Panamanian singer-songwriter Rubén Blades acknowledged that with the death of his compatriot and trumpeter Víctor “Vitín” Pau in the world loses “a titan of music, an example of iron discipline and dedication to perfection”.
“The Titan of the Trumpet and one of the best musicians in the world, leaves us as a legacy his seriousness, professionalism and quality to serve as an example, now and always,” said Blades on social media.
Pau, always considered a “living legend” of Panamanian music, who accompanied great artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and The Stars of Fania, among others, died last Saturday at the age of 89, without knowing the cause of his death.
Blades lamented that Pau “has moved to the other neighborhood,” and confesses that it is “difficult to write about the departure of loved ones, week after week.”
The Panamanian composer and film actor indicated that in a medium “as competitive” as New York, where he has also developed much of his artistic career, ‘Vitín’ “gave him a trumpet chair and his excellence it produced the admiration and respect of all colleagues, as well as access to opportunities to join bands that generally did not hire Latin musicians. ”
He emphasized that, “when the best trumpet was needed, the phrase was: ‘look for Vitín'”.
The author of “Pedro Navaja” remembers Paul as “an eternal student of his instrument” who “practiced daily throughout his life,” without allowing “his fame to make him forget that only discipline can help create and sustain excellence “.
“He knew that in order to maintain his pristine reputation he had to always maintain a regime of constant training and study and so he did, until the end of his days,” said the Panamanian singer-songwriter, film actor and composer.
Blades recalls the “‘Vitín’ of the legend, the perfect sun in (the melody) ‘Puerto Rico’, by Eddie Palmieri, the member of the best orchestras, musical accompaniment of ‘Tito’ Rodriguez and Frank Sinatra , the narrator of anecdotes, connoisseur of musical truths and possessor of a dry, sometimes biting humor “.
He also rescues Pau’s friendship with his family as a “musical colleague” who, along with his mother, singer and pianist Anoland Bellido de Luna, joined the orchestra of Panamanian musician Clarence Martín, and recalls that ‘Vitín’ “tuned his trumpet with my mother’s voice and not with the piano, as is usually done”.
“I asked her why towards that and she came out to me with one of her countless and right answers:‘ I’ve heard tunes out of tune men, but I’ve never heard your mother out of tune, ’” Blades said.
Blades closes his obituary saying “thank you Master ‘Vitin’. Here we will continue his route as he advised us; always taking care of the ‘oil'”.
‘Vitín’ Pau was a musician who was on the best stages with important artists and singers in Caracas, New York and Panama, whether in theater, salsa, jazz, and also in films such as “Mambo Kings”, in which Antonio Banderas played the trumpet, according to his resume.
Pau, who was always the first trumpet player, married and father of four – no musician – returned to Panama in 1999 after remaining in New York for a period of 36 years.
In 2011, the Panama Jazz Festival (PJF) dedicated its eighth edition to Pau for his career in the history of music worldwide.
EFE