JOAN OF AUDIO & MUSIC

Andra Day. She is a stand-out singer, meaning her voice is uniquely her own. Her quiet and sweet personality is a prelude to the connection, depth, power, and beauty she brings to her songs. Amanda is an independent artist open to singing all genres of music. Her original songs can be categorized as pop or indie pop. She has a new single called “Sway” which is available on all digital music platforms. Please check out her beautiful performance at the show of “Rise Up” by Andra Day, and her NPR Tiny Desk submission video of her original song “Ride Sunshine”.

and learn more about his music. So, as I said earlier in the article, life does what it does. Somehow, I was able to get the main interview space in the magazine to feature El Niche’s work. And he was willing to meet all the demands that were required to be featured. So please check El Niche out in the main section of the magazine. His story, interview, music, videos are all there. You will be amazed!

El Niche Gozador is a Grammy Award winning trumpeter from Cuba. He is the last artist I mention for a very good reason! The first time I truly heard his trumpet was during the second band rehearsal. When he started to play, I was spellbound. His trumpet got my undivided attention. I knew I wanted to hear

On a final note, I want to acknowledge the generous support of all who participated and contributed to the Music Medicine Benefit Concert and for the children with Sickle Cell Disease who are under the care of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland. I love the quote by Booker T. Washington, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else”. When we support others, our lives start to have deeper meaning and purpose. We experience joy. And yes, I felt a palpable joy rising up from everyone present at the concert that evening. It was a truly uplifting and moving event. And this event couldn’t be what it was without everyone who participated, and without the vision, talent, and long-standing dedication of the founder of Music Medicine. Absolutely well done.

AKRM

“Solid state dynamics, resolution, detail retrieval, and spaciousness married to tube liquidity, remarkable tone/timbre/texture, offer #%$*@! musical bliss. What more could one ask for (Aurorasound HEADA)?”

—K.E. Heartsong, AudioKeyREVIEWS! Magazine

El Niche Gozador

Grammy Award-Winning Trumpeter de Cuba

Conducted by Raine Jordan

INTERVIEW: EL NICHE GOZADOR

When I first heard El Niche’s trumpet, I was taken aback by the sheer power and beauty of the sound he was blowing through it. I initially thought it was mic’d, but as I looked closer, I saw that it was all him. Unfortunately, he was standing next to the saxophone player, who was also unplugged, and I could not hear the sax player at all. My point is that he got my unbroken attention. After that, although there was a full band playing, and vocals, I couldn’t stop hearing him. That kind of experience doesn’t happen often for me, but when it does, it always turns out to be very special. So, this interview is my tribute to his incredible talent and my way of sharing it with a wider audience who I believe would love to hear him. In the interview that you are about to read, El Niche said after touring with a famous dance-orchestra called “Manolin El Medico de La Salsa” through 15 countries when he was just 17 years old, he decided to stay in the USA because he wanted to spread his wings wider. Well, I think he’s about to do that, or more precisely, I think he is doing that. El Niche tells us an intriguing story about his childhood and his musical family in Cuba, and how his ancestral roots and experiences continue to inspire his art and career as a trumpeter. I am thrilled the spirits of his musical ancestors have led him here. Please welcome him into your heart and ears.

How did first become interested in music and playing the trumpet?

Well, I'll tell you that I was born into a completely musical family. My grandfather was a musician. He played tenor sax and he had nine children and he taught them all to play an instrument since they were children. But as my uncles and aunts grew up some left the path of music and dedicated themselves to medicine. In the end only my dad who still plays saxophone and my uncle who plays trumpet remained. Since I was born, I was surrounded by music and musicians. Everywhere in my house family and friends would gather every Saturday and Sunday to sing, play, and spend some very nice moments. That was something very normal in my house. For me the greatest blessing was that my grandparents raised me from the time I was born. Well, you see, I came into the world with many health problems, such as anemia, low weight, and little muscle mass. I was in an incubator for several months. And worst of all is that I was born with asthma, and it is still

INTERVIEW: EL NICHE GOZADOR

with me today. So basically, my grandparents took care of my upbringing my whole life until they passed away when I was 20 years old. I always remember them with so much love and gratitude for everything they did for me. And for the great man of respect and dignity that I am today. I keep telling you about my grandfather, Juan Jose, that was his name. He gave the same kind of upbringing to me and my cousins. He taught us how to play all the instruments. When I was 8 years old my grandfather already had me teaching guitar, piano and sax. But honestly I didn’t like any of them. One day my uncle who was already a professional musician gave me his trumpet to play. I knew absolutely nothing about playing the trumpet. I put the trumpet in my mouth, and I got a really good sound out of the instrument. Instantly I told my grandfather I was going to be a trumpeter. That same year on May 20th, the day of 8th birthday, my grandfather gave me my first trumpet and from that day, my musical life began.

As a young person learning to play the trumpet, who and what influenced your love for music and style of playing?

My love for music comes from the fact that I was born into a musical family. Since I was a child, I grew up listening to music 24/7. My grandfather had a lot of cassettes and vinyl records. You know, those that were big, black and round, and you put a needle on top of them make them to make sound. And I had a bit of everything to listen to, Brazilian music, Mexican music, classical, music and American music which I enjoyed and sang the most. Although, I didn't know what the songs meant or said. I played Barry White, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, every day. Also, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, etc. And also, of course, Cuban music from my grandfather's time, like Benny More’, Roberto, Felix Chappottin Muguelito Cuni, etc. They were stars of Cuban music. As a child, my musical collection was absolutely wonderful, and it filled me with pure energy when listening to it. But my favorite trumpet player was, is, and will