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Kat: How many trombones do you have and how often do you play/practice? JIMMY: I own 3 trombones and I play the horn 3 to 4 days a week. Kat: Do you read music or play by ear? JIMMY: Both Read and Play by ear. Kat: Did you start off playing by ear? JIMMY: It was rather simultaneous. I realized that I could imitate the sounds in my head and on the records simply by looking for the notes on the horn almost immediately. I started taking lessons immediately as well in the fifth grade. Kat: How long have you been playing trombone? JIMMY: I have been playing since 1970. Kat: Is your family musical as well? JIMMY: My family is musical. At one time there were 2 trombonists and 2 trumpet players. My mom sang and my kid brother is now singing and playing the banderetas. Kat: Did you ever have thoughts of playing another instrument aside from the trombone? JIMMY: I originally wanted to play the Saxophone. Kat: Did you ever end up playing the sax? JIMMY: Now I want to play the guitar, the sax, the piano, the timbales. No I never did play the sax, but I probably will some day. Kat: You've worked on other albums with some of the members of Marc Anthony's band, are there any future plans to work again with them on other albums? JIMMY: I am always interested and willing to record on future projects with all artists. Kat: Who has had the biggest musical influence on your career? JIMMY: Manny Oquendo. Kat: How has Manny influenced your career? JIMMY: Manny is the band leader of a group called Libre. In the late 70's this group was intense in it's delivery of playing Salsa music or Afro Caribbean rhythms. Libre was a band that used 4 trombones most of the time. Manny was aggressive in his playing of the timbales, bongo, and bells. Libre was the kind of band that played with a whole lot of passion and freedom. This band featured all of its artists in every performance. In 1978, I sat in with Libre at a club in the Bronx. That same year Andy Gonzalez, the co-leader called me to do my first gig with Manny. Kat: What was it like performing with Manny? JIMMY: Manny always featured me as a soloist and as a mona specialist. Working with Manny was intense because you had to really play to work with Libre. It was always about pure energy, passion and spirituality. Kat: I have a lot of fond music memories from when I was a child, is there a moment that's most memorable for you? JIMMY:
I fell in love with the trombone and Salsa music at the bold age of
11. I have many memorable moments. Every time that I listened to records
that of Grupo Foklorico, El Gran Combo, Eddie Palmieri,Libre, Sonora
Poncena, Ismael Rivera etc. I experienced a memorable moment. These
early moments, Kat: You have your own style of playing, how did you develop it; was it just a natural progression? JIMMY: My style of playing comes from my commitment to keep it raw, simple, passionate, pleasing to the ear and the heart. I have always approached playing the horn like a sonero. I have always wanted to tell a story or speak to the audiences through my playing without using words. I have always wanted to move people's emotions on some level or another. I also imitate percussionists like Manny in my approach to playing the trombone. Very different from a technical approach. Kat: Well, you've certainly accomplished that Jimmy, you make that trombone sing! JIMMY: Thank you very much. Kat: You were Marc's Musical Director for a while. I was wondering what the experience was like for you? JIMMY:
WOW. It was truly a huge challenge for me to take on those responsibilities.
First of all It was becoming very apparent that he was well on his way
to becoming a superstar. What a privilege it was to be able to contribute
what I could as Musical Director for the production. I learned a lot.
And I got a lot of respect from Marc and his staff. I guess my biggest
memory was the show that we did at Madison Square Garden on October
18 which was the same day of my birthday. Ruben Blades, Paul Simon;
a full chorus to a sold out audience. JIMMY: It was a great show. A lot of work went into preparing the band. This was truly one of the highlights of that experience for me. I am grateful to Marc for having offered me the position and to Angel Fernandez for having recommended me in the first place. Kat: When you were Marc's Musical Director, how much time went into rehearsals etc for the Madison Square Garden show on Oct 18? JIMMY: For that show we did several full band rehearsals. I rehearsed the chorus separately. I attended various meetings with Marc's staff to determine the line up of the songs to be performed. I met with staff at the Garden to go over the timing of special effects for the concert and lighting particulars. It was labor intensive in that Marc will settle for no shorts. He always wants the greatest show on earth for his audiences. Kat: He certainly achieves that. Having toured with Marc, what was the experience like for you as a musician? JIMMY:
The experience was very gratifying. We were treated well on all accounts.
More food than we could eat, great accommodations, great travel conditions,
sold out shows, great exposure for the artists, great venues to perform
in, softball games. Just overall it was both a lot of work and a whole
lot of fun. Furthermore, we got a whole lot of love from the audiences
around the country. And I must say that Puerto Rican throughout the
United States came out in strong numbers to be counted so to speak. Kat: Do you have any causes that you support? JIMMY: The cause that I support is -----SPREADING LOVE THROUGH MUSIC. MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH MY LYRICS. Kat: What inspires you on a day to day basis? JIMMY: What inspires me on a day to day basis is 1. A power greater than me which I choose to call God. 2. My kids. 3. My fiance. Kat: Was there a moment in your life that defined the direction you're life would take? JIMMY: Direction in my life. Yes, Someone put $75 in my hand for playing the trombone at age 13. That changed my life for ever. LOL Kat: LOL JIMMY: Then at the age of 32, in 1992 I stopped using drugs and alcohol and that really sent me in a new direction. I embraced living life with freedom and passion. Kat: When you are at home relaxing, whose CDs do you play? JIMMY: I listen to as much new material from all genres as time allows. Kat: Any particular favorite? JIMMY: Salsa Dura from the 70's and early 80's mostly. Kat: Aside from music, what other interests do you have? JIMMY: Experiencing happiness in as many ways as possible with my fiancé and my kids when they are with me. Kat: Are you currently working on any projects? JIMMY: I am creating music and writing lyrics for my 3rd CD project. Kat: What would you most like to convey to people about yourself? JIMMY: That I come from love no matter what. That my commitment to the world is to bring people music from the depths of my soul, spirit, emotions, thoughts and life experiences. Kat: To this point in your life, what do you think is your greatest accomplishment? JIMMY: That I am still alive and kicking, clean and sober with a smile on my face. Kat: What are your future goals/plans? JIMMY: To continue experiencing life on life's terms. Ready to reinvent myself as often as necessary to remain happy and bring happiness to the lives of my loved ones through music, friendship, laughter, hugs and unconditional love. Kat: Do you have any children, and are they musical as well? JIMMY: I have two of the most amazing children in the entire universe. Yes, they definitely carry the music bug in them. Kat: What is one of the most memorable experiences you've had on stage? JIMMY: Every time that I get on stage, it is a most memorable experience. Kat: If you weren't a musician, what do you think you'd be doing as a profession? JIMMY: If I were not a musician then I would probably be a painter or a sculptor or a masseuse or a comedian or a cop or a policeman or a teacher or or or or or or or Kat: LOL! What is the nicest and also craziest thing a fan has ever done for you? JIMMY: Fans have shared gifts, hugs, kisses, tears, thoughts, blessings, clothes items...... all these things are crazy but powerful. Each in its own way. Kat: A lot of our members, are also fans of yours and support you and your career, do you have a message for them? JIMMY: I am grateful from the depths of my heart to you all. It is truly the fans that always make a difference in the lives of the artists, more than TV and radio could ever. |
