“All About The Bass… Of Salsa” - Sal Cuevas

Via Project Enye: Truth be told, we’ve been dying to get this interview for over two years now. Salvador “Sal” Cuevas, a Puerto Rican Enye (ñ) from New York (Newyorican), was surrounded by not only the latin side of the city, but also the sounds of rock, funk, afro-cuban, jazz and so much more. He quickly picked up the bass guitar in middle school and forever transformed. Sal was for many years a member of the salsa music group Fania All-Stars circa (1978-1985), as well as several other top name salsa groups of the time such as Johnny Pacheco, Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz etc. During this time he was one of only five bass players in New York City who recorded many of the “jingles” for T.V. and Radio. In fact, as a world class bassist, Sal helped establish an entire musical genre - Salsa, by reinventing latin music with rock n’ roll and jazz influences and smashing basses along the way with Johnny Pacheco.
Sal currently lives in Miami and is working on a musical project with Gloria Estefan.
Mentioned in this episode:
Willie Colón, Ruben Blades, Héctor Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, Machito, Fania All-Stars, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Billy Idol, Lenny Kravitz, Harry Belafonte, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan
projectenye.com/all-about-the-bass-of-salsa/

[@francesrodriguez545]

Muchisimas gracias a todos por la admiracion a mi difunto esposo. Me han hecho llorar. Bendiciones!

[@necro213ozzy]

Gracias a Sal por regalarnos su música.

[@martinespinal839]

un placer dona. un leon musical perdido dentro de los grandes, pero escuche porque sal cuevas esta ahi. siempre un maestro de el bajo. wepa heyyy! rest in peace Salvador Cuevas!!!

[@MeditacionBudista]

Descanse en paz. Salvador Cuevas es HISTORIA, MEMORIA Y PRESENTE. La Salsa y el Jazz Latino nunca habría sido tan maravilloso sin él. Saludos respetuosos a usted y su familia.

[@alejandroandresyerenchavez7320]

Siempre Sal Cuevas será inolvidable por su aporte a la Salsa... Es el icono en las cuerdas... Muy grato recordarlo a través dw su obra en el mundo latino.

[@reps44]

SIEMPRE LO LLEVO EN MI CORAZON!!

[@bootoxkikka]

I'd bump into him at Side Streets often. Lots of us musicians from the Bronx would hang out there if we did early gigs or just wanted to hang. I was very young, and he knew that to me, he was the master of the Salsa groove all bass players wanted to emulate. Not just on the Fender, but on the Baby too. He would tell me stories like how Jaco was so strung out he sold his Fender for drugs. I'd also bump into him on the 4 train, (we'd both get off at Fordham Rd. and he worked at Rikers Island). Salsa lovers, we need to tell our story to the world which Sal was an innovator and so much a part of. It breaks my heart that when I mention his name to this generation, they give me a classic deer look. Who's Salvador Cuevas? Tears me up big time.

[@edwincancelii2917]

There will never be another bassist like Sal. May he rest in peace.

[@siyesiyesi]

Hola he hecho un vídeo del solo de bajo del vídeo en directo de Cabeza de Hacha, en homenaje a Sal Cuevas, espero que te guste kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4CkdXSbfrxqg6c

[@TommyMuriel]

My only gripe? This interview was way too short! Rest in Power, Sal! We miss you!!!

[@hectormendez3572]

Sal Salsa cuevas was the man who put funk into Salsa music.A listen to Most of Willie Colon and Ruben blades recordings attest to that fact.R.I.P. Sal.

[@joeo754]

Sin crear controversia, a Bobby Valentín se le conoce como el rey del bajo pero este señor mientras estubo vivo fue otra cosa

[@eddierivera1860]

He had loads of swing bringing a style that no bass player ever had in Salsa! RIP Mr. Cuevas🙏

[@SlikkTim]

absolute legend, one of the #5 best bass players ever in any style.

[@bernieminoso5154]

I can't express the sorrow that I feel right now. He always treated me as a professional and a friend. He was my mentor and teacher in the world of bass.. RIP brother. Say hello to my dad...

[@wisdumtoof]

you're the same way , my brother ! - Lavondo

[@remyband]

Woaoo, ser cercano al Máster Sal. Cuevas, algo increíble.

[@onepieceforever4382]

This is why I play bass now

[@edwincancelii2917]

Sal was like the godfather of the bass guitar. God bless him. Rest in peace.

[@carmelofernandez9020]

Sal Cuevas master of masters...Thanks from Caracas Venezuela.

[@watusi1971]

Sal Cuevas had those Itchy bass lines that made history. The guy is a legend!

