* More about Gary Nuñez *
Plena Libre
See Gary @ Roskilde Festival in Denmark
GARY NUÑEZ, bass player, composer, arranger, producer and
director. Graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and then
Magna Cum Laude from the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico,
nonetheless Gary credits "la calle" (public performance) and its fellow
musicians for his true musical knowledge.
A self taught bass player, Gary learned other instruments, including
drums, guitar and vibraphone, before finding his "true voice" through
the four string double bass. Gary has always had his own
independent voice and musical vision. That is why in 1975, while the
Latin music world was tuned to "salsa", he chose to deeply study the
history and styles of Puerto Rican music.
He learned to play the "cuatro puertorriqueño" (Puerto Rico’s national
string instrument) and developed a group that would become one of
the most important strongholds for the development of the "New
Song" movement in Puerto Rico, "Moliendo Vidrio".
With this group, Gary became involved in the development of two
tendencies that later would be a part of the music industry in Puerto
Rico. The development and projection of musical groups based on
Puerto Rico’s countryside music and the realization of independent
musical recordings, outside of the major labels.
In the 80’s, after forming his own "salsa" orchestra with a typical
Puerto Rican flavor, Gary developed "Caribe Jazz". This jazz project
was based on the fusion of the musical structure of jazz, on top of
Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms. This tendency would later be further
developed by top Puerto Rican jazz performers.
In the 90’s, and as a product of "plena" jam sessions, Gary Nuñez
delved into one of the richest, happiest, most dancable music in
Puerto Rican culture; the Plena. Except for extraordinary folklore
presentations, the "plena" had been virtually silent for almost fifteen
years. In 1994, Gary created and designed a new sound, concept
and strategy for the "plena", and thus, Plena Libre was born.
Gary has been in charge of all the album productions (13) and musical
arrangements for Plena Libre, which have lead to four Grammy
nominations and performances in fifteen countries around the world.
He has contributed over fifty (50) original musical compositions
performed and recorded by the group, which embody a new lyrical
perspective for the "plena".
Gary's contributions to the development and promotion of Puerto
Rican music though his different projects have been recognized by
many institutions; including the the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture,
the Commission for the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of Puerto
Rico and America, the Senate and the House of Representatives of
Puerto Rico. In addition, he is included in books that trace
the history of Puerto Rico’s popular music like "Del Bolero a la Nueva
Cancion" (From the "Bolero" to the New Song), written by Pedro
Malavet Vega, and the "Music Encyclopedia of Puerto Rico" by
Professor Hector Campos Parsi.
Considered to be a proficient musician, an innovator and consistent
lover and "worker" of Puerto Rican music, Gary Nuñez is always
expanding the reach of this music, while in search of his own voice
and identity in the music world.
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