I got my start in this style through the Mendes Brothers.  Ramiro Mendes is the first Cape Verdean to have graduated from Berklee College of Music, having double-majored in Film Scoring and Music Production & Engineering.  His horn arrangements reflect an understanding and appreciation for Jazz, R&B, and Salsa, yet adapted to the many different styles within Cape Verdean music their music covers.

The community of Cape Verdean musicians is like a large extended family.  Music is the #1 export of that country; all Cape Verdeans, including nearly all ex-pats, know their music and the people who play it.  In order to be able to function within this style, I had to learn its phrasing and sensibilities well enough to function as a native would.  Much of that knowledge came from making the “Gira Sol” CD.  I carefully studied Bana’s phrasing, as he is one of the legenary vocalists of this style.  I also studied Ramiro’s horn lines.  Each line has a distinct function, or role to play, depending on what else is going on in the song, what type of song it is.  Once I was able to learn this vocabulary, I was able to begin writing horn arrangements for other artists’ CD’s.  Word of this spread, and for the Biús CD, the executive producer sent the producer and the hard drives to Boston to “get the Bana horns on there.  If you can’t get them, go to Miami and get the Miami Sound Machine horn section.”  For that CD, I was told that a couple of tunes were more Salsa flavored, and so, having recently recorded La Timba Loca’s first CD and having played with them for a few years, that sound was in my head.  The horns for “Mas Bonita” are a tip of the hat to Timba.

I have probably recorded on at least 100 Cape Verdean CD’s, most of which I have never seen.  These are some of the more influential ones, or ones that I had the most participation in.

Bana, Gira Sol

Although I don’t listen to pop music, don’t identify with it, envision myself having a career in it, nor do I profess to know much about developments in the style, I have had many good experiences participating in these projects.  I have been most fortunate to have friends in this genre with whom I have played numerous Jazz gigs.  This brings the production values right into line with mine, and adds increases the camraderie and hence the hang factor significantly as well.

Mandy Moore, Amanda Leigh

I have always found Latin music to have such great energy and life.  Since coming to Boston, I have been fortunate to play with so many great musicians, and to participate in some great recordings.  I have learned a lot, and continue to grow.  A lot of great friendships have also resulted from my involvement with this music.

La Timba Loca, Más Allá de la Habana

(CJZ10005, 2001 CariJazz Productions)

Gonzalo Grau-piano, keys, drums, percussion, vocals

Alex Alvear-vocals

Manolo Mairena-vocals

Alvaro Benavides-bass

Ernesto Briceño- electric violin

Ernesto Díaz-congas

Omar Ledezma-timbales, percussion

Albert Leusink-trumpet

Nestor Toro-alto saxophone

Tim Mayer-tenor saxophone

special guests:

Oliver Santana-saxophones (”Lloraras”)

Alexander Faría-backing vocals (”Lloraras”)

Rodolfo Reyes-backing vocals (”Tibiri Tabara,” “Besito de Coco,” “Nina”)

José “Bam Bam” Ramirez-drums, congas (”Lloraras”)

Rafael “El Tigre” Ribas-introduction on “Lloraras”

produced, recorded, mixed mastered by Gonzalo Grau at Maldensazo Studios

all songs arranged by Gonzalo Grau

El Tíbiri Tábara (Daniel Santos)

La Manitú (E. Briceño)

Chacharepa (G. Grau)

Besito de Coco (Ismael Rivera)

Nina (Justi Barreto

Bienmesabe (A. Morales/F. Colón/G. Grau)

Lo que me pasó en la Guagua (Adalberto Alvarez)

Atracción Fatal (Carmelino) (Rafael Grecco)

Por Alegías (G. Grau)

Papita, Maní, Tostón (G. Grau)

Mi receta y mi sazón (G. Grau)

Llorarás (Oscar D’Leon)

La Clave Secreta, Frutero Moderno

(Gonzalo Grau, 2008)

