Eddie Cano
Encyclopedia
Edward "Eddie" Cano was an Afro-Cuban jazz
and Latin jazz
pianist
born in Los Angeles, California
. He began his musical career with Miguelito Valdés
and his orchestra. Cano has worked with many other notable musicians including Bobby Ramos
, Les Baxter
, Jack Costanzo
, Buddy Collette
, and Tony Martinez
. He was also first president of the Hispanic Musicians Association. He also recorded a slew of albums for various labels, including Reprise Records
and RCA Records
. He also explored boogaloo
and tropical music
. Eddie Cano died from an apparent heart attack
on January 30, 1988.
Cano spent most of his career trying to find the balance between jazz and Latin jazz
styles. He found an appreciative audience for a series of albums under his own name released in the '50s and '60s by labels such as Atco, Reprise, and RCA, his following similar to that of vibraphonist Cal Tjader and bandleader Les Baxter. Cano also drew on dance crazes such as the cha cha and the Watusi to promote his efforts. His family was rich musically, Cano's father a bass guitarist, his grandfather a member of the Mexico City Symphony. Cano studied bass with his grandfather and private teachers, also studied piano and trombone, spent two years in the Army beginning in 1945, and then began hitting stages in a group led by Miguelito Valdés.
He soon made a connection with Herb Jeffries, a singer whose forte was balladry and with whom Cano would collaborate off and on over the next decade. The pianist had his own bands going as early as 1948, but continued working with Jeffries, Bobby Ramos, and Tony Martinez. As a composer, Cano came up with a large repertoire, including the tasty "Algo Sabroso," the friendly "Cal's Pals," the wiggly "Watusi Walk," and the thrilling "Ecstasy" -- not to mention "Honey Do," which could be a cross-genre answer song to Carl Perkins' popular "Honey Don't." While many of his peers concentrated on the peerless thrust of Latin rhythms, Cano hardly ignored this component but seemed equally intent on emphasizing the kind of complex, provocative harmonic and melodic structures associated with modern jazz.Cano, Eddie (b 6 June '27, L.A., father Mexican, mother Mexican-American; d 30 Jan. '88, L.A.) Latin jazz pianist, leader, composer, arranger. Infl. by Noro Morales and Errol Garner, he developed an inimitable rhythmic style, drive and ability to "lift" a band. Often in his numbers he'd switch styles from Latin (with Latin rhythm section) to straight jazz (accompanied by drum kit). Began classical piano studies at age five; played bass in junior high school and trombone in high school, where he became interested in jazz and decided to turn pro; an uncle introduced him to Duke Ellington's music; started working in local nightclub bands '43, playing both Latin and American dance music. Joined US Army '45, assigned to various military bands and completed a course in six months at L.A. Conservatory of Music '46.~ Eugene Chadbourne, Allmusic
Afro-Cuban jazz
Afro-Cuban jazz is an early form of Latin jazz that mixes Afro-Cuban rhythms with harmonies and musical timbre typical of Bebop. It was developed in the early 1940s by both Cuban musicians and Jazz musicians, with Dizzy Gillespie, Mario Bauza, Machito and Stan Kenton among some of the most notable...
and Latin jazz
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
born in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He began his musical career with Miguelito Valdés
Miguelito Valdés
Miguelito Valdés, born Miguel Ángel Eugenio Lázaro Zacarias Izquierdo Valdés Hernández , also called Mr. Babalú, was a Cuban popular singer of high quality...
and his orchestra. Cano has worked with many other notable musicians including Bobby Ramos
Bobby Ramos
Roberto "Bobby" Ramos is currently the bullpen coach for the Tampa Bay Rays. During his playing career, he was a catcher, playing parts of six seasons for the Montreal Expos and New York Yankees. He was a minor league manager in the Rays' system from to .-External links:*...
, Les Baxter
Les Baxter
Les Baxter was an American musician and composer.Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer...
, Jack Costanzo
Jack Costanzo
Jack Costanzo is an American percussionist.-Biography:A composer, conductor and drummer, Costanzo is best known as a bongo player, and is nicknamed "Mr. Bongo"...
, Buddy Collette
Buddy Collette
William Marcel "Buddy" Collette was an American tenor saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist. He was highly influential in the West coast jazz and West Coast blues mediums, also collaborating with saxophonist Dexter Gordon, drummer Chico Hamilton, and his lifelong friend, bassist Charles...
, and Tony Martinez
Tony Martínez
.Gabriel Antonio Martínez Díaz was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for four seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 1963 to 1966, playing in 73 career games.-External links:...
. He was also first president of the Hispanic Musicians Association. He also recorded a slew of albums for various labels, including Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
and RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. He also explored boogaloo
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
and tropical music
Tropical music
Musica tropical or tropical music is a broad term for vocal and instrumental music with "tropical" flavor usually associated with the Afro-Caribbean music. It is part of an even broader category of Latin music. Usually it is an upbeat dance music, but also includes ballads. It features complex,...
. Eddie Cano died from an apparent heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on January 30, 1988.
Cano spent most of his career trying to find the balance between jazz and Latin jazz
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
styles. He found an appreciative audience for a series of albums under his own name released in the '50s and '60s by labels such as Atco, Reprise, and RCA, his following similar to that of vibraphonist Cal Tjader and bandleader Les Baxter. Cano also drew on dance crazes such as the cha cha and the Watusi to promote his efforts. His family was rich musically, Cano's father a bass guitarist, his grandfather a member of the Mexico City Symphony. Cano studied bass with his grandfather and private teachers, also studied piano and trombone, spent two years in the Army beginning in 1945, and then began hitting stages in a group led by Miguelito Valdés.
He soon made a connection with Herb Jeffries, a singer whose forte was balladry and with whom Cano would collaborate off and on over the next decade. The pianist had his own bands going as early as 1948, but continued working with Jeffries, Bobby Ramos, and Tony Martinez. As a composer, Cano came up with a large repertoire, including the tasty "Algo Sabroso," the friendly "Cal's Pals," the wiggly "Watusi Walk," and the thrilling "Ecstasy" -- not to mention "Honey Do," which could be a cross-genre answer song to Carl Perkins' popular "Honey Don't." While many of his peers concentrated on the peerless thrust of Latin rhythms, Cano hardly ignored this component but seemed equally intent on emphasizing the kind of complex, provocative harmonic and melodic structures associated with modern jazz.Cano, Eddie (b 6 June '27, L.A., father Mexican, mother Mexican-American; d 30 Jan. '88, L.A.) Latin jazz pianist, leader, composer, arranger. Infl. by Noro Morales and Errol Garner, he developed an inimitable rhythmic style, drive and ability to "lift" a band. Often in his numbers he'd switch styles from Latin (with Latin rhythm section) to straight jazz (accompanied by drum kit). Began classical piano studies at age five; played bass in junior high school and trombone in high school, where he became interested in jazz and decided to turn pro; an uncle introduced him to Duke Ellington's music; started working in local nightclub bands '43, playing both Latin and American dance music. Joined US Army '45, assigned to various military bands and completed a course in six months at L.A. Conservatory of Music '46.~ Eugene Chadbourne, Allmusic