{"id":2981,"date":"2011-09-05T22:52:59","date_gmt":"2011-09-06T02:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/?p=2981"},"modified":"2022-08-24T08:58:51","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T12:58:51","slug":"lewis-kahn-a-blue-collar-salsa-music-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/2011\/09\/05\/lewis-kahn-a-blue-collar-salsa-music-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Lewis Kahn a Blue Collar Salsa Music Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you like Salsa music, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ve heard Lewis Kahn<\/a> play, even if you don\u2019t recognize his name.<\/p>\n

This low-key, affable trombonist-violinist has played with some of the most recognized names in Salsa and Latin music, including Larry Harlow<\/a>, Tito Puente<\/a>, Eddie Palmieri<\/a>, and Willie Colon<\/a> among others.<\/p>\n

Interview with Lewis Kahn<\/h3>\n

I had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Lewis Kahn when I originally wrote this blog back in 2011. At the time, the maestro was part of the Juan Carlos Formell<\/a> band, who were touring promoting their album \u201cJohnny\u2019s Dream Club\u201d<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Mr. Lewis Kahn was incredibly humble and easy to talk to. I enjoyed every minute of my conversation with the man that I admired as a key component of the glory days of Orchestra Harlow.<\/p>\n

So obviously one of my 1st questions was what attracted Lewis Kahn, this accomplished Salsa musician, to play with Juan Carlos Formell.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a fresh sound that is very melodic and romantic. It is something different from playing Salsa\u201d <\/em>said the soft-spoken trombonist, who also played several years with the Fania All-Stars. \u201cJuan Carlos\u2019 music has structure, but it also allows space for improvisation. In that respect, it resembles jazz. It is very beautiful music\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

From Violin to Trombone, and Back<\/h3>\n

The musical career of Lewis Kahn began at a very early age when he inherited the violin of his maternal grandfather. The young Lewis loved music and was classically educated on the instrument until he entered high school. \u201cThere was no violin in the high school band, so I had to pick another instrument. I picked the trombone because I liked the sound and I was big with long arms\u201d<\/em>, explains Mr. Kahn.<\/p>\n

Lewis continued his musical education at New York\u2019s Julliard School of Music. \u201cSomehow my name got out to some of the Latin bands that needed a trombone player. I began playing in some boogaloo bands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Lewis Kahn began playing with Orchestra Harlow almost by chance. \u201cOur band and Larry\u2019s band were playing at the same event. In a break I began talking to Larry\u2019s musicians, and I think to Larry as well. From there I was called to substitute for Harlow\u2019s trombonists when there was a chance. Eventually, some of Larry\u2019s musicians went on to do other things, and I officially entered the band.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

Lewis entered Orchestra Harlow, one of the key bands for the then-new Latin music record label Fania. This was around the time of Harlow\u2019s albums \u201cMe and My Monkey\u201d<\/em> and \u201cElectric Harlow\u201d<\/em> which were released in 1969.<\/p>\n

\u201cSalsa\u201d<\/em>, The Album<\/h3>\n
\"Lewis<\/a>
Lewis Kahn played trombone & violin in the album “Salsa” by Orchestra Harlow (1973). In my opinion, one of the best Salsa albums ever made.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I had to ask Lewis Kahn about one of my favorite Salsa music albums of all time; the 1973 Orchestra Harlow album simply titled <\/span> \u201cSalsa\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I thought this was one of the most progressive albums of the time, and still think it\u2019s one of the best recorded Salsa albums. Like most of Harlow\u2019s music, it\u2019s based on the traditional Cuban music greatly influenced by the Arsenio Rodriguez sound, but yet, the orchestrations made the band sound bigger, almost ahead of its time. \u201cLarry\u2019s music seems to be always ahead of its time\u201d<\/em> was Lewis\u2019 response.<\/p>\n

\u201cSalsa\u201d<\/em> was the album where \u201cEl Otro Judio Maravilloso<\/em>\u201d (\u201cthe other marvelous Jew\u201d, in reference to bandleader Larry Harlow\u2019s nickname \u201cEl Judio Maravilloso<\/em>\u201d (the marvelous Jew)), as Junior Gonzalez baptized him in the album, made his violin debut.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t planned. In my mind I\u2019m a trombonist, but I must have slipped and mentioned that I also play the violin, and Larry immediately wanted to try it in the band\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Lewis Kahn was featured doing a violin solo in Salsa’s<\/em> 1st singles hit \u201cLa Cartera\u201d<\/em>, but also plays the violin prominently in the classic Cuban \u201ccharanga\u201d and hit \u201cEl Paso de la Encarnacion\u201d<\/i>. He also plays it in the melodic montuno \u201cSilencio\u201d, <\/em>which makes my hairs stand every time I listen to it. Larry\u2019s experiment using Lewis\u2019 violin was a smashing success, and the violin has accompanied Lewis ever since.<\/p>\n

Here’s Larry Harlow playing “La Cartera”<\/em> with Lewis Kahn performing a violin solo.<\/p>\n