So far, we've listened to music from the English and French Caribbean, and it's clear how different they are. Not only the language, but the rhythm and various instruments incorporated are distinct. Each country holds onto its own cherished traditions. Even countries with similar heritage have unique elements, such as the islands of the Dutch Caribbean. Now, let's shift focus to the Dutch Caribbean. This playlist introduces a new challenge different from the previous playlists. While the central artist in the earlier playlists was a singer, this time, it's a bassist and guitarist from The Dutch Leeward Islands, Curaçao.
Julian Basilico Cocowas born on January 9, 1924. He grew up in Curaçao and taught himself to play the cuatro, mandolin, and guitar. In 1953, he received a scholarship to study to become a bassist at the Amsterdamsch Conservatorium in Amsterdam. He had a notable and accomplished career and was well-appreciated by the jazz community. Sadly, on February 4, 2013, Julian Coco passed away at the age of 89 in the Netherlands.
Playlist:
Due to Julian being a bassist and guitarist, this playlist will include a variety of instrumental music—music with no words or lyrics. It will be a tribute to his illustrious career, showcasing his wonderful contributions to the music industry. The playlist will also feature artists connected to him.
The first track on this playlist pays tribute to the start of Coco's career with his very first album, which was named after him and released in 1986. The instrumental track is called "Dahlia" and starts at timestamp 2:11-3:50. In this track, you will hear a mix of instruments, including Julian playing guitar, a cymbal in the background, and a clarinet along with other instruments. Two standout instruments are the clarinet and the guitar. They engage in a call-and-response sequence, with the clarinet playing first, followed by the guitar. The song has a lovely quality and resembles music that might be played at a resort or in an elevator.
As Julian Coco became more recognized in the musical world, he performed for renowned figures such as the Queen of the Netherlands. He worked with many well-known artists in their respective fields, including Dizzy Gillespie. Although not from Curaçao, Gillespie was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. He is a giant in the Jazz music scene and is known for developing the music movement of "Bepop." The next track on this playlist is called "Oop Bop Sh' Bam," performed by a Jazz ensemble, which includes sax players, a trumpet (played by Gillespie), a piano, a bass, and drums.
Next on the list of artists Julian Coco worked with is the Dutch musical genius Frans Brüggen, a musical conductor. Brüggen was celebrated as one of the great pioneers of the early music revival and equally celebrated for his virtuoso recorder playing. The third track on this playlist is "Fantasie No. 3," performed by Frans Brüggen, but it was actually written by August Eberhard Müller and Mozart. Watching this video was so cool; he sat in a dark room under a spotlight, and I was amazed at how a single instrument can instantly grasp your attention. Although maybe he did that on purpose, showing that some performances don't have to be grand and accompanied by many other instruments to be entertaining.
Julian Coco did not only work with famous foreign musicians but also people from his Island. He coproduced an album called Afrikatumba (click here to listen to the whole album for free) with Curação singer/songwriter Oswin Chin Behilia. "Curação de Nos e Ta" from that album is the next song on this playlist. Behilia's vocals are accompanied by the strumming of a guitar. In addition, an instrument is producing a scraping sound in the background, but I cannot pinpoint it; perhaps you can identify it (listen closely).
Oswin Chin Behilia and Julia Coco "Curação de Nos e Ta"
Julian, being a guitarist, meant that there are a lot of cases where you have to perform with others as a part of an ensemble, whether as a leading instrument or accompaniment. In his lifetime, he was a part of two groups, one of which was Juan Serrano And His Caribbean Combo. The group leader is Juan Serrano, born on the Island Of Aruba (also a part of the Dutch Leeward Islands). He later moved to Holland, Amsterdam, to further his career as a musician. This was the right move; he later gained fame with his music reaching the people of Spain and Latin America. So it is only fitting to include the song "El Negrito Del Batey," which translates to "The Black Man from Batey" from the group's self-titled album.
Juan Serrano And His Caribbean Combo "El Negrito Del Batey"
One of the best things about music is that even after an artist dies, their music lives on forever, inspiring future generations of performers, writers, and composers. The newer generation often performs the music of those who came before them as a nod to their legacy or an appreciation of their musical genius. One such performer is Randall Corsen, a pianist, composer, and arranger from Curaçao, who has achieved recognition in jazz, classical, and popular music. The Randall Corsen Quartet ft Marlon Titre performed an arrangement of Julian Coco's music. The quartet consisted of a piano, bass, percussion, drums, and guitar.
Randal Corsen Quartet ft Marlon Titre
References
Ambient Mixer. (2016, May 12). What Is Music Without Words Called? The Ambient Mixer Blog. https://blog.ambient-mixer.com/sound/what-is-music-without-words-called/
BnKcuracao. (2017, April 17). Who Was Julián Coco? Biblioteka Nashonal Kòrsou. https://bnkcuracao.com/audio/who-was-julian-coco/#:~:text=In%20this%20entry%20we%20feature
Curaçao Jazz Legends. (2018). Curaçao Jazz Legends | Julian Coco. Curaçao Jazz Legends. https://curacaojazzlegends.com/julian-coco/
Discogs. (2011). Julian B. Coco. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1178055-Julian-B-Coco
Disogs. (2011). Juan Serrano. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/3479371-Juan-Serrano-3
JW Pepper. (n.d.). Oop Bop Sh’bam by Dizzy Gillespie/Arr. Med Flory| J.W. Pepper Sheet Music. Www.jwpepper.com. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://www.jwpepper.com/Oop-Bop-Sh%27bam/10292140.item
Millington, B. (2014, August 17). Frans Brüggen obituary. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/17/frans-bruggen
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2019). Dizzy Gillespie | Biography, Songs, & Facts | Britannica. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dizzy-Gillespie
WorldMusicUK. (2015). Oswin Chin Behilia - World Music. Www.worldmusic.co.uk. https://www.worldmusic.co.uk/oswin_chin_behilia
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