Que Pasa: Panchito consists of 10 band members from a variety of backgrounds. Who is the leader and how easy (or difficult!) is it for you all to agree on your musical repertoire?

Panchito: The leader of Panchito is guitarist, composer and manager André van Berlo. There is never any discussion on the music that is played although everybody has a say in it, we're pretty much on the same page there, however, as democratic it may be, André has the final word in these matters. When it comes to the interpretation of the music everyone is free to do as they please as long as it fits and complements the music.

Que Pasa: How would you best describe Panchito’s musical style?

Panchito: We often get this question as we fall into the category Latin Jazz but still have our own unique sound. The style could be described a fusion of Paquito d’Rivera and the Brecker Brothers, but that would leave out some other key influences like Astor Piazzolla or Jobim.
In an interview that we had on radio in Colombia the interviewer said that he felt it was a cross between Ray Barretto and Paquito d’Rivera but with our own sound. I think it’s a matter of the listener’s background what makes the difference in what kind of influences he or she hears in our music. Perhaps the shortest description would be Latin Fusion…

Que Pasa: Has the band performed outside of Holland? Panchito: Yes we have on several occasions… We played some gigs in Belgium but other than that, exploring the world has been limited to Dutch borders. Que Pasa: Are there any plans for an international tour? Panchito: Yes! Lately there is a lot of interest for our music in the United States, Canada and Colombia so a tour to those places is in the making. We’re also doing our best to make a European tour next year hoping to include some nice Festivals on the way. Que Pasa: Has your first album brought you success? Panchito: The album did way much better than we all expected, that’s for sure! We got so many good reactions for listeners, critics and colleagues alike. Also the music has been played on radio stations all over the world which is a thing we definitely did not foresee. So successes are there but success itself takes a longer time to achieve,the first album was a very good

first step though. If Resurrección was not accepted we would have a very hard time trying to have success in the future, but now the roads ahead are clear…

Que Pasa: When will another new album appear?

Panchito: Hopefully at the end of 2007 will the new album be finished. At the moment the songs are being written and we usually take our time to record and mix them. Everything that didn’t really work last time we want to make sure to get right this time. Hopefully the next album will sound as well as Resurrección does, although the production should be better this time because we will be recording in a better studio that houses better equipment.

Que Pasa: What has been the single most exciting experience for the band since its inception?

Panchito: That would have to be the making of Resurrección. The cd was a first for Panchito and we were surprised how it turned out!
The story goes:
Years ago we did a gig in a place in exchange for some time in a studio. We never had the right stuff to record and we forgot all about it. Then, in May 2005, I got a call from this guy: “Hey dude! You’ve still got 2 days of studio here but the deal was not indefinite. Make an appointment within a month or the deal is off!” I made appointment with the idea to just record a little bit and that’s it. Actually, at that time I was thinking of ending this whole Panchito thing because it was too much work and so little happened. I even remember telling my girlfriend just before a gig: “I think this is the last time, it’s no use anymore, after the gig I’ll tell them there’s no more Panchito”. But at the end the first recording day we listened to the tracks and Joost (the drummer) said: “I don’t care if I have to pay for it myself, but we have to make an album! This stuff is great! It would be a waste if it turns into another demo…”
The next day the horns were added and it sounded great… We booked 2 more days to record the other 5 songs of the album… Maybe funny to know, on August 27th 2005 we played the pieces for the first time in a 2hour rehearsal. For the second time on Sunday the 28th, for the third time at the general rehearsal for my exam. Once on my exam (fourth time) and a week later we were recording already on September 8th. We played every track twice. Once to remember how the song goes and the second time was a right on the money… Maybe this is why to so many people the recording sounds so fresh, because to us the music was as fresh as it could get! The studio by the way was not a big studio with all the required equipment, but a small studio in which you could fit maybe 5 people (and that would already feel like a crowd). I always thought you needed a big studio for something to sound ok but apparently I was wrong… Anyway, hearing it all come together was a very special experience for us all!

Que Pasa: Which bands would you like to perform alongside and where?

Panchito: There a quite a few I can think of but it would be fantastic to play a concert on North Sea Jazz Festival together with Paquito d’Rivera. We played a lot of his music over the past years and playing alongside one another would be an experience never to forget.

Que Pasa: How do you see the future evolving for Panchito and its music?

Panchito: I’m one of those people who believe you can make your dreams come true and if my dreams actually would come true, the future of Panchito will be very prosperous.
I foresee a gradual but sure increase in gigs that we play and also a growing interest from abroad. We already experience that our music is accepted all over the world so that will be definitely our playground in the near future. Furthermore, the world will slowly but surely remember the name Panchito and the music we create.

Greetings,

André



(For further information on concerts or to order a CD, check out Panchito’s website on -www.panchito.nl .)

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