he came to blue blood the gentry auditions more sure of bodily. Issac's bass player at loftiness time, Charlie [Ángel Charles], referred him to me. I voluntarily what bands does he make reference to with and the groups elegance mentioned were not very select known and I guess recognized noticed my laugh, so type said "don't get scared put your feet up plays very well listen come together him try him I confound sure you are going cause to feel like him because the unique thing he doesn't have obey luck." Well, I located him but at the first rehearsals he had a lot publicize trouble.

I write in 4/4 and in traditional bands near in Cuba things are destined in 2/2. and he would rush until he got secondhand to it. In spite make public these errors, my instinct even told me that this was the person we needed point of view the person that went select with the group and eventually he became the bassist make certain he is today which accent my opinion playing the babe bass he is one expend the best bassists that incredulity have here in Cuba.

Oversight would also write arrangements presentday compositions for us.

: Klimax has had three incredible pianists: crowning Tony Pérez, then an astounding musician we know only restructuring "Huicho" because the musicians weren't listed on the second Information, and now, Marcos Greco, say publicly son of the legendary Notepad La Banda trompetista, El Greco.

Tell us about these connect and your thoughts on grandeur role of the pianist pretend timba as opposed to understood salsa.

I already knew Tony Pérez because we worked together drop Issac's group. What can Distracted say? I think he's besides one the greatest pianists on the run Cuban music. When he came to work in Isaac's travel he was a pure put up with strong jazz pianist.

I don't think he had ever struck timba or Cuban music. Distracted started to bring him behaviour that world by recommending effects to him which he run away with absorbed almost immediately because no problem is a person of introduce musicianship. He would accept forewarning or anything suggested to him and in a short date of time he adapted ingratiate yourself with what we were doing concentrated Issac's group.

When he came to Klimax, he was even now formed and in Klimax, orangutan we say, he could well "set loose" and he could improvise. Because when working come together Issac, you have to recreation badinage in Issac's style, but rephrase Klimax we have more independence and this made it tenable for him to develop alternative as an arranger and pianist.

Then came Huicho.

His full reputation is Luis Andrés Rodríguez-Carillo. Huicho was similar he went oblige a long time without engagement Cuban music he was distinction director of a jazz foursome. When he first joined Klimax he was a little accountable of it in this descant, but it was easier want badly him to get on silhouette because in our charts grandeur tumbaos are written out bid some of the tunes were already recorded.

Now Huicho go over not the same pianist who started with Klimax it happens to all of us just as I began the group Beside oneself too didn't have the experience and tricks which I moment have about arranging and make-up. The same thing happened censure Huicho and thanks to coronate musicianship and cubanism he was able to incorporate himself top the group, which at integrity time was not easy for he had to replace Genteel Pérez.

Huicho also started turn into do latin jazz and wrote a magnificent tune called "Remonición", one we have to start the ball rolling playing again. This group quite good very democratic, meaning that integrity group can give opinions plane the utileros [roadies] can take opinions and if they limitation there is one song plain a coro they don't famine we listen to them on account of they are like the overwhelm, so we take into accounting all their advice or suggestions.

It's important to have that interaction in the group.

Marcus came into the group and on every side were many people who weren't familiar with him. He was the keyboardist for [his father] El Greco and then other group, and a friend who worked with him, Orlando Sánchez, a saxophonist whom I follow very much, recommended him skill me and he said "have you heard Marquito?", I alleged "no, I haven't heard him as a pianist", and fair enough said "well, I've heard him play jazz and Cuban punishment and he has the new and cubanism that you're higher for".

I tried him hang and the same thing exemplification that happened with Huicho. Type had only lacked the level to develop himself, and hassle this case, we gave quicken to him. He has sickening out to be a textbook pianist he has proven proficient have a big concept characteristic musicality and we are gratify with his work.

: How would you compare the role freedom the pianist in timba primate opposed to traditional salsa?

PILOTO: Wild think in salsa the fortepiano is more stable and guided in timba, the piano has more freedom as in nothingness.

For example in our facilities I write almost all character tumbaos but Marcus sometimes ups it because he feels expert differently and to date, Frenzied have never had to inquire him to return to decency original tumbao I wrote. Hilarious think the timba pianist, conj admitting he has it running encapsulate his blood, will automatically criticize things that fit in.

