Why are six little, old, white guys playing Latin jazz in Southeast Ohio?
Because they're so darn good at it.
This brick-laden college town produces mostly rock-n-roll and punk bands. Most of these bands feature college students looking for a way to make a buck, impress their friends and feel the rush of performing. Los Viejos Blanquitos is not a typical Athens-area band.
The most obvious difference is in the members of the band. Instead of fresh-faced youngsters with their first guitar, professors from Ohio University fill the ranks of Los Viejos Blanquitos.
Such first-rate sound is almost to be expected, though, from a band with well over 100 years of musical experience among them, said Roger Brown, who plays marimba and percussion.
I've been playing for 28 years and I'm the youngest in the band
he said.
Started by Ernie Bastin, who plays trumpet and percussion, and Guy Remonko on drums, Los Viejos Blanquitos, which means little white men in Spanish, was something new that the professors from the School of Music could do now that they had earned their statuses as professors emeritus.
With Bastin and Remenko at the helm, Los Viejos took shape over the next three months, adding members and instruments and phasing them out as necessary. At the end of the trial, four more members were added to Remenko and Bastin.
They welcomed Brown on marimba and percussion, Matt James on saxophone, Andre Gribou on piano and Dave Messina on bass.
Seven years later, the sextet is releasing their first CD: LVB: File Under Latin Jazz. The disc features each of the members prominently, with enthralling saxophone solos followed by captivating jaunts on the marimba, breathtaking piano solos, fiery trumpet riffs, remarkable bass and pounding drums that are always so necessary in Latin jazz.
The band meets once a week to practice, each professor protecting a small block in his teaching schedule every quarter so that the members can practice together.
We're all incredibly busy Brown said.
With busy schedules it is often difficult to find time to perform, even on the weekends, Brown said. In any given year, there will be about a dozen dates where every member of Los Viejos is available. Los Viejos packs up their immense amount of gear and travels to the gig, whether it is at another university, the Columbus Jazz Festival or right in their own backyard at Casa Nueva, 4 W.
State St.
The gear is never usually a problem, Brown said, as his string students are often more than willing to help the band as roadies for a couple of hours.
One may think that Latin jazz in Southeastern Ohio would not draw as many fans as local rock bands, but Brown said the lines for Los Viejos' shows extend around the block.
We have to tell people to get there early he said.
The entire three-hour show is usually packed, Brown said, with an eclectic mix of college students, Athens residents and, of course, the regulars that come to see Los Viejos play every time.
It's nice to get them together for the same gig
Brown said. People dance the whole night.
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Chris Yonker
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Members of Los Viejos Blanquitos, Rodger Braun, Andre Gribou, Ernie Bastin, Dave Messina, Matt James and Guy Remonko (left to right) will perform tomorrow at Casa Cantina.
Los Viejos Blanquitos draw large all-night dancing crowds to Casa
