- just trying to fit in
The music coming through the door of the little cantina was different in that it wasn‘t the endless Salsa I‘d been hearing played every moment I had been in the country. It was a Colombian version of …. well folk music. It was the kind people listened to on the country side “fincas” for generations and seemed apropos for the weathered clientele enjoying their late afternoon cervezas and aguardientes .
We had come for a quick primer to the forthcoming evenings festivities planned at my future father in laws house and my wifes brother Tato remarked…..
“ My father would love these guys “ He said this in reference to the three musicians playing two guitars and a rasca while singing a tune that had something to do with needing a black girl who understands love…..
“ Maybe we can hire them for tonight “ his brother Cacou enthused.
So after a couple of quick cervazas and aguardientes of our own Tato went to enquire of the band if they were interested in playing a private gig for the evening.
“ Oh no ….no puedo…we have been hired to play here for the night “
And so Tato motioned towards “he who was obviously Gringo” and then mentioned the fact that….
“ We have American Dollars “
And in the speck of time required to gulp the last gulp of aguardiente these guys had tossed the instruments into their well worn cases and headed for the door with us. The cantinas clientele were miffed and expressed that fact. The cantinas owner was just plain pissed and followed us all out to the 1950s Ford taxi cab the six of us climbed into along with the driver and the three instruments.
“ Los Geniales “ these guys were great and they played all night and imbibed freely of the seemingly endless supply of the evenings refreshments. With great irony the more they imbibed the worse they played…….and the better they sounded.
Later, when the photos were developed, I discovered that I had learned to play the rasca that night ……….
