One of the great drummer/percussionists, longtime drummer for the Fort Apache band has passed away.
Descansa en Paz Maestro.
Steve Berrios - RIP
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Mike Schwartz
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Re: Steve Berrios - RIP
Chazro wrote:One of the great drummer/percussionists, longtime drummer for the Fort Apache band has passed away.
Descansa en Paz Maestro.
A much admired master....RIP
Re: Steve Berrios - RIP
RIP, Sir!
Re: Steve Berrios - RIP
very sad. a huge loss to the jazz/latin community. sincere condolences to his family and friends, of which there were many.
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Ron Thorne
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Re: Steve Berrios - RIP
Steve Berrios, Master of Latin Jazz and Drums, Dies at 68
Steve Berrios performing with the Fort Apache Band in 2003.
By PAUL VITELLO
Published: July 27, 2013
Steve Berrios, a master percussionist whose command of jazz, Latin and Caribbean folk music traditions figured prominently in the sophisticated rhythmic drive behind a wide range of jazz and Latin-jazz fusion bands, died on Wednesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 68.
Todd Barkan, a record producer and friend, confirmed the death, but no cause was announced.
Mr. Berrios was a fixture of the New York Latin jazz scene for 40 years, playing in groups led by Max Roach, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente and Grover Washington Jr. He was a founding member of the Fort Apache Band, a popular Latin jazz fusion ensemble led by Jerry Gonzalez.
Mr. Berrios grew up in Upper Manhattan with neighbors like Mr. Puente, Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria, all icons of Latin music and friends of his father, Steven Berrios, who was a professional drummer in dance bands.
Starting his professional career at 16, the younger Mr. Berrios credited a host of mentors, including his father, with helping him develop both an authoritative style — described by fellow percussionist Eddie Bobe in 2002 as “reigning behind the beat” — and a sure-footed fluidity in moving from one musical idiom to another, matching his fluency in both English and Spanish.
He began touring and recording at 19 in a band led by Mr. Santamaria, a Cuban-born conga player considered the best of his generation. He learned to play batá sacred drums — hourglass shaped instruments used in the Afro-Caribbean religion called Santería — from Julito Collazo, a prominent drummer in the band who later left music for a religious life.
Mr. Berrios played conga, djembe, cowbells, marimba, timpani and glockenspiel in Dizzy Gillespie’s band on a good-will tour of Cuba in the 1980s.
From the drummer Max Roach, he said, he learned leadership. “I don’t care who the leader of the band is,” Mr. Berrios said in a 2007 interview with the online journal All About Jazz. “Once the tune is counted off, the drummer is the leader of the band. The drummer controls the dynamics, the tempo, the feel of the music, everything.”
Mr. Berrios recorded more than a dozen albums as a member of the Fort Apache Band, including “The River Is Deep,” (1982) “Obatalà,” (1988) “Rumba Para Monk,” (1988) “Earthdance,” (1990) and “Moliendo Café” (1991).
“And Then Some!” (1997), one of the few albums he recorded at the head of his own group, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Performance.
Mr. Berrios was born in Manhattan on Feb. 24, 1945, soon after his parents arrived in New York from Puerto Rico. He started learning to play the trumpet in junior high, but found his father’s drum set a better fit.
He is survived by four daughters, Aisha Jafar, and Merida, Cindy and Angela Barrios; and a son, Steve.
In recent interviews, he reflected on being little known outside the world of jazz musicians and aficionados despite a long career.
His personal semi-obscurity bothered him less, he said, than the general public disregard for drummers as artists.
“Most people look at the drummer as an ignorant timekeeper that doesn’t know anything about music or forms,” he said in the 2007 interview. “But a drummer has to be as intelligent as the horn players. He has to know the vernacular, the history of the music.” A horn player can take a break. A drummer never leaves. “We’re like royalty,” he said.
© 2013 The New York Times Company
Steve Berrios performing with the Fort Apache Band in 2003.
