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Grammy Nominated
"Jibaro Hasta El Hueso" CD" |
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 On a Wing and a Prayer: The Making of a Cuatro Festival
by Don Jíbaro Barbanegra
 rganizing The First Annual Puerto Rican Cuatro Festival in
California was something like pulling teeth... without Novocain. Although there
are close to 140,000 Boricuas in California (2000 U.S. Census), there's
virtually no Puerto Rican community here, so appeals to community leadership was
out of the question. Nevertheless, we decided to pull it off... "por dinga o por
mandinga!" (one way or another)!!!
Cuatrist Emma Colón Zayas discusses folklore
with the audience at one of the workshops offered the days before the festival
Consequently, the much anticipated event was executed with much apprehension and
uncertainty as we could not grasp concise statistics that would help us plan and put us at rest.
It was done "on a wing and a prayer".
But, alas! It happened!
Between five and six hundred Boricuas gathered in a small auditorium at the
California State University in Long Beach on January 28, 2006 to witness what it
was expected to be a landmark event. And that it was. It was an SRO (standing
room only) attendance and as no more chairs could be added for lack of floor.
Chairs were pulled from the huge stack "como cono pa' piragua."
Cuatro luthiers and renowned authorities Yomi
Matos and William Cumpiano explain the procedures of making a cuatro.
We had heard of Cuatro Festivals in NY, Chicago,
Florida and even Las vegas, but never in California. Our people were more than
ready.
They were anxious for something that had not happend in California yet...
but ah!...it was finally here, a Festival of the beloved Cuatro, the Puerto Rican national instrument.
Big name artists of the cuatro were booked... Yomo, Edwin, Emma, Yomi... plus us
the back-up musicians. Tickets sold in advance could not justify the idea of
holding the event. Yet the attendance was optimal... door were burst opened when
no more chairs were available to make up for the incredible price of $10 that
was charged for the grandiose amount of talent that was to gather on stage, in
one place at one particular time.
The gregarious Yomi Matos was the crowd
pleaser of the night with "Who Dat Man" beating the "cueros" at the congas
IHere are reactions from some of the attendees:
"My wife and I attended last night's
Festival Del Cuatro event and were deeply touched, moved, and inspired by the
world class performances -- and by your collective will and effort to bring it
all together and make it happen for our people...
Last night's event was beyond something special; it was actually quite magical.
Yomo, Edwin, Emma, and Yomi performed brilliantly, of course. And as equally
impressive, the audience -- many of whom were likely transplanted Boricuas from
NYC, NJ, PR and elsewhere, thirsty for our culture -- truly resonated with their
performances. These national treasures you shared with us were more than
entertaining; they touched and moved us from within. And that doesn't happen
very often.
Clearly there's something special about the cuatro instrument, the music and
what it all means to us that makes it resonate within our hearts. You've found
the right event to pull together our dispersed community and reconnect us to our
roots. You've "hit the bull's eye", "nail on the head" ...and any other
befitting cliché. And you've done it with integrity and authenticity.
On behalf of the many hundreds of Boricuas who attended, I want to acknowledge
you for your contribution and generosity in making this extraordinary event
happen. We have no idea what personal pains and challenges you endured to make
this special occasion come to fruition, but can only say that you did GREAT, you
really made a difference for our community, and THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Best regards... y echa pa'lante!
Jesus "Manny" DelValle Jr."
Don Jíbaro "Who Dat Man" Barbanegra clowns
with Emma Colón Zayas, who received an award from the Ladies of NACOPRW
Dear Manny:
Thanks for your kind and eloquent words, I really want to congratulate the group
of founders for this effort, and particularly to the role that Roberto, Jose
Vadi, Don Jibaro, had in this process. This was a truly collective effort and
one that, I have to be candid; I did not expect to happen. But Boricuas always
have this capacity to transcend what seem like insurmountable barriers and show
the best of them to the world.
One person who attended the Festival told me while leaving, "thanks to you and
the organizers for allowing me to feel so proud!"
20 of my Chicano and Latino students volunteered to help, despite the fact that
for most of them this was not part of their culture or history yet left
impressed and thankful as I am to all of them. This is how we build bridges.
Last, but definitely not least, I am grateful for the Puerto Rican national
treasures we were all privileged to hear last night: Emma, Yomo, Edwin, Yomi,
Ruben, Billie, Jaime, and William Cumpiano's excellent work in documenting and
preserving this treasure and others who gave of their time and talent and
reminded us of the precious gift we all have received as a people in our
national instrument: El Cuatro puertorriqueño.
Gracias a todos,
Dr. Victor M. Rodriguez, Chair
Chicano & Latino Studies Department
This is one of the most exquisite looking
cuatros ever produced. Inlaid with mother-of-pearl and a golden "chapa" above
the 16th fret.
We, the members of NACOPRW SoCal were honored to help in whatever small way we
could. It was an amazing experience for all of us to be a part of this
historical, cultural and social endeavor. Everyone I spoke to had wonderful
words to describe the event. Congratulations to all of the dedicated planners of
the Festival del
Cuatro, with special recognition to Roberto for his leadership!
I can recall the meeting I attended when the Festival was just being
conceptualized and you were still working on a date. At that point it was a
dream which you made reality through much hard work. I recognize how difficult
it is to put on this type of event and to attract a large audience for the first
time. But, wow, you did it!
You can only move forward from here.
