‘Mambo Mass’ Has the Spirit

Salsa fanatics know this to be true: The pulsating rhythms of Afro-Caribbean music and their majestic horn riffs can touch you so deeply that it can approximate a religious experience.

It made perfect sense, then, that tropical music and sacred service became one downtown Friday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, when legendary bassist Cachao premiered his “Mambo Mass.” (The benefit program was co-sponsored by The Times.)

The benefit program followed the structure of the Catholic Mass, with musical intervals provided by an all-star combo fronted by Cachao. Among the guests were trumpet player Arturo Sandoval, trombonist Jimmy Bosch, flutist Danilo Lozano and conguero Luis Conte.

Fittingly, this parade of illustrious soloists refrained from showcasing their individual chops during the service. Instead, they focused on Cachao’s exquisite compositions.

Together with his brother Orestes, Cachao was responsible for inventing the fiery, percussion-heavy song format known as mambo in 1938. Later, it was internationalized by bandleader Perez Prado.

The best moments of the mass were those closer to the mambo, although the new score also reveals its composer’s classical training and love for opera and zarzuela.

During the sacrament of the Holy Communion, the music became serene and contemplative. It would be hard to imagine a more fitting accompaniment than Cachao’s tender piano lines and gentle percussion for a sacrament that is meant to temporarily break any barriers between the human and the divine.

That the moment was so moving speaks volumes about Cachao, his own spiritual commitment and his ability to communicate the power of faith through his music.