Café with Master Percussionist Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez
Cuban percussionist Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez is a veteran of musician who has played with the best in the music scene and collaborated in various Grammy Award-winning recordings.
This is no accident, as “El Negro” comes from a musical family in Cuba, and grew up seeing groups like Irakere perform up close from backstage. It was from these experiences that he got his admiration for Enrique Plá, Irakere’s trap drummer, and began his love for the instrument in which he has become a virtuoso.
Regarding his love for music, “El Negro” recounts “my father had a Jazz show in radio for about 40 years. He knew many musicians because of his radio show; that’s how I was able to get into Irakere’s shows as a kid, and see them from back stage.”
Rubalcaba and D’Rivera Among El Negro’s Many Latin Jazz Collaborations
“El Negro” Hernandez studied music with a couple of well-known music teachers and began performing at a very young age. In his teen years, he played with Nicolas “”El Negro”” Reynoso, who founded the original Afro-Cuba band, one of the most acclaimed jazz bands in Cuba at that time. “That only lasted for a little over a year (of the original Afro-Cuba, as there was a 2nd version) and we recorded only one album” said “El Negro”.
After the experience with Afro-Cuba, “El Negro” joined fellow teen Gonzalo Rubalcaba in his Grupo Proyecto. “I hope I don’t offend anyone, but Gonzalo Rubalcaba was the best musician I have ever played with”, he said. He ended up playing with Rubalcaba for 10 years. During that time, he participated in Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s early albums, including my Rubalcaba favorite “Mi Gran Pasion”. This album helped revive the “danzón” in Cuba. “We were both just 23 years old when we recorded that album”, says Horacio. He went on to tell the story of how he traveled the world with Rubalcaba’s group when they were in their 20’s.
Horacio lived in Italy for the two years after leaving Cuba waiting for the opportunity to move to the United States. When he finally arrived to the states, he was called by fellow Cuban Paquito D’Rivera the day he arrived. Both got in a plane to Miami to record “40 Years for Cuban Jam Sessions”. So “El Negro” found himself in his 2nd day in the U.S. in a recording studio with Cachao, Paquito D’Rivera, Chocolate Armenteros, and a bunch of other Cuban music greats. “I remember being in a room with Andy Garcia and Cachao, and thinking that I was in heaven”, recounts Hernandez of that experience.
“El Negro” Hernandez Continues to Influence Latin Jazz
Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez continues to collaborate with many Latin Jazz greats. In this way, he continues to influence Latin Jazz from his progressive style.
Horacio collaborated with fellow Cuban Orlando “Maraca” Valle in his splendid CD/DVD concert recorded in Havana titled “Reencuentro”. Hernandez also renewed his collaboration with his friend Gonzalo Rubalcaba, along with master percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo in a project they called “Volcan”.
Regardless of what his is doing, “El Negro” is a fascinating percussionist to watch. He will continue to move Latin Jazz forward with his talent and dedication.