I must say my husband, Mac, is still on cloud nine from spending time with the
legendary Yomo Toro. He didn't want to leave him for a minute. We went to pick
Yomo up at his hotel around 7:30 AM and drove him down to the San Diego airport
yesterday. This allowed us to spend a good amount of time getting to know him
more personally. What a remarkable gentleman; a genuine Boricua, unassuming,
kind and
sensitive. He also has a great sense of humor. It was truly an honor.
Meeting Emma, Edwin and all the musicians was a special highlight for me. They
all made me so proud of my heritage. The versatility and caliber of the cuatro
and its music was evidenced by the talent of these marvelous cuatristas.
The other aspect of the Festival which touched me was how reflective it was of
our culture. Everyone joined in as needed to help with one thing or another. It
was like a big family coming together with folks adding chairs where needed,
working behind
the scenes, bringing food for the musicians and helpers, to name just a few
examples. It was very comfortable, there was a warmth and casualness that made
it more like "a happening" of which we were all a part. I will never forget it.
Through this event we reunited with old dear friends and made some new friends I
will always value.
Gracias mil por todos sus esfuezos a nuestro beneficio como pueblo.
Un fuerte abrazo para cada uno de Uds.,
Anaida Colon-Muniz, Ed.D.
President, NACOPRW SoCal
Vice President Elect-National Board
Associate Professor
School of Education
Chapman University
"I became friends with Yomo
Toro, the headliner of the event. His humble jíbaro demeanor and
grace was self-evident. It was a privilege for me to assist him
and drive him around in my car..." —Don Jíbaro
Another Boricua writes...
Quiero comunicarle qué fué un honor y privilegio para mi familia, especialmente,
mi hijo universitario( quiere aprender a tocar guitarra), el haber presenciado
el Concierto de el Primer Festival del Cuatro en CSULB. ¡Su fervor y dedicado
esfuerzo por hacer realidad su sueño tuvo un resultado expectacular y mágico!
¡Qué maravilloso y emocionante fue escuchar la interpretación de nuestra música
puertorriqueña e internacional por nuestros mundialmente reconocidos y
talentosos cuatristas Yomi, Yomo, Emma ,Edwin, y demás músicos acompañantes
(incluyendo a Dalia, por supuesto)!
Nuestra familia y amigos, al igual que los cientos de personas que asistimos al
concierto, nos llenamos de gran emoción y orgullo de nuestra música jíbara y
nuestros músicos. Gracias por habernos permitido ser parte de su sueño y
habernos dado la oportunidad de disfrutar de el concierto del cuatro a un nivel
de tan alto calibre cultural en el Sur de California. Nos dió mucho gusto leer
su biografía y que asistió a nuestra Alma Mater Colegial y estudiamos ingeniería
civil ( i.e., R.U.M. or C.A.A.M. como se le llamaba en otros tiempos). Nosotros
residimos en Mo Valley hace 26 años. ¡Pa'lante, pa' atrás, ni pá' coger impulso!
¡Dios le bendiga a usted y su familia!
También, quiero comunicarle que nos hemos deleitado y educado grandemente con el
documental del Cuatro. ¡Este video es una joya de la historia del cuatro! No
podemos esperar por el segundo video que usted me comunicó está por salir este
año y que va a presentar un por ciento mayor de música. El hecho que sea haya
editado en el idioma Inglés es ideal para hacerle llegar a otros grupos de
personas una parte de nuestra cultura , el cuatro. —Daisy Barreto
I woke up late and missed church this morning, I
hope God understands!! Thank you for the great effort you and your staff for
putting on a tremendous event. We enjoyed every minute of it. I'll be there next
year. Godbless you. —Jaime Gonzalez
Me dirijo a uds. con el propósito de felicitarlo
y agradecerle por el Concierto del Cuatro Puertorriqueño. La actividad fue
simplemente sensacional. Muchas fueron las emociones allí vividas, pero creo que
una de las más significativas fue ver a tantos puertorriqueños juntos y que a
pesar del tiempo que tienen viviendo fuera de Puerto Rico siguen y apoyan su
cultura.
A usted y a su esposa los felicito por este gran interés de dar a conocer
nuestra cultura acá en el área oeste donde realmente no vemos muchas cosas de
nuestra Patria. Estoy a su disposición si en algún evento futuro necesita una
mano amiga que le regale tiempo y le ayude. Vivo en Murrieta y me enteré que
usted también ya que mi niño y el de usted se conocen. Así que aquí tiene una
familia puertorriqueña que le gustaría conocerlos y compartir con ustedes si así
usted lo desea. Gracias y otra vez Felicidades por lograr su sueño.
Sinceramente,
Vivian Torres
One jíbaro even brought his own cuatro...
depicting the 9/11 tragedy.
Download Emma Colón Zayas
plucking the cuatro (5.5 megs)
 HERE
BONUS:
Download Yomi Matos jamming
with "who Dat Man on congas" (8.5 megs)
HERE
BONUS, BONUS:
Download Yomi Matos shaking the cuatro like
a Polaroid picture
with "Who Dat Man on congas" (8.5 megs)
HERE
BONUS, BONUS, BONUS:
Download "Who Dat Man" on congas encouraging Yomi Matos as he bounces to
"Who Dat Man's" pedestrian beat. (8.5 megs)
HERE
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"Don forget about truth and mercy;
tie them around your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart; and
you'll find favor and good understanding with both God and man." —Proverbs
3:3-4 |
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