[@threepeater]

Played on Billy Idol, "Rebel Yell" album, so sad to learn that Sal had passed away last May. What a great Bassist, and NewYorkarican!!

[@TREES30349]

Eyes without a face..........

[@siyesiyesi]

Hola he hecho un vídeo del solo de bajo del vídeo en directo de Cabeza de Hacha, en homenaje a Sal Cuevas, espero que te guste kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4CkdXSbfrxqg6c

[@Prudoco]

Sal was the Dare police officer at our school. one day we got talking about music and he said he plays music. I had no idea who he was or how great he was. he didn't want it to conflict with his job as a police officer around school. we got the jam one time for the kids at school and it was incredible!

[@doctorbajos9120]

DESCANSA EN PAZ MAESTRO ,,

[@flclbeans]

As Nuyorican first listening to Willie Colon and Fania this guy was the one who brought that NY/American groove to salsa, and vice versa. Did not know he was Nuyorican himself and it makes so much sense now. This was a really cool vid.

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

In addition to Sal being a Fania All Star, I remember him when he worked with the Los Kimbals Orchestra. He was great then,and even greater later. I’m so sorry that he’s no longer alive.

[@pjfields2382]

eyes without a face..great line

[@pablotorres7436]

Yes, he recorded that beautiful and soulful new wave ballad for Billy Ídol

[@cpdusmc4281]

I was in PR when he broke the bass on stage because it did not sound right, then continued dancing by himself. One of the most entertaining and impressionable performance I have ever seen. UNREAL

[@PedroDMM1]

Salvador Cuevas es uno de los grandes de la música latina. Su interpretación y arreglos con el bajo fueron innovadores y enriquecieron la sonoridad de la salsa. Sal Cuevas esta en la historia de lo mejor de la música latina.

[@ADamiani007]

Como pueden ver... los verdaderos Grandes... son los mas humildes. We are losing our most treasured musicians, so we need to instill the love for music (real music...), in the new generations.

[@ecuajei98]

Maestro de maestros 🇵🇷👍🏾💪🏾

[@nicolasgon]

El Maestro que le grababa los bajos a los mas grandes como al gran Hector Lavoe !! Genial bajista !!!!

[@mazetapela]

Mi madre que clase de artista muy depurado y educado en su instrumento que maestro del bajo

[@nildamorales2451]

Descansa en paz, gran maestro del bajo, fue uno de los que revoluciono la salsa con el "slap". Alberto Diaz, Bajista

[@MeditacionBudista]

Descanse en paz. Salvador Cuevas es HISTORIA, MEMORIA Y PRESENTE. La Salsa y el Jazz Latino nunca habría sido tan maravilloso sin él.

[@ivannegron4627]

Rumba Master.Out of this world talent.

[@marcosisaiasmoralesmendoza909]

Este hombre fue un "Animal" del Bass Guitar. Su técnica maravillosa nos motiva a callar la boca y abrir el oido. Gracias a Dios por habernos dado a un hombre como Sal Cuevas QEPD.

[@joseluna3763]

salvador que dios te tenga en la gloria,de la musica mundial donde el bajo esta presente ,como coenta porfi baloa,siempre me concentro en el bajo ,ojo no soy musico pero amo la musica,y escucho el blue,jazz,incluso los bajistas del rock,como el de queen y demas componentes,y en la salsa algunos como,el mismo oscar,bobby valentin,edie guagua,y muchos mas pero como salvador es algo que no entiendo,el jugaba con el bajo y de verdad me quedo con tu talento,grandioso salvador /////

[@MrBadillo73]

El Maestro!!!!! Que en paz descanse!!!

[@juanmiguelvidalrojas313]

De Los Mejores Bass Player de La Música Innovador Un Grande Salvador Cuevas

[@luisramos3427]

Simplemente un virtuoso! Un adelantado a sus tiempos. Era tan bueno que pudo desarrollar estilos en la Salsa y otros generos musicales como el pop rock. Haciendo un trabajo monumental en la cancion con Billy Idol, "Eyes without a face". Me hubiera gustado verlo tocando con Carlos Alomar en alguna interpretacion. Q.E.P.D. el maestro Sal Cuevas.

[@vincentcuevas]

WOW.... que alegría Sal Cuevas es una de mis mayores inspiraciones!!!

[@edwincancelii2917]

One of my influences when it comes to bassists in general. And my fellow Nuyorican and my father figure. Awesome bassist.

