déc 20 2009
BIOGRAPHY AND INTERVIEW D’EL ZORRO
» Escrito en Biographies por Salsatimba a las 17:36El Zorro
Martin Richard Lehner
Welcome to the world of El Zorro, a melting pot of all Cuban music. Unfortunately some people wil still link the name of El Zorro to that of Sergeant Garcia, but no, El Zorro is now this:
Vidéo El Zorro http://www.youtube.com/watch?
El Zorro is the coming together of two men, of two musicians, of two continents which beat to the same rhythms, the rhythms of music and of Cuba; one was born into it (Gustavo), the other fell into it (Martin), but they sum it up so well “Somos Hermanos” (we are brothers).
El Zorro is also and most importantly the mainstay and the founder of the band, the stagename of Martin Richar Lenher: pianist, trombone player, compositor, producer. Born in Switzerland, he studied jazz in addition to the trombone at Winterthur academy of music. From 1989 on, he taught the trombone and musical theory at both the jazz school and the university in Zurich, while becoming head of the jazz department at the “Zurich Conservatory Classical and Jazz”.
At the same time he develops a passion for Cuban music, while already playing in different bands. But after a journey to Cuba in 1995 to find out more, he decides to change and comes back with the fantastic idea of forming “El Zorro”.
This could not have taken from without one man: Gustavo Carlos Duran Anaya “ El Buda”. He studied music in Santiago de Cuba and in Havana. He played the trombone first of all with the Orquesta Sinfonica del Oriente and then later with other bands, Los Tainos, Los Kinin, Chan Chan as well as with the mythic Sur Caribe and Elio Reve y su Charangon.
The “El Zorro” band was born out of the friendship of these two men. Immediately they came up with the winning idea of mixing together Martin Richar Lenher’s compositions, their music and their know-how, with the greatest voices of Cuba.
Indeed, the incomparable Mayito Rivera, musician but also singer with one of the most important Cuban bands “Los Van Van”, was present on almost every album. He performed amongst others “Volando”, “Te Fuiste”, “Somos Hermanos”, “Frio Frio”, “Cuarenta y seis”, “Llego, Llego”.
As for Angel Bonne, he took an equal part in things. Musician, saxophone player, singer, he joined the “Van Van”, he participated in other projects with Pupy or Sur Caribe and joined the team of El Zorro. He sang “Para”, “Te doy me mano”, “El Fenomeno”, “El Sapo”, “Mi Tierra”, “La Rumba Te Llama”…
Other famous singers joined them. There was Roberto Pulido Gonzales (Charanga Forever) with “Ay, Como Me Sube”, Osdalgia (Bamboleo) with “El Zorro”, “Lloro”, Nelson Manuel with “Relajate”, “Maria”, but also Evelio Jaz Ramos on the album “Somos Hermanos”. Surrounded by all these talented musicians, they introduced us to their world.
Indeed they carry us to the shores of Cuba, to Havana and throughout the whole country on their friendship to the sounds of the Timba, the Cha Cha Cha, the Son, the Boléro, the Salsa, the Danzon, the Guaguanco and the Rumba.
The lyrics, coverning a great variety of subjects, are chiefly written by Martin Richard Lenher. Althougt the band is of Cuban/ Swiss origin, Cuba is omnipresent in all its complexity, as in its poverty, its despair, its delinquance (“Oh La Habana”) as well as in its joy and its friendship (“Somos Hermanos”, “El Zorro”, “Te Doy me mano”), and also in its love and its religion.
He evokes the joy of living there, the rum, the sunshine, love, the rumba, friendship, life and its difficulties. He invokes the gods of the Yoruba religion: among others, Elegua (the god of the pathways; patron saint of crossroads and keeper of the doors) and Orula (prophet and keeper of all knowledge).
Their music is not only reminiscent of Timba, it unites but it is also eclectic. The Cha Cha Cha (“Mi Tierra”) flirts with the Bolero (“Te Lo Juro”) and the Timba (“Frio Frio”) as well as with the salsa romantica (“Sobrenaturalo”).
A certain evolution is discernible since their first album “La Vida Entera” right up to their last “Ay, Como Me Sube”. Even though influenced without doubt by classical and well-known Cuban bands, they have managed to create their own individual style of music and rhythm, the distinctive sound of “El Zorro”.
An exceptional band has been formed through the merging of their diffferent personalities, this is what makes them different, rich and always complementary.
Myriam : The first question that comes to mind is why the stagename “El Zorro”?
Martin Richard Lenher : When I traveled the second time to Cuba, I had some original compositions in my luggage. The idea was to present Gustavo and other cuban musicians my new compositions. I was very curios about here opinions. A lot of this cuban musicians couldn’t believe that a Swiss guy, like me, wrote this tunes. So they call me “zorro” (fox), what is mining, that I am a smart, intelligent and clever boy. From this I earned my proper cuban nickname “el zorro”, and I decide to use this name for this swiss/cuban joint venture project.
Myriam : Where does your interest in Cuban music stem from?
