Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2013 Latin Issue | Page 99

BMM What was your first bass,

of Colombia where I was born

and how did you come by it?

was always influenced by the
music coming from Cuba, the

LAEPP My first one was a

Caribbean, Africa and Mexico,

4-string Steinberger bass guitar

and it was in this region were

that I bought on my first trip to

Vallenato music was conceived;

New York with the group ‘Binomio a great privilege to be born in this
de Oro.’

area.

BMM Tell us about that very

BMM What are your main musical

first day you had a bass in your

and bass influences?

hands.
LAEPP Rangel Maño Torres
LAEPP The first time was

(R.I.P.) and Jose Vazquez are the

difficult since I was coming from

first bassists I began to study;

practicing on my acoustic guitar,

they are the pillars of Vallenato.

and I did not know how to mute

Later names such as Jaco

the chords and I was not use to

Pastorius and Stanley Clarke

the “noise-fest” that would kick

came along, and much of African

in… basically the first time was

music, Salsa and Merengue.

messy and uncontrollable.
BMM How do you define the
BMM As a bassist born in Latin

music style you play?

America, do you find this to be an
advantage or disadvantage?

LAEPP My style is a result of
listening to all kinds of genres

LAEPP I believe that being born

and always being willing to learn;

in Latin America is an advantage. this has lead me to explore new
In my particular case, the region

paths.
AUG 2013 : BASSMUSICIANMAGAZINE.COM