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Flushing Town Hall Responds to the Passing of Cuban Percussionist Cándido Camero Ellen Kodadek, Executive & Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall, has issued the following statement in response to the death of Cándido Camero: “Flushing Town Hall was deeply saddened to learn of conguero Cándido Camero's passing at 99 years-old. Like so many of his admirers, we are gratified that he lived such a long life and grateful for the music he played up until the very end. Just last year, we were honored to host him at Flushing Town Hall twice. He joined us in September of 2019 to celebrate our season's launch with a performance from Canadian Afro-Cuban artists Jane Bunnett & Maqueque and then returned in November to perform in our once-in-a-lifetime Gathering of the Masters alongside fellow greats Paquito D'Rivera, Joanne Brackeen, Jimmy Owens, Jimmy Cobb, and Reggie Workman. It was our first time presenting six NEA Jazz Masters together on stage -- two of them Cuban-born, Cándido and Paquito. Cándido's flying fingers defied their age and stole the show. He was an extraordinary talent and innovator. A pioneer of the Latin Jazz genre, Cándido played with the best of the best, including Charlie Parker, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, and Machito. He is noted for being one of the first percussionists to play multiple congas at the same time, with each conga tuned to a different pitch, enabling him to play not only rhythm but melodies. We were amazed when, during his percussion solo at our concert last November, he played the melody to Dizzy Gillespie's composition “Manteca” on his congas. That was his magic and mastery. Incidentally, "Manteca" was co-written by another Cuban-born percussionist, Chano Pozo, who was also very important in establishing the Latin Jazz genre and surely an idol to Cándido. As a presenter of world-class jazz and global arts, Flushing Town Hall takes great pride in showcasing legendary artists like Cándido on our stage and ensuring their masterful work is accessible to all. On behalf of Flushing Town Hall, we wish el maestro a peaceful rest and extend our condolences to his beloved family and colleagues around the world.” |
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