This page contains a brief overview on the album DON BAASKA: Anegada. Learn more about the artist and explore the track lists and website. If you find any information that needs to be corrected, please let us know.

 
I finally got around to recording these sketches in 2001, but they evolved from stuff we did in the 60's. I was playing piano at the Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico. The other members of the trio at that time were Raful Martinez on bass and Angel Dueno on drums. We worked together for eleven years, six hours a night six days a week.

We got so tight that we completed each others sentences like Donald Duck's nephews, Huey Dewy and Louie. On slow nights when the guests were not really listening, we would experiment with different chord progressions and rythym patterns and these sketches grew out those improvisations.

Anegada is a Caribbean island north of Virgin Gorda, east of Jost Van Dyke and west of Africa. It's highest elevation is 28' and it is surrounded by the third largest coral reef in the world and over 300 known shipwrecks. Valli and I sail there every summer and anchor off Wilfred's beach bar at Pomato Point. There is nothing to do but meditate, read and snorkle the reefs. In the evening we drink margaritas from a jug, cook up our catch of the day and then sleep the dreamless sleep of tired body and untroubled mind.

The rest of these sketches are each dedicated to people I've known and places I've been.

I once knew this old prostitute. (Well, she was over 30). She used to come into the bar with some strange looking customers. One night she came in with a handsome 19 year old blond sailor. I remarked "Ramona, your clientle is improving". She replied "Oh he no client, sometime I do for love".

Well I'm an old piano player and I've worked some classy venues and some not so good--anything to avoid a day job. I recorded these sketches "for love". I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed playing them.

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.donbaaska.com

Track List:
1. Anegada
2. Elvira
3. John Henry
4. Space Man
5. Sad Song
6. Half Afro
7. Floating
8. Get Off the Ground
9. That's Home
10. War and Peace
11. Jolly Roger
12. From Some Other Time
13. Raful By a Nose
14. Heidi

Other Genres:

• JAZZ: Latin Jazz
• EASY LISTENING: Lounge
• FEATURING PIANO