By PAUL VITELLO
Published: July 27, 2013
Steve Berrios, a master percussionist whose command of jazz, Latin and Caribbean folk music traditions figured prominently in the sophisticated rhythmic drive behind a wide range of jazz and Latin-jazz fusion bands, died on Wednesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 68.
Todd Barkan, a record producer and friend, confirmed the death, but no cause was announced.
Mr. Berrios was a fixture of the New York Latin jazz scene for 40 years, playing in groups led by Max Roach, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente and Grover Washington Jr. He was a founding member of the Fort Apache Band, a popular Latin jazz fusion ensemble led by Jerry Gonzalez.
Mr. Berrios grew up in Upper Manhattan with neighbors like Mr. Puente, Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria, all icons of Latin music and friends of his father, Steven Berrios, who was a professional drummer in dance bands.
Starting his professional career at 16, the younger Mr. Berrios credited a host of mentors, including his father, with helping him develop both an authoritative style — described by fellow percussionist Eddie Bobe in 2002 as “reigning behind the beat” — and a sure-footed fluidity in moving from one musical idiom to another, matching his fluency in both English and Spanish.
He began touring and recording at 19 in a band led by Mr. Santamaria, a Cuban-born conga player considered the best of his generation. He learned to play batá sacred drums — hourglass shaped instruments used in the Afro-Caribbean religion called Santería — from Julito Collazo, a prominent drummer in the band who later left music for a religious life.
Mr. Berrios played conga, djembe, cowbells, marimba, timpani and glockenspiel in Dizzy Gillespie’s band on a good-will tour of Cuba in the 1980s.
From the drummer Max Roach, he said, he learned leadership. “I don’t care who the leader of the band is,” Mr. Berrios said in a 2007 interview with the online journal All About Jazz. “Once the tune is counted off, the drummer is the leader of the band. The drummer controls the dynamics, the tempo, the feel of the music, everything.”
Mr. Berrios recorded more than a dozen albums as a member of the Fort Apache Band, including “The River Is Deep,” (1982) “Obatalà,” (1988) “Rumba Para Monk,” (1988) “Earthdance,” (1990) and “Moliendo Café” (1991).
“And Then Some!” (1997), one of the few albums he recorded at the head of his own group, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Performance.
Mr. Berrios was born in Manhattan on Feb. 24, 1945, soon after his parents arrived in New York from Puerto Rico. He started learning to play the trumpet in junior high, but found his father’s drum set a better fit.
He is survived by four daughters, Aisha Jafar, and Merida, Cindy and Angela Barrios; and a son, Steve.
In recent interviews, he reflected on being little known outside the world of jazz musicians and aficionados despite a long career.
His personal semi-obscurity bothered him less, he said, than the general public disregard for drummers as artists.
“Most people look at the drummer as an ignorant timekeeper that doesn’t know anything about music or forms,” he said in the 2007 interview. “But a drummer has to be as intelligent as the horn players. He has to know the vernacular, the history of the music.” A horn player can take a break. A drummer never leaves. “We’re like royalty,” he said.
