“Music of the past had soul...not after 1976...It's all production now...so it seems the AI may have a future with people that don't know anything about music...most of the music coming out seems to be more like Broadway musical theatre type of music...who knows? Maybe Robots will be the future singers and people will LOVE them!!”

Felix Cabrera: Corazón del Blues

Felix Cabrera born in La Habana, Cuba. He listened to music on the radio since he was 5 -- not only his native music but also Bill Haley and Nat King Cole. His musical activity at that time was beating conga patterns on benches with school friends... Then off to the U.S. and Miami. Felix continued his musical education by listening to the radio. The first R&B record he heard was "Hit the Road, Jack". He started singing a bit with records and did a lot of dancing in after school hops (albeit alone). Felix then moved from Miami to Union City, New Jersey. He saw the legendary Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield live and was hooked. He purchased more harmonicas and played along with recordings. Felix saw BB King, Albert King, Otis Rush, James Cotton and Muddy Waters and then Cannonball Adderley, Charles Lloyd and Chico Hamilton and started liking jazz. He played with various bands until, in 1974, he and Arthur Neilson formed the "A Train Blues Band", one of the first Chicago styled Blues bands in the New York metropolitan area. The band backed up and recorded with Victoria Spivey and North Carolina bluesman Tarheel Slim besides doing their own gigs.

(Felix Cabrera / Photo by Bob Wolper)

Felix also played duets with Honey Boy Edwards. In the next few years Felix experimented with the diatonic harmonica in Cuban music and co-led The Internationals, mixing blues and classical overtones. They opened shows for Big Joe Turner and James Cotton. New York City... In 1984 he formed Felix and the Havanas, recording "NEXT!!", which was released by the Skyranch record label in France. The opening gig for this aggregation was for James Brown at the Lone Star Café in New York City. They also opened many times for Buddy Guyand Jr. Wells, Bobby Blue Bland, Jr. Walker, Wilson Pickett, Dr. John, Lonnie Mack, Marcia Ball and others. Felix was the inaugural act at Manny's Car Wash, the renowned New York Blues Club and he performed on NPR's program Blues Stage, hosted by Ruth Brown. Felix is actively performing on the club circuit supporting his CD's.

Interview by Michael Limnios                   Archive: Felix Cabrera, 2012 Interview

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

I guess late July early August 1965 when I heard Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". Before that, I was a music fan. I had been listening to "Top 40" radio. But Dylan's song was a completely different sound and within a few days knew about Paul Butterfield, bought his first album and got a harmonica.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

I saw a video of Bill Evans (jazz pianist) talking about how technique should not be everything. I agree with that. Since I am not Socrates or Plato, I have no idea how I should philosophy music, my sound and songbook is anything that was done before 1968… last great recording to me was Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the key of Life" learned from Blues, Jazz, R&B, Country (not today's country which is nothing but lite rock) and I happen to like classical...I had a band called The Internationals in which we did arrangements of Debussy, Ravel and Rachmaninoff. There is a video on Youtube... Felix Cabrera and the Internationals from 1982..I had played before with Arthur Neilson, Jimmy Vivino and Brian Bisesi (Muddy Waters) in the A Train Blues Band from 74 to 77. I also, of course, love Cuban music (Benny More, Orquesta Aragon and others).

“It is important since it is a music of deep feeling and is an total American product. Unfortunately, perhaps museums will have an annual blues memorial or something like that. Years ago a violinist whom I played with said that Blues was going to be museum music eventually) when what is needed is BARS with people drinking.” (Felix Cabrera / Photo by Laura Carbone)

Are there any memories from THE LONE STAR CAFÉ, MANNY’S CAR WASH, and DAN LYNCH TAVERN in New York which you’d like to share with us?

The Lone Star was the deal. Even though we would make more money at Dan Lynch's. But you had to play from 9.30pm to 4am. At Lynch's we  would make on weekends anywhere from $900 to $1100 and that was 1985 dollars...The Lone Star gave me the opportunity to open for James Brown (many times) Jr Wells and Buddy Guy (many times) Wilson Pickett, Jr Walker, Bobby Blue Bland and others and had many good times there.. I was the opening act at Manny's and I played with Vivino's band on the last night of the club. Otherwise, it was not like the other places. Too much of the audience went there thinking that blues was like the Blues Brothers movie. There was also CHICAGO BLUES which was the last big blues venue and closed in 2000.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Music of the past had soul...not after 1976...It's all production now...so it seems the AI may have a future with people that don't know anything about music...most of the music coming out seems to be more like Broadway musical theatre type of music...who knows? Maybe Robots will be the future singers and people will LOVE them!!

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Only one. Not to do too much partying.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I still play. Not as much but I do rehearsals, work on new numbers or arrangements. Arthur Neilson is the guitarist in just about everything I have done in the last 10yrs...I worked with 2 other guitarists but since Arthur and I go back to 1975, I can put together a better show since we know so many tunes. The new generation is just going to have to find out by themselves. More or less like people used to do in my era. And Joe Bonamossa is not a blues guitarist. Thank you.

“I'm still super passionate about music..if I wasn't I would have retired. I listen to a lot of music that inspires me besides blues...I listen to Coltrane, Rachmaninoff, R & B songs from the 50's to TSOP, George Jones, Hungarian Gypsy music, Dylan in the mid 60's, The Platters. I have a wide spectrum of what I like.” (Felix Cabrera / Photo by Bernard Ente)

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

It is important since it is a music of deep feeling and is an total American product. Unfortunately, perhaps museums will have an annual blues memorial or something like that. Years ago a violinist whom I played with said that Blues was going to be museum music eventually) when what is needed is BARS with people drinking. That's were jazz and the modern blues were created and happening. And country music too, same thing. I played in a few festivals here and I wish it would have been in a big club instead of outdoors. More camaraderie!

Who are some of your very favorite blues albums?

My favorite Blues records...not in any particular order...they all are great to me since I learned a lot from each of them: “Chicago The Blues Today” series 3 records on Vanguard / James Cotton first 3 recordings on Verve / First 2 Butterfield recordings on Elektra / Charley Musselwhite's “Stand Back” on Vanguard / Jr Wells “It's My Life Baby” on Vanguard / Albert King “Born Under a Bad Sign” on Stax / Otis Spann “The Blues Never Die” on Prestige / “Best of Little Walter” on Chess / Canned Heat first album on Liberty / Fathers and Sons (Waters with Butterfield, Bloomfield, Spann, Dunn and Lay) / “Johnny Young Chicago Blues” on Arhoolie.

What keeps a musician passionate after six decades in rock and blues?

That's 7 decades, Mike...first band was in 68 and another one in 69/70 in Miami...then in 1974 with the A Train with Neilson and Brian Bisesi (Muddy Waters), … Hell, Yeah!! I'm still super passionate about music..if I wasn't I would have retired. I listen to a lot of music that inspires me besides blues...I listen to Coltrane, Rachmaninoff, R&B songs from the 50's to TSOP, George Jones, Hungarian Gypsy music, Dylan in the mid 60's, The Platters. I have a wide spectrum of what I like.

Felix Cabrera - Home

(Felix Cabrera / Photo by Bob Wolper)