Roberto has been performing musical magic on his rhythm guitar since his
early youth. He comes from a musical family, and was schooled in the ways
of the grandmasters of jazz by his father, also a guitarist and assisted in
his musical evolution by his mother, a singer and pianist.
Early in his musical career, Roberto was a noted child prodigy and obtained
a reputation for the quality of his musical sounds. Growing up around
the guitar created a natural attraction to the instrument and he began
strumming it while still a toddler. It was not the first instrument
he attempted, but quickly became his unwavering musical extension.
Roberto's father has been his biggest influence and mentor. His father
was both a guitarist and percussionist, and played with one of the most
well known musical groups in the West Indies, "The Louis Stackman Orchestra"
for a number of years.
Noting Roberto's early enthusiasm, his father encouraged his interest in the
guitar. Roberto's formal musical instruction, by his father, began when he
was seven years old. In the beginning, it entailed the understanding of
musical chords. Roberto notes that his father's favorite saying was "you've
got to learn the chords" and Roberto says he has found this to be true.
His foundation in music is based on his early learning of chords and the
roots of them. When Roberto's family moved to NYC, his father purchased
Roberto's first instrument at age 17 - an Ibanez Sunburst guitar - which
he still performs with.
Roberto plays guitar with an open hand. He says, "open hand attunes
the guitar" to him. He told me, "the men of the Caribbean always
played with their hands. Either a 'finger style' or they used an open hand
when they strummed. Open hand gives a smooth and percussive sound".
He uses a pick, but he prefers playing with his open hand and thumb to get
a feel for the instrument. Traditionally, his father and all his father's
friends who played guitar, played with an open hand. This is also the style
of the Flamencoists.
Outside of his father, Roberto says four guitarists influenced his
passion for playing. Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson and Pat Martino.
Wes Montgomery, Roberto said, sounded like his dad. Wes did not play with
a pick. Roberto said it was both natural and easy for him to emulate Wes' style.
Joe Pass,
Roberto loved Joe's style and taste in chord melody. Like Joe Pass, Roberto
would like to someday play an entire concert solo.
George Benson, Roberto first saw him in a music magazine advertising a Guild
X500 guitar. He would fantasize about having a setup like the one in the
magazine. Later he got to hear George Benson and was influenced by his
interpretation of songs. He says, "George Benson has an incredible range.
His bluesy edge incorporates different jazz sounds.
Pat Martino, his music got into Roberto at age 16. What Roberto liked about
his playing was Martino's dissonance. The notes are abstract. They are a
little off to the right or left. Roberto says 'Martino is a technological demigod".
He sees Martino as a "musical beast or monster", which is not to be
taken negatively. The comparison is to the awesome-natural power of the
artist. Martino's musical style and contributions to the art are profound influences
on Roberto's style and how he sees and interprets the music he plays.
From, what seems to me the view point of an abstract artist, Roberto says
"When I listen to Benson's music, I see colors. With Wes, I see shades of
light and shadow. Joe Pass music is an embodiment of the three so Joe is
the whole picture." When Pat Martino plays, Roberto says "I see shapes.
The music is geometric with abstract notes to the chord."
When Roberto solos, he does not hear the notes, he hears the chord, which
goes back to his dad.
DCB: An enjoyable combination, Roberto's smooth riffs and Arch Thompson's
fluid Latin Jazz melodies light up any place they combine their arts.
Catch them when you can performing as TnT.
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VIDEO 1:
"Black Orpheus"VIDEO 2:
TNT Jazz Duo in DC at the Takoma Station Jazz Brawl