Gonzalo Grau-keyboards, percussion, lead & backing vocals

Manolo Mairena-percussion, lead vocals

Alex Alvear-backing vocals

Marco Godoy-backing vocals

Panagiotis Andreu-bass, vocals

Pablo Bencid-drums

Ernesto Diaz-congas

Robbie Rosario-congas

Omar Ledezma-timbales

Fausto Cuevas-timbales, congas

José “Bam Bam” Ramirez-timbales

Albert Leusink-trumpet

Dan Brantigan-trumpet

Shlomo Cohen-alto saxophone

Felipe Salles-tenor saxophone

Tim Mayer-flute

produced by Gonzalo Grau, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Gonzalo Grau

Frutero Moderno

Calle Luna, Calle Sol

Siácara

Sabor, Swing y Sahoco

Buche y Pluma

Amanecer en Calithea

A la Griega

La Polémica de la Mandarina

Fachada o Nada

Mujer Divina

Abre que Voy

Alarma

Brass Roots, Purple Cha Cha Heels

There are few challenges so great as being a side man on someone else’s Jazz project.  The line between what you can do and what the project needs to make it the best it can be is everything.   It’s also a great honor.  It means someone out there values who you are and what you do to the point that they see you as a valuable asset to the project.  I have been very proud to have participated in these great CD’s.

John Hazilla & Saxabone,  Form & Function

(CIMP #142, 1997)

John Hazilla-drums, percussion

Jim Odgren-alto saxophone

Greg Badolato-tenor saxophone

Tim Mayer-baritone saxophone

John Pierce-trombone

Partial track listing:

Eternal Triangle (Sonny Stitt)

Our Man Higgins (Lee Morgan)

Crepuscule With Nellie (T. Monk, arr. Tim Mayer)

A Little Busy (Bobby Timmons)

Cubrazil (John Hazilla)

Yoko Miwa, In The Mist Of Time

(2000)

Yoko Miwa-piano

Tim Mayer-tenor saxophone

Massimo Biolcati-bass

Scott Goulding-drums

produced by Yoko Miwa, recorded, mixed, mastered by Peter Kontrimas at PBS Studios

All songs by Yoko Miwa except Red Dragonfly (Japanese traditional)

Fragmented Memories

The Deep End

I’m Okay

Alice

In The Mist of Time

When Will “It” Happen

Promise

Oak Square Blues

Red Dragonfly

Ahimsa, Never The Same Way Once

(OFC0001, 2000 Parajite Records)

produced by Rahul Roy, recorded by Yasko Kubota

Tim Mayer-tenor & alto saxophones, flute, EWI

Yasko Kubota-piano & keys

Archie Kubota-bass & taiko drums

Harvey Wihrt-percussion

Rahul Roy-guitars, vocals

All songs by Rahul Roy except as noted

Heyoka

Never The Same Way Once

Anamika

54 Duncan Terrace (Alan Holdsworth)

Josselyn

Hand In Hand (Ralph Towner)

Like Father Like Son

Homecoming

“Short Bread” – Rusty Scott Quartet (2000)

Rusty Scott (piano), Tim Mayer (saxophone), Keala Kaumehiewa (bass), Luther Gray (drums)

Track List 1.  Paul’s Blues 2.  Toddy for the Body 3.  Uncle Santos 4.  Bloodcount 5.  Fishin’ 6.  Saturday Afternoon 7.  Raincheck 8.  No One Even Asked Me 9.   Short Bread 10.   The Mule 11.   Waltz Swing

Ed Symkus of The Tab:

Tenor man Tim Mayer offers up some of the warmest and swingingest sounds around. The Boston-based quartet is at it’s seamless best on Scott’s light and boppy “Saturday Afternoon,” while Billy Strayhorn’s “Raincheck” comes across as the most musically adventurous arrangement, and the title cut, penned by Mayer, makes for four minutes of total joy.

