An insider's report from one of the original Fania All Stars!

The Fania All-Stars Reunion at the Hollywood Bowl
(September 29, 2001) 

By Larry Harlow

This past weekend was spent with all the Fania All Stars in Los Angeles, California. After the Terrorist attack on the World trade Center 3 weeks ago, I was sure that this wonderful concert would be postponed due to restrictions on the air travel. To my surprise it was not and after a GREAT show at Madison Square Garden on Sept 8th, we once again were being united for this Latin Jazz Festival in California.

My wife Wendy and I flew on Continental Airlines from Newark to LA. We left our home in the city at 5 a.m. to make sure there was plenty of time for security checks at Newark. To our surprise there were NO lines and very little waiting. We later realized that it was Yom Kippur, the high Holy Jewish Holiday.

The flight was only 25% full and we had room to stretch out
and relax. My Limo picked us up directly in Los Angeles, and we proceeded directly to the Sunset Marquis Hotel off Sunset Strip. The only other people from our group who were there was Ralph Mercado and his staff, who came on American Airlines. 

The hotel was beautiful. No sign outside and all wonderfully decorated suites. This is where all the Rock stars stay the last
few years - 2 swimming pools, hot tubs, gym, wonderful lounges and restaurants and near everything. Wendy and I and my friend Rudy Morel decided to enjoy a gourmet dinner at SPAGO'S one of the world's best restaurants in Beverly Hills.

We made reservations and drove for an 8 p.m. dinner that lasted for hours. We drank 3 bottles of rare wine and ate
soft-shell crabs and the most delicious fish and appetizers and deserts.

When we returned to the hotel, some of the All Stars were arriving from different cities around the country. Friday started with the influx of all the musicians and stage personal who were staying at the Radisson Hotel. It is kind of nice not to have the whole crew at the same place - a lot more civilized!

We were due for a rehearsal at 7-11 p.m. but the San Juan, Puerto Rico people had not arrived yet. Cheo Feliciano, Roberto Roena, Papo Lucca and Bobby Valentín and families arrived at 6 p.m. after flying from San Juan to Atlanta to Dallas to Los Angeles. They were exhausted. Pacheco and I decided to do the rehearsal without them. 

I had an arrangement made of the "Star Spangled Banner" and brought an American Flag to open the show with but nobody but me thought it was appropriate to do at the Bowl, Sooooooooooo ...The rehearsal was short and quick and all retired early for SIR Studios.

Wendy spent the day with her friends while the All Stars had a 2 p.m. sound check at the Bowl in 90 degree heat and direct sun. There were 5 other bands to do sound checks and a 6 p.m. start of the concert, due to the fact that the Hollywood Bowl has an 11 p.m. curfew. The plugs are pulled exactly at 11 p.m.

A Mariachi band opened the show, followed by a high school big band Jazz orchestra, followed by Gilberto Santa Rosa and his orquestra and Poncho Sánchez featuring Jon Faddis and finally the Fania All-Stars.

We were supposed to start at 9 p.m. promptly BUT each band went 5-10 minutes over their limit and the stage crews had to change over setups and finally we went on at 9:40. 

There was a large crowd (not a sell out) of about 10,000. The Championship middleweight fight of Tito Trinidad had been postponed and was on at the same time we played, as well as a free large Jazz concert in LA.

The show was promoted by Ralph Mercado Presents as well as the Conga Room owners (Jimmy Smits and Jennifer López who, by the way, was married that evening as well). They did NOT do a very good job in promoting this event, in my opinion. But we went on to the cheers of the thousands who were in attendance. 

The show was billed as the 30th anniversary of "Our Latin Thing", the evening at the Cheetah, so I came out dressed as I looked in 1971: bell bottom pants, platform shoes, tie-dye shirt, a peace sign around my neck, granny glasses, a fringe leather jacket (from the ABRAN PASO album cover) and a long hair wig with long sideburns and a Fu Man Chu mustache! What a goof! A little heavier, but a long laugh. The wig was very hot so I only used it for one number as Izzy Sanabria introduced me as the ONLY Fania All Star that still looked the same as 30 years ago.

I changed after the first song. The music was swinging, as usual, and all Salsa Dura. Pete Conde's children Cita and Pete Junior, Adalberto, Hector Cassanova, Quintana, Junior González, Cheo Feliciano, joined the regular All Stars and all performed admirably.

The program was cut by 5 songs and the missing All Stars were noticeably missing. The ones who did not come were Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Willie Colón, Domingo Quiñones, Ismael Miranda and Bobby Cruz and Richie Ray. All the solos were shortened and we tried to squeeze our famous songs into an hour and 20 minute show. 

On the other hand at Madison Square Garden we did almost 4 hours on Stage...Everyone enjoyed the music but wanted more which we were not permitted to give them. A party at the Conga Room was thrown till 3 a.m. and all had a great time.

So with very little sleep, we all left for our home cities at 7 a.m. Wendy and I arrived on a packed flight at our apartment at 8:30 and were greeted by Sophie and Sasha (our cats) who were glad to see us. So no more 90 degree days, back to reality and 50 degree NY City days and the onset of Winter!

Hasta Luego!

Larry Harlow

 

This site last updated on 07-Mar-2005