Eddie Palmieri's musical career as a bandleader of salsa and Latin jazz orchestras spans more than 50 years, and includes 36 releases and nine Grammy Awards. A true powerhouse of brilliance known for his astute arranging skills and historic compositions, Palmieri has one of the most actively touring orchestras in the world, tours of which have taken him to Europe, Asia, Latin America, North Africa, and throughout the Caribbean.
In association with the King Arts Complex, CAPA presents Eddie Palmieri at the Lincoln Theatre (769 E. Long St.) on Saturday, March 20, at 8 pm. Tickets are $35 and $30 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. The Lincoln Theatre Ticket Office will open two hours prior to the performance. Students between the ages of 13-19 may purchase $5 High Five tickets while available. This performance is made possible through the generous support of CAPA Spectrum Series sponsors David and Mo Meuse.
Born in Spanish Harlem in 1936, Palmieri began piano studies at an early age, as did his celebrated older brother, the late salsa legend and pianist Charlie Palmieri. For Latin New Yorkers of Palmieri's generation, music was a vehicle out of El Barrio. At age 11, he auditioned at Weil RecitAl Hall, which is next door to Carnegie Hall, a venue as far from the Bronx as he could imagine. Possessed by a desire to play the drums, Palmieri joined his uncle's orchestra at age 13, where he played timbales. Says Palmieri, "By 15, it was goodbye timbales and back to the piano until this day. I'm a frustrated percussionist, so I take it out on the piano."
He began his professional career as a pianist in the early '50s with Eddie Forrester's Orchestra, and then joined Johnny Segui's band in 1955. He also spent a year with the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra before forming his own band, the legendary "La Perfecta" in 1961.
La Perfecta was unique in that it featured a trombone section (led by the late Barry Rogers) in place of trumpets, something that had rarely been done in Latin music and an early demonstration of Palmieri's unconventional means of orchestration. They were known as "the band with the crazy roaring elephants" because of their configuration of two trombones, flute, percussion, bass, and a vocalist. With their infectious sound, La Perfecta soon joined the ranks of Machito, Tito Rodriguez, and other major Latin orchestras of the day.
His unconventional style would once again surprise critics and fans with the 1970 release of Harlem River Drive. It was the first recording to merge black and Latin styles (and musicians), resulting in a free-form sound encompassing elements of salsa, funk, soul, and jazz. What resulted was a fusion that moved effortlessly with its multi-dimensional guitar, funky piano riffs, notable brass, and unforgettable rhythm section. Led by Palmieri, the group also included his brother Charlie as well as excellent players from both communities such as Victor Venegas, Andy Gonzales, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, and Ronnie Cuber. To further his proclivity for creating and performing a funk Latin style, he was invited to record by Little Louie Vega in Nuyorican Soul (1997), a release that has been a huge hit with house music dancers and DJs.
Palmieri received his first Grammy Award in 1975 for The Sun of Latin Music, the first time Latin music was recognized by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Subsequent Grammy Awards include Unfinished Masterpiece (1976), Palo Pa ' Rumba (1984), Solito (1985), and La Verdad (1987). He received both a Latin Grammy and traditional Grammy for his release with Tito Puente entitled Obra Maestra/Masterpiece (2000), Listen Here! (2006), and Simpatico (2007), a collaborative effort with trumpet master Brian Lynch. Simpatico was also recognized by the Jazz Journalist Association as Best Latin Jazz Album that same year.
In 1993, Palmieri was appointed to the board of governors of the New York chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences where he was instrumental in creating a new category for Latin jazz. His album Palmas was among the nominees in this newly created category, and in 1996, he was nominated once again for his album Arete.
In 1988, the Smithsonian Institute recorded two of Palmieri's performances for their catalog of the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, a rare public honor. In 1990, he was invited by Paul Simon to serve as a consultant on his release Rhythm of the Saints. He was awarded the Eubie Blake Award by Dr. Billy Taylor in 1991, and is among the few Latin musicians recognized by both the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico and New York State.
