Papo Vazquez Biography

PAPO VAZQUEZ BIO                                

Papo Vazquez, trombonist, composer and music arranger has continued to write for big band orchestras when not performing with his small group Pirates Troubadours.  Vazquez, originally from Philadelphia received in 2007 a grant from The Painted Bride Art Center, in Philadelphia to expand his small group for “The Brides” XL project.  He was commissioned to write music for a 19 piece Afro Puerto Rican Jazz Orchestra then performed and recorded live the new works at this venue.  The new CD is titled Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Orchestra “Marooned/Aislado,” on Picaro Records – his own independent  label. 

His first classical composition was premiered in 2004, at Hostos Performing Arts Center in the Bronx, New York with the Bronx Arts Ensemble; recently known as The Bronx Symphony. 

Vazquez was a first artist to receive a commission to compose new music for the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, a resident band of Jazz at Lincoln Center. 

As a leader, Papo's unique writing style can be heard on several of his prior five recordings Pirates Troubadours from The Badlands; Picaro Records,  Breakout, Timeless Records; At The Point Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 and Carnival in San Juan; Ubiquity Records. 

The newly created Mighty Pirate Orchestra continues to allow Vazquez to blend his multi-faceted compositions and trombone style with rhythms of Afro-Caribbean origins and Jazz, also joined by folklore dancers that enhance the music and garners rave reviews.

Born in 1958, in Philadelphia, PA, Papo grew up in the heart of North Philadelphia's Puerto Rican community and also lived his earlier years in Puerto Rico.  At the age of 14, while in Philadelphia, his uncle Dagoberto a guitar and cuatro player, recommended him as trombonist for a local salsa band.  That is when he met trumpet player Jimmy Purvis, who gave him his first two jazz records J.J. Johnson's "Blue Trombone" and  "John Coltrane Live at the Village Vanguard." Jazz became a big part of Papo's life at an early age.  At the age of 15, Vazquez began performing at church dances in Philadelphia and shared the stage with New York bands such as, Willie Colon and Eddie Palmieri ect. 

By 1975, at the tender age of 17 he moved to NYC from Philadelphia and auditioned for trumpet player Chocolate Armentero's band. Chocolate gave him the gig and Papo began working as well as with other New York bands such as Larry Harlow, Conjunto Libre and Hector La Voe.  Soon, he became a hot item and was solicited for recordings and performances with other top names in the salsa scene, i.e., The Fania All Stars, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Grupo Folklorico Nuyorquino, Eddie Palmieri, Chico O'Farrill.

Vazquez has always been deeply moved by Jazz and specifically cites the music of John Coltrane and J.J. Johnson as having the most influence.  In 1979, he began studying with Slide Hampton, recorded and performed for Slide Hampton's World of Trombones. 

Eventually, Vazquez would tour Europe with the Ray Charles Orchestra and perform in New York with Jazz luminaries Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Mel Lewis, Mario Rivera, Hilton Ruiz and  Milton Cardona.  Also, founding member of Jerry Gonzalez’ Fort Apache band and Conjunto Libre.  Vazquez became a key player in the burgeoning Latin Jazz genre of the late 70's.   

By 1980, at the age of 22 Vazquez had traveled the globe.  In 1981 he moved to Puerto Rico and became a founding member of Puerto Rico's Batacumbele, a popular Latin fusion band.  He performed with Batacumbele from 1981 to 1985. 

In 1985, he moved back to New York and joined Tito Puente's Latin Jazz Ensemble and traveled as principal trombonist. During that period, he also toured Europe with Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra.

Vazquez' ability to fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms, specifically those from Puerto Rico, with freer melodic and harmonic elements of progressive Jazz has insured his popularity on many fronts. 

As a composer, Papo Vazquez showcased his talents on the soundtrack for the movie "Free Enterprise" a Star Trek spoof with Baila Plena from At The Point vol I. Vazquez has also shared his compositions on recordings for Ruben Blades "Antecedente," Hilton Ruiz "Manhattan Mambo," Dave Valentin's "Tropic Heat," Batacumbele's "En Aquellos Tiempos" among others. He performed on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's "Mo' Better Blues," "The Mambo Kings," Wayne Shorter's grammy winning cd "Alegria" and Bebo Valdes [grammy winning cd] "Bebo de Cuba," among others.

Papo Vazquez Pirates Troubadours and now Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Orchestra is one fiercest  bands  on the planet with twisted variations of traditional themes like Yuba' Jazz, Holande Pirata, Jibaro Waltz, Plena Funk, Mapeye Jazz to help describe his music.