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“Every Time” – RUSTY SCOTT QUARTET (1997)

Rusty Scott (piano), Tim Mayer (sax), Keala Kaumehiewa (bass), Harold Layne (drums)

Track List 1.  Dog Tired 2.  Every Time 3.  Pulse 4.  Kiwi Ah-ha 5.  Cane Bay 6.  Blues for Luanda 7.  It’s Alright with Me

Cadence Magazine:

Every Time’s third cut, Pulse, is a classic example of traditional jazz sounds, spotlighting the rhythm section. [Tim] Mayer can completely energize the mood with his sax. My favorite track is Cane Bay, inspired by a favorite diving spot in St. Croix. It’s the kind of tune playing when you huddle up at a bar with a drink and a cigarette feeling completely sorry for yourself. It’s a beautiful melancholy jazz journey that leaves you encouraged in the end. It’s Scott’s and Mayer’s writing styles that make this an exceptional album.

The Rusty Scott Quartet combines traditional and modern jazz in a style all their own. Every Time is the best jazz CD I have heard in my years of writing for this magazine.

Douglas Sloan, Metronome Magazine:

Just when I was hoping for some well played jazz, up comes the Rusty Scott Quartet for review. This excellent band of musicians featuring pianist Rusty Scott and saxophonist Tim Mayer are some of the tightest jazz ‘cats’ you’ll hear on the Boston jazz scene. They incorporate their love of swing with a contemporary slant that is widely appealing and subtly sensual. Tim Mayer’s sax playing smokes while Scott’s piano playing is second to none. These guys are great! So, put ‘Every Time’ in your CD player and get ready to snap your fingers and tap your toes because, the Rusty Scott Quartet has arrived!”

I just got off the phone with Gonzalo Grau, leader, composer/arranger, and visionary head of this group. I can’t believe it, but it’s true! I checked the Grammy’s site, and there it is, toward the bottom!  See my .mac site blog page for a full post.

Yes, folks, it’s true.  I’ve been here a long time.  If my time at Wally’s were my child, he/she would be asking for the car keys next year.  I wrote about it in my blog on the .mac site.While you’re there, go to podcasts, and see my Thanksgiving weekend project, featuring Paco and Ping Ping.

On Nov. 1, Darrell Brogdon, host of Kansas Public Radio’s “Retro Cocktail Hour” is celebrating that show’s 500th broadcast with a special concert performed by us! We are performing as our new project, the 7-piece WAITIKI Septet; the band that made its international debut this summer at the Wassermusik Festival in Berlin, Germany. Tickets are now available via Ticketmaster.com (ticket link).

In the band for this show: Tim Mayer (winds), Helen Liu (violin), Zaccai Curtis (piano), Jim Benoit (vibraphone), Abe Lagrimas (drums), Lopaka Colon (percussion), Randy Wong (bass).

In other Waitiki news, our comic book is out!  See the Waitiki site for details…. 

I have survived the Tiki Gauntlet of ‘08, and there are a few pix up from all 3 big events: Berlin Wäßermusik, Hot Rod Hula Hop, and Tiki Oasis.  My pix are very limited due to the fact that I had to use my phone for all the picture-taking. It does best in daylight, so I tried to stick to that.  The photos from Berlin are courtesy of Jason Goodman, whom Waitiki is lucky enough to have on hand whenever possible.  So click on over to the .mac site, and enjoy! BTW, this is the link for my .mac site.

This is turning out to be quite the Summer, for Waitiki!  We have already concluded the Waßermusik Festival in Berlin. Check out these links!  Wassermusik on myspaceLots of great music, and the opportunity to bring Waitiki to Europe for the first time.Up next is the Hot Rod Hula Hop in Columbus, OH:HHRH Myspace page  Next week, Tiki Oasis in San Diego, CA:Tiki Oasis Homepage There is still NETT (North East Tiki Tour), in September:NETT and then in October, we’re going to Kansas City. But those are stories for another day…