Jerry Gonzalez spent the morning ahead of his four-day Blues Alley gig running around New York City in search of a place to repair a valve on his trumpet. He finally got it fixed in Woodbridge, N.J. “I have a spare trumpet,” he explained. “But it’s in Madrid.”
While it may take a lifetime to appreciate the copious works of this jazzman, his warmth and sense of humor are instantly felt, most especially inside the doors of Blues Alley where he performs along with his band, Fort Apache, and guest drummer, Dafnis Prieto.
“I’ve been in Spain for almost 11 years now and people probably think I’ve disappeared from the scene and that I haven’t done anything for the last 10 years, but I have,” he continued, in a voice rich with a Spanish accent. “I have done Flamenco [CDs] and a big band album.”
His most recent release embodies the personal style he calls “Jazz, Afro-Cuban [and] rhythmic bass with be-bop on top.” The album is titled “Avisale a mi contrario que aqui estoy yo,” which translates, “Advise my Enemies that I’m Alive and Well.” Gonzalez, along with his band, brother Andy Gonzalez on bass, Larry Willis on piano, Joe Ford on alto and soprano sax and guest drummer, Dafnis Prieto, will perform original works from the album.
The band will also play a few standards from artists that include Duke Ellington and Wayne Shorter. Gonzalez, on his trumpet and flugelhorn, not only reflects the Afro-Cuban influences, but also those of Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, who he worked with at the launch of his career in 1970. Over the years, he has been performing with musicians such as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Freddie Hubbard, and Paquito D’Rivera, calling all of these artists his heroes.
Now, with his own band, his intentions are clear: “I don’t want to compromise the rhythm, and I don’t want to compromise the jazz playing. The cats that play in my band have to understand how to play the blues and clave.”
He and his band, Fort Apache, have been together since 1979, with their early releases (and Gonzalez favorites), “The River Is Deep” and “Rumba para Monk.”
The group’s “Fire Dance” album, released in 1996 was actually recorded live at Blues Alley. Now, Gonzalez prepares his return to the local scene.
However, when asked what he most looks forward to in his D.C. visit, he responds, instantly: “The crab cakes! The Blues Alley staff takes good care of me.”
