Conexion Latina: When travelling/working in the Caribbean Islands in 1978 ( Puerto Rico, Barbados,Jamaica a.o. I listened a lot to the radio and heard plenty of live music. I was impressed by the rhythms and the colors of that music. Back in Munich 1979/1980 I met Panamanian percussionist Cesar Granados, pianist Luis Monge from Costa Rica who had a small latin band. Well, I took my trombone and joined them adding jazz impro to it. Same with The Mojos led by New York conga drummer Charles Campbell. We mostly played arrangements which we got from listening to records.

Que Pasa: Introduce me to each member of the band and their role.

C.L: Conexion Latina is a combination of Carribbean and US musicians living all over Europe and several European horn players, so the band had a constantly changing personell. On the recording of Mambo Nights I was ill and didn't participate actively as instrumentalist. We had three German trumpet players (Thomas Bentzko, Klaus Reichstaller, Gil Kaup), German Peter Schadlow and Cesar Perez (Venezuela)on trombones, a rhythm section of Tomas Perez (P.R.), Felipe Rengiro sr conga, Felipe Rengiro jr. bongo (Venezuela), Jesse Milliner piano (Cuba), Javier Plaza percussion and vocal (Venezuela) and the great arranger/composer Alberto Naranjo from Venezuela. Yma America (also from the islands)did the vocals and guest soloists were trumpet stars Dusko Goykovich (Serbia) and Bobby Shew (USA), Lutz Haefner (Germany) baritone sax and Adrian Mears (Australia) on additional trombone.

Band members in earlier versions of Conexion Latina were Joe Gallardo (tb - USA), Benny Bailey (tp - USA), Nicky Marrero (Puerto Rico - timbales), Bobby Stern (ts - USA), Ismael Miranda and Anthony Martinez (voc - Puerto Rico),
and many more.

Que Pasa: How did you get your first break?

Rudi Fuesers

C.L: The first important break for CL was a festival in Cologne where we appeared alongside Mongo Santamaria, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades and later that year when we played the Berlin JazzFest (1982) featuring vocalist Ismael Miranda. Que Pasa: You play a mix of Latin Jazz, Mambo and Salsa. How would you define your style of music? C.L: I think it all combines into „Latin Jazz“. Que Pasa: Which countries do your band members come from? How do you honour all backgrounds, harmoniously mixing together a wide range of influences? C.L: As to countries, see (4).As Conexion Latin is a large band the concept was influenced by orchestras such as Stan Kenton, or Thad Jones – Mel Lewis Orchestra.

Que Pasa: You're based in Germany. Do you think this influences your sound?

C.L: Not really.

Que Pasa: Your latest album is called Mambo Nights. How did you come up with that
title?

C.L: The title was suggested by arranger Alberto Naranjo.

Que Pasa: Having formed in 1980, you have a lot of experience. Has this changed the
music you create?

C.L: Music always runs through developments and influences. I had a small mambo band back in the fifties playing Perez Prado covers without really knowing or understanding Latin music but my knowledge grew over the years when I met the right people. Tito Puente for instance gave me good advice. Que Pasa: How does Mambo Nights differ from previous releases, if at all? C.L: Mambo Nights is fully shaped by arranger Alberto Naranjo when for instance Calorcito was shaped by Luis Garcia and Tito Curet Alonzo. Que Pasa: You've performed at Salsa festivals alongside Tito Puento, Ruben Baldes, Willie Colon and Eddie Palmieri. What was it like sharing a stage with such greats?

Joe Gallardo

C.L: It was a happy experience and I also learned a lot. But I also learned that all bands basically work with the same elements.

Que Pasa: Are you planning to tour again in the future?

C.L: I will not tour with the band again, it’s too late, I will be 80 years old next year.

Que Pasa: How do you see the future for Conexion Latina?

C.L: I transferred the band to bass player Tomas Perez who meets more and more problems. The ensemble is simply too large to travel, just hotel and travelling expenses eat up the income. So we are thinking of slimming down the group to a sextet maybe.

Que Pasa: Are there any artists you would like to work with?
C.L: Sonny Rollins.

Rudi Fuesers

For Conexion Latina CD review please go to CD review page

(For further information on concerts or to order a CD, check out Conexion Latina’s website on
http://www.conexion-latina.net/ ) or http://www.enjarecords.com