© 2013 The New York Times Company
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Re: Steve Berrios - RIP
I love the tradition of honoring with music. The following is an account of the church service for Steve Berrios, told by Bobby Sanabria:
Maestro Steve Berrios's memorial tribute last night at St. Peter's Church in NYC was fabulous. Kudos to Todd Barkan, Andy Gonzalez, Rene' Lopez and others for putting it together. The evening opened with some words by the pastor of the church as well as Todd reading a beautiful message that Jerry Gonzalez had sent due to a professional commitment he had in Paris. Next a trio of sacred bata' drummers introduced by music historian/record producer Maestro Rene' Lopez - Hector "Flaco" Hernandez - okonkolo, Teddy Holiday Jr. - Iya', Camillo Molina - itotele played the oru' seco, (the salute rhythms for the 22 orishas worshipped in Santeria played in an uninterupted sequence). A toque de guiro (rhythm of shekeres) was also played after with songs sung for Steve's patron orisha, Chango'. Pianist Larry Willis gave an impassioned solo performance in honor of Steve. Then Jeff "Tain" Watts performed a solo drumset piece in dedication to Steve demonstrating some of the rhythmic influences Steve has had on all of us. Ft. Apache co-founder, bassist Andy Gonzalez, tresero Ben Lapidus, vocalist Abie Rodriguez, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Roland Guerrero on congas, along with Tony Rosa on vocals and percussion performed a burning version of Arsenio Rodriguez's tune, Son Bacheche, which was the title of one of Steve's solo CD's that had been Grammy nominated. Andy also spoke beautifully about Steve and the very last words he ever told Andy, "Take care of yourself because we need you, and I need you." Pianist Bill O'Connell along with Sonny Fortune and Joe Ford on alto and Bill Saxton on tenor performed Mongo Santamaria's Afro-Blue to roaring applause. Final words were said by one of Steve's former wives, vocalist Elizabeth Monder who sang a heartfelt version of "You Don't know What Love Is." Merida Berrios, Steve's middle daughter, had the final say thanking everyone present. St. Peter's was packed with friends, fans, colleagues and a who's who of percussion royalty - Candido, Joe Chambers, Warren Smith, Ray Mantilla, Gene Golden, Eddie Montalvo, Napoleon Revels, Buddy Williams, Roger Squitero, Robbie Amin, Adam Cruz, Nasheed Waits, and many more. Ibae abeye tonu Steve. I know you're smiling.
Ache',
Bobby Sanabria
Maestro Steve Berrios's memorial tribute last night at St. Peter's Church in NYC was fabulous. Kudos to Todd Barkan, Andy Gonzalez, Rene' Lopez and others for putting it together. The evening opened with some words by the pastor of the church as well as Todd reading a beautiful message that Jerry Gonzalez had sent due to a professional commitment he had in Paris. Next a trio of sacred bata' drummers introduced by music historian/record producer Maestro Rene' Lopez - Hector "Flaco" Hernandez - okonkolo, Teddy Holiday Jr. - Iya', Camillo Molina - itotele played the oru' seco, (the salute rhythms for the 22 orishas worshipped in Santeria played in an uninterupted sequence). A toque de guiro (rhythm of shekeres) was also played after with songs sung for Steve's patron orisha, Chango'. Pianist Larry Willis gave an impassioned solo performance in honor of Steve. Then Jeff "Tain" Watts performed a solo drumset piece in dedication to Steve demonstrating some of the rhythmic influences Steve has had on all of us. Ft. Apache co-founder, bassist Andy Gonzalez, tresero Ben Lapidus, vocalist Abie Rodriguez, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Roland Guerrero on congas, along with Tony Rosa on vocals and percussion performed a burning version of Arsenio Rodriguez's tune, Son Bacheche, which was the title of one of Steve's solo CD's that had been Grammy nominated. Andy also spoke beautifully about Steve and the very last words he ever told Andy, "Take care of yourself because we need you, and I need you." Pianist Bill O'Connell along with Sonny Fortune and Joe Ford on alto and Bill Saxton on tenor performed Mongo Santamaria's Afro-Blue to roaring applause. Final words were said by one of Steve's former wives, vocalist Elizabeth Monder who sang a heartfelt version of "You Don't know What Love Is." Merida Berrios, Steve's middle daughter, had the final say thanking everyone present. St. Peter's was packed with friends, fans, colleagues and a who's who of percussion royalty - Candido, Joe Chambers, Warren Smith, Ray Mantilla, Gene Golden, Eddie Montalvo, Napoleon Revels, Buddy Williams, Roger Squitero, Robbie Amin, Adam Cruz, Nasheed Waits, and many more. Ibae abeye tonu Steve. I know you're smiling.
Ache',
Bobby Sanabria
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