Published: June 22, 2009 11:09 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight June 2009 Edition
Ramon Taranco
"THE ADVENTURES OF BO SEGOVIA" Cover Art
Get ready to enter the fantastic world of Ramon Taranco as he brings to the music industry his unique sound and style to music lovers. If you are a fan of World music, then Ramon's blend of Afro-Cuban Jazz & Blues, Southern Rock & New Orleans Funk is the perfect choice. The Cuban-Mexican composer & guitarist recently spent some time with Junior's Cave talking about his love for Afro-Cuban Jazz & Blues music in this fun and entertaining interview. Enjoy!
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
Ramon: Putting together and rehearsing a brand new band of great players and writing new material for my next CD.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Ramon: Getting radio airplay all over the world.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in area.
Ramon: 9/11 really altered what had been a pretty vibrant music scene. For a period, tourists stopped coming to New York. They were the bread-and-butter of the scene so a lot of clubs closed, gigs dried up, less money was paid out to musicians when they did play and some musicians left New York altogether. (I went from performing 3 or 4 times a week to 3 or 4 times a month.) All performing musicians suffered. The scene has improved and is bouncing back but it's still not quite the same. It's New York. You have the best and worst of everything.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Ramon: I much prefer concert venues because the audience really listens and the musicians respond. I really enjoyed doing my solo African Heritage Day concert at the Bronx Museum of Fine Arts and the 8 trio concerts I gave in the world beat jazz series at the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan. Both of these venues have very diverse audiences; the Bronx Museum because of its multicultural community and the Guggenheim because of its attraction to tourists. Playing to people from all over the world is always a gas.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Ramon: In my early teens, I played in a rock band called "Motor." We played covers of a lot of Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and the Stones. At home, my parents exposed me to Cuban and West African music ie Celia Cruz, Sonora Matanzera, Miguelito Valdez, Guillermo Portables, Benny More and Orquestra Aragon. I was also strongly influenced by the Chicago Blues Greats - Paul Butterfield, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, T-Bone Walker, Bo Diddley, Little Walter, J. B. Lenoir, Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Bessie Smith, and Lenny Breau's LP "The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau" which includes one of my favorites - Lenny's version of the Jerry Reed composition "The Claw." John Renbourn's LP "Sir John Alot" was also a major influence; as were samba/jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd and classical guitarist Andrés Segovia.
As a young musician living in Toronto, I hung out and studied with the legendary jazz guitarist, Lenny Breau. Lenny taught me to never be afraid of crossing the boundaries between musical styles; to cross-pollinate and blend any sounds I fall in love with. I have followed Lenny's example to this day. It is the key that has enabled me to keep my music original and vibrant.
With all these different influences, my music has natural evolved into a world beat fusion - often Afro-Cuban flavored and sometimes New Orleans-influenced blues, rock and jazz. There are many unique world beat moments: on my 2nd CD, "The Adventures of Bo Segovia," there's "Ghost Dance" which features a Middle Eastern violin solo and my Spanish roots are clearly evident in the tango, "Tango Solito," on my first CD, "Music From the Bermuda Triangle." Some of my tunes are basically pretty pop tunes ie the gospel-flavored "Blues Keep Thrillin' Me" and "Babes Elusive" with its reggae feel. One music journalist wrote that there are Celtic moments in my music. Another reviewer claimed that there are rhythmic patterns that he thinks originated in South India. Several reviewers say I'm "Zappa-esque" - hugely complimentary but a little surprising.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Ramon: After I finished recording my 1st CD, I turned down an offer from Sony Records because they wanted to make changes to it. Both CDs took a long time to record because I did them independently; to protect the level of my craftsmanship and the integrity of my musical ideas. It's very simple: I play, compose and record music because I am compelled to do it. People come to hear my Afro-Cuban, New Orleans-flavored funk and blues because it makes them feel good.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Ramon: Music is the most abstract of all the arts so the truer it is to the muse, the tougher it should be to pigeonhole or describe in words. My music doesn't fit into any one category. I would say it's a new kind of roots music with a healthy love for old roots music; springing from a respect for my musical ancestors because they went before me and knew what they were doing.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Ramon: I would like to perform and record in Cuba with Cuban musicians and with West African musicians in places like Nigeria and Ghana. These countries have incredibly vibrant musical heritages - I am Cuban born and my parents exposed me to a lot of fine Cuban music and I have worked with, recorded with and explored a lot of West African music and would like to immerse myself in this musical culture on its home turf if I am able to do so sometime down the road. Living for a few months or even a few years in Cuba again or in one of the major cities in West Africa would be ideal so I could work with musicians who have 'their ears to the ground' as some of our American indigenous peoples would say. People making music that is profoundly authentic - music that is of a high-quality artistically and that hasn't been diluted by American commercial pop culture influences. Speaking of the wisdom of indigenous peoples, one of my maternal great grandmothers was a native Mexican. My world beat, ethno-folk music interest run deep in a number of musical and cultural traditions.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Ramon: People in general like it but can't put their finger on it. Every one describes it in a different way. This is a great compliment.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Ramon: I encourage everyone to visit my website, www.ramontaranco.com. Please leave me a message in the guestbook.
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Ramon: I plan to do extensive international touring including lots of festivals and several more recordings.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Ramon: Lots of growth, change, new inspirations and un-predictable changes in new and unexpected directions.
Isaac: Final words…
Ramon: I think that the indie movement will gain momentum in positive ways, and will over time, change the face of the music industry establishment.
