(Tojo), I was born in a village on the countryside called Cruces, in the former province of Santa Clara, Cuba, but I’m also another “guajiro“ of La Habana. My grand-father from my mother’s side was from Galicia in Spain, while my grand-father from my father’s side came from Africa. That’s why I have got black and white blood in my veins, but to tell you the truth the black blood is much more predominant.
In 1936, I had the opportunity to study the piano and that’s how I started to become an arranger, while in 1940 I reached out for the trombone and toured the whole Island. On Saturday, 24th July, 1941, I had my first performance at the TROPICANA with Armando Romeu’s band and I thought after having performed with this outstanding band that I would never ever be nervous again when performing with other bands.
In 1951 I recorded several LPs with Bebo Valdes, Chico O’Farrill and with Obdulio Morales. In 1955, I joined Benny Moré’s band where I played the trombone as a soloist and did the arrangements of that band for 16 years.
With this CD I intent to put new live into the unique sound of Benny’s orchestra - the sound of a forgotten epoch - Thank you.
Members of the Gran Orchestra de Generoso Jimenez:
Vocals: Rudy Calzado, Maria Elena Lazo, Lazaro Reyes
Trumpets: Arturo Sandoval, Julito Padron, Elpidio Chappotin, Christobal Ferrer,
Saxophones: Paquito D´Rivera, Enemelio Jimenez, Roman Feliu, Levin Acana, Jorge Sylvester
Tronones: Juan Pablo Torres, Leopoldo “Pucho” Escalante, Leonardo Acosta, Regina Jimenez
Piano: Guillermo “Rubalcaba” Gonzalez, Manolito Simonet, Pedro Alexander
Bass: Lazaro “Cachaito” Cachao, Frank Rubio, Nicholas Walker
Timbales: Aramis Castellanos Congas: Alfredo Rodriguez
