July 20-21, 2007Well this weekend was very interesting. Larry Harlow and The Latin Legends band were going to be in Cambridge for a Salsa event at the Hyatt. On a whim I decided to e-mail Larry Harlow and ask I could play with the band. To my surprise I get an e-mail from him less than 5 minutes later that says "
Bring your violin.. Sound check at 6pm in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency... Are you coming to Worcester Latin Jazz Encounter concert at 6:30 at the Ecoterium.. Sound check there is 4p...See ya...Harlow."
Well needless to say I was super excited and freaking out at work a little.
I don't have a car and none of my friends were willing to go to Worcester so I decided to take the train there, even though I only had about $20 left to my name...which is only enough to get to the EcoTarium...not back. Honestly! When else are you going to have the opportunity to play with Larry Harlow? So I'll go out there and play and figure the rest out when it's all said and done.
I'm supposed be there at 4, but the first train to Worcester doesn't leave until 4:10 but I'm still gonna go because late is better than never, right?! Well I miss the 4:10 train by a couple of minutes and the next train doesn't leave for an hour...I'm PISSED!!! I missed the train that was already making me late, the next one doesn't leave for another hour, I don't know how I'm going to get back to Boston, I'm drenched in sweat from running for the train and I'm hungry! So while debating with myself on whether or not I should just turn around and go home, I looked up and realized an hour had passed! So I hopped on the train without thinking twice and the second I sat down I fell asleep.
When I woke up we were in Worcester and it was about 6:15. I hopped in a cab and told the lady where to go. She could tell that I wasn't from Worcester so she drove me around for a good 20 minutes, sucking away the last of my money, even though the EcoTarium was only 1.5 miles away. I was angry but there was nothing I could do and I was more concerned about being late.
I get there and can hear them playing from the parking lot and run up to the event. I saw a table that said "Band" on it and sat next a women sitting by herself. I told her that Larry Harlow invited me to play with them and that my name was Juan. She was very nice and went up to Mr. Harlow (WHILE HE'S PLAYING ON STAGE) and told him that I was there. The next thing you know I'm jumping on stage in the middle of a song and playing my heart out. I was very nervous at first but after a while it was very natural and I was having a good time. The audience really liked me...I had people come up to me after the show and ask me for my autograph and to take pictures with them. It was very flattering!
The band members were all very nice, as well as amazing. Bobby Sanabria was on drums and he's a legend at Berklee, so it was an honor to meet him let alone play with him. The bass player was Ray Martinez and he was incredible! All the other musicians were great and very kind and said nice things about my playing, which was nice (even if it wasn't true.) It was Frank Fontaine on Sax and Flute, Chembo Corneil on Congas and Mac Gollehon (another Berklee Grad) on Trumpet.
After everything was over I was going to call someone to come pick me up but...my phone was dead! So I start walking back to train station where I will begin begging for money and playing my violin in the station for change. I managed to collect about $6 when a bus announced it was leaving for Boston. The bus ticket was $9, but I pleaded with the driver to please let me on. He said no. I pleaded some more and told him "
I lost my wallet..I don't have anymore money" and finally he said to quit my whining and get on the bus in the rude way of speaking that New Englanders often do.
An hour-and-a-half later...I was home with a huge smile on my face and a empty wallet.
Day TwoSo I'm supposed to be at the Hyatt at 6pm...I couldn't figure out what to wear so I was running a little late and got there at 6:30. Everyone was on musicians time so I was actually the first one there and sat alone for a good half-and-hour. Once Mr. Harlow got there he sat down and chatted with me for a long while. He told all kinds of stories about himself, other musicians and then just some random things. It was very unreal to just be sitting and talking with Larry Harlow. After a short while another one of my music idols walked in the room...Lewis Khan, a salsa trombonist/violinist and other Fania legend. It wasn't quite as easy to talk to him but was still cool nonetheless.
I sat out the first three songs but then jumped on for La Cartera. I got to trade 8's with Lewis Khan and even got to take an extended solo. Actually...I think I took a solo on every song I played that night. I'm sure that aggravated the dancers, but who cares...After it was all over I got to go up and hang out with them for a bit.
It was a great weekend.
July 28, 2007