[@sandungabass6666]

Este señor era otra cosa, nosotros los bajistas le admiramos muchísimo por lo que aportó a este género tremendo de la salsa. Descansa en paz Caballete y gracias por tu legado hermano

[@juanfontanez2187]

El líder del ritmo Sal Bass

[@xh4r744]

This was the master

[@arod1pilot]

This guy is awesome

[@angelcorniel6666]

El mejor paz a su alma 🙏🙏🙏

[@martinespinal839]

omg the best personification of whom we latinos can be.

[@walterplaceres6246]

Descansa en Paz salvador no habra nadie mas con ese swing en el Bajoo alambree dulceee

[@ferneycastaneda3041]

QUE EN PAZ DESCANSE MAESTRO SAL CUEVAS .ESTUVE VIENDOLO EN LA ENTREGA DE RECONOCIMIENTOS A LOS MUSICOS QUE ORGANIZO ''SALSA SUPERIOR ''ESTARA INTEGRANDO ''LA BIG BAND CELESTIAL ''LA MUSICA ,LA SALSA ESTA DE LUTO .DJFERNEY

[@porfibaloa1]

Maestro Que gran don te cedió Dios, mil gracias por ser inspiración para muchos músicos que aman realmente esta profesion, eres una leyenda viviente, si no hubieses existido no hubiese tenido un maestro en el acetato, te debo mucho, eres unos de los que me hizo entender esto, yo no escuchaba cantante, yo te escuchaba a ti. Y todavía no salgo de mi asombro con tu genialidad, tu revolucionaria forma de tocar y la melaza africana y clave incluida, lo que tu haces va mas allá de un gran bajista, pero que no todos saben apreciar "a profundidad" Dios te bendiga siempre maestro.

[@tigreramirez824]

Tienes muchísima razon maestro porfi... sal cuevas es un legado vergatario de la salsa, el bajo mas melodioso que armónico... sal cuevas es el machete del bajo.... Nadie como el... Salvador Cuevas, gracias por haber existido y darnos esas lecciones de música, por siempre maestro de maestros....

[@julioherazo9251]

Sal Cueva the best

[@siyesiyesi]

Hola he hecho un vídeo del solo de bajo del vídeo en directo de Cabeza de Hacha, en homenaje a Sal Cuevas, espero que te guste kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4CkdXSbfrxqg6c

[@francesrodriguez545]

Porfi gracias por tu admiración a mi difunto esposo. Me acuerdo cuando vimos un vídeo tuyo que habías recibido un bajo Salvador Cuevas. De verdad... Nos hicistes el día. Dios te bendiga y sigue cosechando éxitos

[@handsomeaudio]

Just incredible! Legend!

[@wisdumtoof]

100% , my man. - Lavondo

[@danielsaezm]

One of the greatest.

[@fitos7704]

Que estilo don Salvador, inspiradoras lineas llenas de sabor.

[@fifasbass2228]

Awesome!

[@edwinrivera2339]

que dios te tenga en la gloria querido maestro.

[@Jack-pp2ng]

What a cool dude

[@billyarango6089]

El mejor de los mejores... Salvador Cuevas...

[@siyesiyesi]

Hola he hecho un vídeo del solo de bajo del vídeo en directo de Cabeza de Hacha, en homenaje a Sal Cuevas, espero que te guste kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4CkdXSbfrxqg6c

[@mottosierra1372]

el mejor de la salsa

[@chironjo]

Salvador, boricua Como el coquì. Revoluciono el bajo en la salsa. Mi inspiration en la musica. Mi idolo. Dios le de mucho años de salud. A mi tambien se me cayó el pelo, bro.

[@Rickyboricky]

I never would have heard of Sal if not for the "Eyes Without s Face" track by Billy Idol...✌️

[@Millo1868]

What a legend. ...Are those EMG's?

[@405Lenny]

Wow, what a career! Great video. 👍👍

[@BenVelazquez]

RIP maestro!

[@jimmyriv]

can we have a 2nd part please???

[@juanmanuelvelazquezalvarad3692]

Yo crei que bobby valentin era el mejor, conociendo a este señor ya no se que pensar!

[@nestordiaz6700]

Los dos,,son 👍

[@francesrodriguez545]

Sal was a bass player. Master of Masters . Respected by his fellow musicians and admired by great Salsa bass players whom refer to him as his inspiration to play the instrument

[@ReinaldoCruz-qd2cs]

He played the bass on Billy Idol Eyes without a face

[@JCarderera]

salvaaaaaaaaaaaaaaador eres tuuuuuuuu

[@3473314410]

How I’m just finding out he’s my cousin his fathers my uncle

[@adalbertopena1179]

Sal Cuevas the best salsero bass and I love Bobby valentin but sal added so more flavor he was like Giovanni Hidalgo is in the congas so sal was that greatness, may he RIP 😢

[@DSva-kl6rf]

Alguien que conosca sobre el sonido del contrabajo. Porque suena como si trasteara?..sé que no tiene trastes..pero suena como si los tuviera. Asi es su sonido?

