Interesting..

I tried playing the guitar part live on rolamd super natural guitars
Sadly the results where laughable...
Despite me getting better with the super natural guitars on Roland every day..

As people said, everyone thatbloves music, must have a soft spot for latino music

Thanks Paul. Listened and downloaded it but I still like the above one better. This group is made for this song. It fits them like a hand in a glove.

I'm guessing this is turning into a classic similar to "You're My Everything" (Eres Todo en Mi)

Really well thought out and notated. You're absolutely right about everything you wrote. Especially #1. Most people will not know, but if you're dancing to that stuff...you'll know!

Thanks Jerry....did it ever. I have a few versions of the song but bits and pieces, violin version, etc. This is the first legit version in a comfortable key.

I did a "workaround" to get that song sheet, rather than join the club.

Chas...it's not patronizing because it's true. I play "world" music, jigs and reels from Ireland, polkas from Poland, Yiddish music, and....a lot of Latin music. I play them all "technically well" but listen to me do an Irish reel and then listen to an Irishman. It will be like night and day.

That's not to say you can't eventually master the music, but John is correct, you need to live, breathe...grow up with the music to make it sound authentic. Trust me, I played in Ireland...I know!

I think what I was trying to say when I said I wish I could play the tune on an arranger, was..."on an arranger" but sound like THEY do. The vocal harmony, the little nuances in the guitar playing, the strumming, etc.

I love Latin music: merengue, salsa, cumbia, bachata, etc (and Spanish music from Spain, Argentine tango, etc.) I think that is Latin America's greatest export to the United States. Their music! You can't help but feel happy when you hear it. And most of it is done with just a few chords and a lot of imagination.

In these times of Corona blues, this kind of music really cheers me up and makes me feel alive.

How many of you knew of the song La Foule before I mentioned it?

Chas, since the word well is at question, I would like to share my story.

Mike Allessi, a fantastic Tenor sax player, a friend for close to 65 years. He was the best Tenor man that I knew personality.

He lived in the western part of Long Island, N.Y. – In the town he lived there was a Latino Club, it accommodated about 90 people. Their rule, and it was placed above the entrance was; “Latinos Only”. If you were not a Latino, you had a problem. Well Mike Alessi, who was not a Latino, had the courage to walk in the front door. He was greeted by three men who asked what he wanted. He said, “I want to play my Tenor sax with you”.

They questionably led him to the band stand. The music started, then they gave him a chance to play. The response was fantastic, they were all over him like he was a lost relative. Two months past, he asked them if he could bring me to the club, they said yes. I visited the club very Wednesday night for the next few months; I received a Latino education.

Let me add my Cuban son-in-law who played guitar and sang. I invited him to perform with my band on special occasions. His La Bamba, was good, it brought people running to the dance floor. When he turned his Latino talent to R&R, it had the same effect; people wanted to hire the band.

Chas, with this background my “WELL” and your “WELL” are not the same.

1-Enjoy Latin music, but you will never do it well. Maybe if I used the word “I” instead of “You”, it might have been understood differently.

John C.

PS, Mike Allessi is Italian, he was not a Latino. But he was one of many.
I love Big Band, the Latino Big Band is far better, more excitement, more life. IMHO

John, if I misunderstood you or mis-interpreted you, then I apologize. It's just that in my experience, when you attribute 'special powers' or special gifts to a specific group, it becomes the birthplace of stereotyping....and we know where that leads. I acknowledged that being born into a culture is probably going to give you a leg up on most aspects of that culture, but that doesn't mean to the exclusion of everyone else. Could Ray Charles sing C&W ('I can't stop loving you')? Could Joe Cocker or Janis Joplin sing the blues? Could Jimi Hendrix play Rock guitar? Appropriated? Maybe, but they still did it well. Didn't your own experience with your sax player prove my point? My own theory is, if you really like it and, more importantly, REALLY FEEL IT, you can play it.....well!

Mark gets upset when someone changes the direction of his posts so I won't say anymore about this. I just don't like the idea of someone assuming that I can 'sing and dance' just because I'm Black; and it's sort of the flip side of the same coin (for the record, I can't do either ). Take care, ol' man, I love discussing things with old musicians (ask Russ ).

chas

John, while I really like you, I have to respectfully disagree with you saying that a non Latino can never play Latin music well.

MAYBE a non Latino well not have the same flavor that a Latino has, but sometimes that can be a good thing in way. It sounds like your Italian sax buddy was well received at the Latino club, probably he added his on flavor to music, which can be refreshing. A fusion of sorts.

By the way, one of the hottest salsa bands of the 90's "La Orquetra de la Luz" was form Japan. Salsa with some Japanese flavor, really caught on big! Check them out:

John...I don't see why on Earth you had to defend your remarks. What you said is "true"...period. Personally, I'm glad you said it because it's something I never thought much about, until....you said it!

I think most of you would agree that I'm a fine French musette accordion player. But, not having grown up or spent most of my life playing that type of music, I'll never be a "natural" Musette player. It takes the pressure off of me now, whenever I DO hear "natural" musette players.

Never thought much about that until you mentioned it here. So...thanks for posting that, even though you know every post of merit and personal opinion is going to incur the wrath of Chas (...and no "smiling face").