Andy Gonzalez, the highly respected and prolific bass player whose memorable contributions have been heard on recordings by music giants, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente died on Thursday of pneumonia and complications due to diabetes. He was 69 years old. Gonzalez was a great, creative force in Salsa and Latin Jazz. He was instrumental in the formation of two of the most influential groups in those genres: Libre founded with legendary percussionist Manny Oquendo and the Fort Apache Band which he founded with his late brother, the conguero/trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez.
Gonzalez and his brother Jerry also formed the highly regarded Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevoyorquino whose recordings “Concepts In Unity” and “Lo Dice Todo” produced by noted musicologist Rene Lopez in the mid 1970’s. An in-demand studio musician, Gonzalez took part in over 700 recordings including sessions for Astor Piazzolla, Hilton Ruiz and countless others. Gonzalez started his path in music as a violinist in his elementary school’s orchestra where there were two bass players. One of the bass players moved away and created a need for another bass player. “I was the tallest violinist” he said in an interview with the website Herencia Latina in the early 2000’s. “I was playing in the second violin section. And so they asked me if I wanted to play the bass, and I said, ‘Sure, I’ll give it a try.’”
Rene Lopez, who lived in the neighborhood, had a vast record collection that furthered Gonzalez’s education to the point that he also became a record collector. According to the New York Times, Mr. González was playing bass in bands while still a teenager. He graduated from the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan and tried Bronx Community College for a time, but he was already so immersed in the music scene that he gave up his pursuit of a degree for the life of a professional musician. Andy Gonzalez was admired for his versatility which was a trait that he passed on to younger bassists coming up on the scene. Gonzalez demonstrated his versatility and virtuosity with the trailblazing Fort Apache Band who blurred the lines between Jazz and Latin with a distinctive New York flavor. The band made up of great soloists and ensemble players could easily switch on a dime from heavy jazz chops to a meaty swinging montuno.
Gonzalez suffered serious health problems due to diabetes in 2004 which landed him in a hospital for two months. The toes on one foot needed to be amputated. It took six months for him to recover and to start playing again. However, Andy didn’t stop playing or recording.
In 2016, at the age of 65, Gonzalez released “Entre Colegas”, the first album under his own name. The recording featured his gorgeous tribute to another great bass hero, Israel Lopez “Cachao”. “Entre Colegas” was nominated for a grammy award for Best Latin Jazz album.
My memories of Andy go back to the late 1990’s when Libre appeared at Carnaval San Francisco.. I was lucky to work with the band both in my capacity as entertainment director for the event and as DJ for their nighttime show at Bimbo’s 365 Club that weekend. Libre was on fire all weekend! Andy’s superb bass playing was right in the pocket firing up that phenomenal swinging trombone dominated band with those massive bass lines. Gonzalez, Oquendo and Libre seduced the crowds with their powerful music and led them to the dance floors at both events. What a powerful sound!.
I caught up with Andy the following year when Libre was going to perform at La Peña Cultural Center. I asked him how it felt to do a smaller, intimate community based show compared to the big shows. He looked around as he checked out the crowd and smiled as he said “I like doing shows like this one, the size of the club doesn’t matter. I like the vibe…It’s going to be a good time”. Of course, Libre tore it up and the dance floor was packed all night long. RIP Andy Gonzalez. Thanks for all the great music!
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