[@ronnyluquez789]

El mejor bajista de la salsa. Que me perdonen los fans de Bobby Valentin que es otro duro

[@drillgirl718]

Where can i buy the upright bass guitar on the second part of the clip of him playing, not the electric guitar.. i want to get that same type or class, i love that sound

[@biga173rdify]

The bass you are talking about is an Upright Ampeg baby bass . I believe his model is a 1964 with custom cherry red finish. You can find a couple of used ones on ebay, reverb.com, Craigslist, they start at about $2500 and up.

[@salsayumbo]

Y traducido donde se encuentra? Gracias

[@camilomallo9075]

Does anyone knows the name of that concert or the song?? 1:38

[@christianpena7414]

It's "Picadillo - Ray Barretto and Bravisimo All Stars"

[@albertoegoavil]

Picadillo. Aqui esta completa: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKWTq3igpseVbdU

[@robertodelacruz8901]

What's the name of the song at the beginning of the video ??pls

[@mister80a89]

¿que tipo de bajo electria fue sal cuevas usava?

[@chironjo]

Mr 80A Fender Jazz bass.

[@efrainlorenzana2455]

como se llama la canción con la que hace esa línea de bajo de disco?????

[@osodelcity]

Efrain Lorenzana se llama Plástico de el álbum Siembra

[@efrainlorenzana2455]

gracias amigo es una buena rola

[@yoendybrea4486]

chica plastica-ruben blades

[@robertodelacruz8901]

Como sd llama la cancion al inici del video

[@ministeriorestaurandoysana5760]

@@robertodelacruz8901 La chica plástica y se encuentra en la producción de Wilii Colon Con Rubén blade ciembre

[@MamboGuy914]

Does anyone know how or why Sal passed away?

[@chironjo]

He had been suffering blood clots and i think it had something to do with a reaction to the medication. I met him and he had been out the hospital and he was visibly still recovering. Great guy.

[@chironjo]

I met Sal back in Sept. 2016 in Dorado, P.R., at a gathering called up to show a local baby bass luthier's work where he gently accepted to come. Amateurs players like myself, Music Conservatory students and top-of-the cream portorican bass players (Efrain Hernandez-played with 70's Apollo Sound top albums, Freddy from Gran Combo, Coamito Jr., Richie Ray's bassist, retired Willie Rosario's bassist from the Gilbertito Santarosa's time with Willie, and some others who's names I can't remember) showed up that night to listen to him, and the night turned out into a buddies get-together, with Sal sharing anecdotes from his times with Willie Colon, Fania All Stars, and where he got his playing style ideas from. You could tell he really enjoyed sharing this with all of us and his peers bass players, and the very high respect that they showed him. Efrain shared how he and the rest of Apollo Sound band stuck around after recording the "Noche de Gala" show back in 1979 just to watch Sal play the baby-bass lines of "La Ceiba y la Ciguaraya" with Sonora Ponceña, whom were set to tape the show themselves after Apollo Sound's. Egos were not present at all that night; a wonderful night with dozens of pictures taken to capture those moments. Sal apologized for him been unable to stay standing up for extended period of time due to him still recovering from his recent stay at the hospital due to blood clots. The energetic Sal Cuevas from the Fania days was not there anymore, although he was always a soft talking big guy. We were far from imagining that he was going to leave this world a few months after that night. What a loss for the latin music and friends and relatives!

[@MamboGuy914]

chironjo wish he was still here to spread his talent!

[@jbfonfrias9133]

@@chironjo Thank you for sharing your story.

[@sebastianmarin8364]

como se llama la cancion del minuto 1:38?

[@albertoegoavil]

Picadillo. Aqui esta completa: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKWTq3igpseVbdU

[@robertodelacruz8901]

Como se llama la cancion al inicio del video el bajo solo

[@usergvhhyu1223]

Con todo el respeto que se merece el maestro y QEP. Pero el nombre empezo en el a~o 1930....kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn63eWxmrMqIkKM

[@davidzeferino9535]

En la personal , creo que entre Bobby Valentín y Salvador Cuevas para mí el mejor es Salvador Cuevas

[@scr5051]

hoy me doy cuenta que el bajista de tiempo pa matar es este señor, brutal gracias youtube

[@nberrios777]

The upright needs a serious adjustment.

[@a.g.4843]

HEavy metal bass >>> salsa bass