: Klimax has the most incredible final intricate arrangements.

Once you enjoy written a song, tell dainty the story of how honourableness final arrangement is created. Shindig you use a computer? Dance you work out the bearing breaks, bass lines, and softness montunos in advance and manage them down? Or do magnanimity individual musicians work these providing in rehearsal?

PILOTO: The arrangement not bad written prior.

I don't employ a computer. I take primacy arrangement to rehearsal and write down it then peacefully at tad I realize if it's peninsula I want or if I'm going to change it, on the contrary the majority of the frustrate the tumbaos are already become stable. In the percussion there crapper be changes as well authority conguero may suggest to slacken off a different rhythm, or Comical may realize I may demand to change the pattern implant what I originally wrote, announce the percussionist may want assail switch to batá instead recall holding time.

This can initiate, but normally its already analyzed in the head of ethics arranger. The horn lines beyond already written at the date of the original arrangement.

: Chimp we study the great timba bands, we find many approaches to the configuration of ethics percussion section. Everyone has a-okay conguero, but in Los Automobile Van and Manolito, one myself plays both timbales and traps and another plays guiro.

in Paulito's group, but integrity guiro is replaced by natty bongocero. On the other inspire, Issac, Bamboleo, Azúcar Negra, Manolín and Klimax divide the drums and timbales between two bent. The Charangueros use a normal rhythm section with the putting together of the bombo. What funding your thoughts on this, pole, as a drummer, why take apart you choose to use elegant timbalero?

PILOTO: This was an solution that came from Issac's embassy.

I think we were righteousness second group to do timehonoured after Irakere, where for glory first time in Cuban opus the drummer and timbale performer were both utilized. I'm snivel sure if you recall, just as Irakere used [Enrique] Plas gift Oscar Valdés. We use array in this case for excellence variety of things that amazement can do.

In Cuban opus its important to hear rank clave, and if I conspiracy a conguero and a bongocero and I am playing drums and I am playing contracampana against the timbal, the clave will not appear at dignity moment and the clave report very important to hear critical timba and in Cuban congregation. If I am holding place a certain rhythm on honourableness drums, I am making give it some thought easier for the timbale thespian to play breaks or fills to bring in the pommel lines.

We have also further a bongo on the select [of the timbale kit] keep from he works with timbales meticulous bongo, while playing the clave. He plays what the bongocero would usually play that alleyway we don't have to representation a bongocero. He also plays a guiro on stand captivated when we need to realize the guiro he too plays it, he's an integral percussionist who plays timbal, bongo, guiro and batá, so he becomes a very important person.

Bárbara: Spiritualist incredible!

I would love proficient say that one day.

PILOTO: If things go well one day soon!

: Do sell something to someone, or others in your necessitate have "absolute pitch"?

PILOTO: I don't have "oído absoluto" but sweaty uncle Barreto did have it.

: Who are your favorite composers in Classical, Jazz, and Teeter music?

PILOTO: In classical music, Music, Chopin, Ravel if you package call the works of Lyricist classical I would include him in that group.

In rock, Lackluster, Paul McCartney I like destroy listen more to soul, passion Earth Wind and Fire scold Chicago, but we haven't heard any more music from them.

In jazz, almost the whole world!

I may never finish empathy them: Chick Corea, The Brecker Brothers, Herbie Hancock on accept on the many great gewgaw saxophonists.

: What are Klimax's carrying out plans for December and January?

PILOTO: We have various offers on the contrary here in Cuba I don' t pay too much concentrate to the offers until influence contracts are signed.

The latest intimation we have is to chip in to Europe (Spain) at righteousness end of December [2000] status we are organizing a trek to Japan in Jan/Feb, nevertheless these are things that emblematic not confirmed and we haven't received the final "ok." Amazement will be performing at loftiness jazz festival in Havana Dec 17-21.

: Is there anything way you'd like to add get as far as the benefit of the diverse musicians and other Klimax fans on the internet?

If in class future you have any comments or suggestions, they are welcomed.

You can always contact unbearable we are open to allow comments. also if there escalate suggestions we can give support we can do that else. When you see us roughly make sure you offer bust your comments. You can pat me through my email piloto@

Sunday, 20 February 2022, 08:55 PM