Alfonso Panamá
Composer, Arranger, Bassist, Guitarist
(15 February 1934 – 01 January 2021)
ALFONSO was one of the legends of Afro-Cuban music, Latin Jazz, and Jazz standards – and was from the generation of Buena Vista Social Club. He frequently performed at the Palladium, Roseland, and Birdland – three of New York City’s most famous ballrooms and dance halls in the 1950’s and 60’s where Mambo and other Afro-Cuban rhythms and Jazz were in full swing.
As a bassist and vocalist, he accompanied, recorded, and performed with many of the top bandleaders and musicians during the heyday of Latin music and Latin-Jazz, including the Cuban giants Arsenio Rodriguez, Celia Cruz, Machito, Israel ‘Cachao’ López, and Puerto Rican greats Tito Puente and Rafael Cortijo, and Fania All-Stars Johnny Pacheco and Yomo Toro, and Jazz legends Doc Cheetham and Cab Calloway.
Born in the Republic of Panamá and migrated to New York where he spent most of his life as an American citizen, his expansive musical career began in the mid-nineteen fifties among the local Cuban and Puerto Rican bands, or ‘conjuntos’.
After pioneering in the bass-guitar, Fender bass, and Ampeg amplifiers, and double-bass, he was discovered early on by the Afro-Cuban legend, known as the grandfather of Salsa – Arsenio Rodriguez, who took him under his wing and trained him – leading Alfonso to become of the most expert, high-level bassists of Afro-Cuban rhythms and Latin-Jazz. Together, they performed at Carnegie Hall and recorded on Ansonia Records (album “Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto”, Vol.2) and Tico Records (album “Arsenio Dice… Arsenio Says”), among others.
Alfonso had more than 15 years of private and formal academic training on double bass, bass guitar, voice, harmony, theory, composition, and orchestration and arranging. He attended Hartnett Music Studios and Lyn Oliver Studios in New York City, and performed with symphonies and chamber orchestras in New York City and the surrounding cities.
In 2008 and 2011, he recorded the award-winning songs “Vale Más” and “Verás“, respectively, both composed and produced by his son – Josué Joseph – the director of the award-winning La Época documentaries, and recording artist and teacher who lives in Europe. In 2012, he traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania – where he recorded eight of his 49-piece symphony-orchestra arrangements with the Vilnius Symphony Orchestra – conducted by Vytautas Lukocios; music produced by Alfonso’s son – Josué. He fully retired in 2015 – and lived a quiet life.
On 01 January 2021, Alfonso passed away peacefully exactly how he wanted to: in his sleep, with his wife, Bible, and bass by his side. He was 86.
