Eddie Palmieri
A titan of Latin Jazz, Eddie Palmieri has been at the forefront of Jazz and Latin genres over four decades. Born in El Barrio in New York City on 112th Street, Palmieri began his musical odyssey at the age of eight when he began piano lessons in Latin fundamentals. When he started attending high school (P.S. No. 52 in the Bronx), the fourteen-year-old Palmieri formed a group with timbales player Orlando Marìn, along with a vocalist-percussionist named Joe Quijano. He left the group in 1955 to turn professional as a member of Johnny Seguì's Orchestra, where he ran into artistic conflicts due to his unique and thunderous piano playing. After departing, he replaced his equally talented older brother, Charlie Palmieri as pianist with the band of ex-Tito Puente lead singer Vincento Valdès before he went on to play with the now legendary Tito Rodriguez with whom he remained until 1960. He was, however, a perpetually experimental and musically restless soul who continued to experiment with various forms of Jazz, R&B, Afro-Cuban musical forms, and the African musical forms that imbue most forms of Latin music. Often Palmieri's vision was far ahead of his contemporaries, a vision that initially cost him continuous employment; he was, early in his professional career, forced by necessity to play weddings, funerals, and dances to supplement his income. Nevertheless, Palmieri formed his own band in 1960, La Perfecta. La Perfecta was innovative in its approach as it used a two trombone and flute frontline. The band made five albums for Alegre Records before the group disbanded in 1968. Palmieri began recording for Tico Records where he released a few 'Boogaloo' albums that he eventually denounced as embarrassing because of the music's lack of sophistication and depth. He continued to experiment, always using his Latin roots to expand his compositional and piano artistry into a form that would eventually comprise a fusion of Pop, Rock, Jazz, R&B, and Afro-Cuban styles. Additionally, Palmieri remains very much the musical scholar, quick with describing the Afro roots and history of the music of his parents' native Puerto Rico and Latin America. Having played with numerous luminaries, percussionist Ray Barretto and vibraphonist Cal Tjader among them, he continues to compose, play, and influence musicians throughout the world; recording now (2001) primarily for RMM Records. In 2001 his album with the legendary Tito Puente "Masterpiece/Obra Maestro" marked Puente's last recording and the first and final meeting of two giants who had long desired to perform together; they were justifiably awarded a Grammy for Best Salsa Album for this project. The most accurate description of Palmieri's musicality are found in the liner notes of "Masterpiece/Obra Maestra" by poet-commentator-activist Felipe Luciano who said, "Eddie is a guerrilla fighter, a slash and burn pianist who takes no prisoners and asks no one for approval of his Puerto-Rican dreams and melodies". His contemporaries and fans throughout the world agree.