Martin Richard Lenher : During my studies in music I started to play Latin and Salsa music. And of course sooner or later I discovered the richness in the Cuban music. The Cuban Salsa (called Timba) is full of the Cuban music culture like, Danzon, Son, Guaguanco (cuban rumba), Santeria (religious rhythms). Mixed with new elements of music stiles like, Jazz, Funk, Rock, Pop and Hip Hop. This mix makes the Timba very complex and interesting. I never saw a country with such a high level of understanding in complex music like Cuba. From a baby to a grandma the whole country is dancing to Timba, and Timba (believe me as a musician) is really not a simple piece of music.
Myriam : Which Cuban bands have most influenced you or are still influencing you?
Martin Richard Lenher : In the beginning it was the wonderful band Los Van Van, later the creasy timba-bands La Charanga Habanera and Manolin “El Medico De La Salsa”. Also Paulito F.G. but not only because of the singer Paulito, because of the just two of the greatest arrangers in the cuban music; Juan Manuel Ceruto and Joaquín Betancourt. Finaly I like also Issac Delgado, Manolito, Bamboleo and Maravillas De Florida. At the moment I am not really influenced by a cuban band, but I became a big fan of the band “Guaco” from Venezuela.
Myriam : Even if we already know quite a lot about your background, tell us about your first meeting with Gustavo Carlos Duran Anaya “ El Buda”.
Martin Richard Lenher : First time when I traveled for 4 weeks to Cuba, I was 2 weeks in Santiago. Every morning I had there some lessons in playing percussion. To not loose my jobs on my trombone (stay in a good condition) practice also on my trombone. And the place was on a terrace. So everybody could here my playing in the neighborhood. 3. morning a cuban trombone player Frankis passed the street to check out, who the hell is playing here. Later Frankis introduced me Gustavo. Both of them Frankis and Gustavo were playing in the symphonic orchestra from Santiago. I spent some nice and interesting times together with Gustavo, and so we became friends.
Myriam : How did you decide to form a band? And to invite famous singers like Mayito Rivera and Angel Bonne?
Martin Richard Lenher : Since 8 years I have a swiss edition from El Zorro. It’s means, I am playing with swiss and cuban musicians (living in Switzerland) mostly here in Switzerland. Last november 2009 the festival “Aqui Cuba” made me a very kind offer to play at your festival and to invite a guest star Angel Bonne. We had a lot of fun to play some concerts with Angel, and we had big success, so we decide to organize some concerts more in july next year 2010. We will play in Switzerland, Poland, Italy and maybe in France again. We will see what the future brings.
Myriam : Where do you find your inspiration for your lyrics? Do you have a preference for certain themes?
Martin Richard Lenher : This is a good questions. I don’t really know it. Sometimes I heard somewhere a text phrase from a song and later I am thinking, oh this could be a nice theme also for a new song. An other story is, I was watching the news on tv, and I saw people fighting because of religions. After that for me it was clear to write a song against this madness. So the song “Para!” originated. Most popular is the theme about love in my songs. The relationship between a man and a woman is still important in everybody’s life.
Myriam : what do you think differentiates your music from the rest?
Martin Richard Lenher : The difference comes from my background. I grow up with all kind of music playing by the radio stations. Switzerland hasn’t really his own music. Okay some yodeling, but in serious forget this. Switzerland isn’t an ethic origin. We are formed from different nations. So, I like to say, that I am not detained in tight corset of special type of music. Most of cuban composers are thinking first in the groove (rhythmical aspect) and secondly about melody and harmony. Think about this, how many world hits had Cuba in the past? Okay you will remember a hand full. Make the same thing with brazilian music, and you will get a lot more favorite melodies. I like to explain, that cubans are very strong in rhythms but not really in melodies. When I am composing music, I am thinking differnent in groove, harmonies and melody at the same time, and maybe this gives me some different results like other cuban bands.
Myriam : How is “El Zorro” perceived in Switzerland?
Martin Richard Lenher : Very, very bad. Unfortunately a “prophet“ has no honour in his
Myriam : Will you be going on tour in Europe?
Martin Richard Lenher : Yes I am now in the organization about some concerts in July 2010 again with Angel Bonne. We will play in Switzerland, Poland, Italy and maybe in France again.
Myriam : Is there a fifth CD in preparation and if so, will there be any surprises?
Martin Richard Lenher : Yes there is a 5. CD in preparation, and there will be a bunch of surprises. I’m hoping, that the production will be finished in next summer 2010. I’m sure, that some listener will love the music and some others don’t like it. How can I know that? I know it, because all of the changes in the music they will be in the next CD. Exactly like you wrote in the biography, every new CD is a new step in a new direction. Music must live and music has to change, has to develop, if not, it will be dead.
Myriam : Finally, would you like to pass on a message to your followers in France?
Martin Richard Lenher : Not really a message, but saying thank you all for listening my music…(and of course saying thank you to download it legal on an internet portal or to buy CDs on a shop).
El Zorro
Martin Richard Lehner
