One of the last bastions of the contrabass players ("contrabajistas") of the Buena Vista Social Club movement has just passed away in Havana.
The inseparable companion of the pianista Rubén González who passed away at the end of 2003. Brother, son, grandson, cousin, nephew and father of great musicians, almost all contrabass players. Son of Orestes Lopez and nephew of Israel Lopez "Cachao", deceased in March of last year.
Orlando Lopez, known as "Cachaito" died after recently reaching the age of
76 on February 2, and after having fought with prostate problems for some time; it was precisely the operation of this gland that he did not survive.
His father was the one who initiated him in the art of playing the contrabass, although Orlando was more inclined to play the violin, an instrument which he also was to play skillfully. He was a member of the "Arcaño y Sus Maravillas" band, founded in 1937 by the Cuban flute player, Antonio Arcaño. Later, in 1954 he joined the Riverside orchestra where he remained for five years until the end of the 50s when he formed part of Symphony Orchestra of Cuba. He was also a member of "Los Zafiros" that is currently directed by the singer Jorge Enrique Echevarría Durañona. He evolved as the contrabass player of the famous Quinteto de Jazz, that would become the cornerstone of the formation of Irakere.
In 1998 he was chosen to be part of Buena Vista Social Club movement with which he deservingly received a Grammy. In 2001 he recorded his first work that was titled simply "Cachaito", which also featured one of his great friends, the percussionist Miguel Angá Diaz.
Orlando Lopez was a person who could be called introverted. He spoke little but always smiled. He could play pop music in an afternoon presentation and that same night perform classical music in a Symphony. That was Cachaito, soft spoken, introverted and a musician like no other. Another virtuoso who joins the Celestial Big Band.
Planeta Salsa can also be read in "Q'Hubo".
Send comments to: planetasalsa@gmail.com
 Febrary
2009
| 
