He's also a multi-instrumentalist, clinician, composer, arranger, transcriber, studio musician, music educator, freelance and solo artist. Host for Jaime Vazquez & The Video Of The Moment! (Sundays at 12:30-1:00pm WORA TV 5.1 DTV). Jaime has worked in radio stations like Vid 90 and FM96. He has played in several TV shows, concerts and festivals with artists such as David Bisbal, Gloria Trevi, Rawy, Luis Fonsi, Olga Tañon, Lourdes Robles, Wilkins, Noelia, Shalim, Obey Bermudez, Samuel Hernandez, Tony Vega, Blest; Sheila Romero and Humberto Ramirez and others. Also, he has recorded jingles for TV shows, commercials, etc. An overall bass player currently playing in several musical projects from rock to jazz, studio sessions, clinics, workshops, etc.
Jazzin Magazine: How did you start in music?
Jaime David Vázquez: I like music since I was a child. There are no musicians in my family, but they appreciate good music. My first instrument was the guitar, and later I learned some piano. It was very basic stuff. When I was fourteen I took private lessons, still in the guitar. I learned how to read music, classical music and how to improved my technique.
JM: Are you already listening Jazz at that moment?
JDV: Yes, since I was young I liked Jazz. Because my family listened to all kind of music, Jazz, Classical, Popular, I was exposed to all that music.
Then I decided to study music and auditioned at the Interamerican University San Germán. I was accepted and started studying Classical Guitar.
JM: Until then you're not playing bass?
JDV: Not yet. Until I met one of my major influences Agustin Barreto. He was the one who opened my eyes regarding the bass. I think the bass is underappreciated as a soloist instrument. And the voice and sound of the bass is unique, and is also a good melodic instrument, great for improvisations. So I started experimenting, I bought a electric bass. It was also back then at the University that I met bassist Irving Cancel and had my first experiences playing the acoustic bass. An then I decided to change my Major from Classical Guitar to Bass. I was already playing bass on different gigs, different types of music. At some moment I started playing with local and international artists, like David Bisbal, Olga Tañon, Tony Vega, Gloria Trevi, Lourdes Robles. And at one time I also had the opportunity to play with Humberto Ramirez, that was a great experience.
JM: After graduation from the University, tell me about your other professional experiences.
JDV: Well, I kept on working with different artists. I worked also on recordings, also writing music, arrangements, as a producer.
JM: Tell me about your jazz influences.
JDV: Wow! That's constantly changing. It depends of the different styles. First was Coltrane, then Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Gillespie. Mostly brass and horn musicians, then I discovered the strings musicians from the 70's and 80's Jazz Fusion like Allan Holldsworth, Frank Gambale. I listen a lot of blues too. Also in piano, Chick Corea.
JM: What you took from those musicians?
JDV: Vocabulary. How they improvised as soloist. And what I try to do is to adapt the vocabulary of those no bassist musicians, to my improvisations on bass. My goal is to present the bass as a soloist instrument.
After that I started to listen in depth to bassist like Stanley Clarke, John Pattitucci, Jaco Pastorius, Paul Chambers, Jeff Berlin. In rock, I like Billy Shehan, Geddy Lee, John Paul Jones. In the lain scene, Sal Cuevas, Ruben Rodríguez, Eddie Gómez, Cachao, Carlitos Del Puerto, Gabriel Rodríguez, Aldemar Valentín, Sammy Morales, Ricky Rodríguez, Egui Sierra, Elias Santos-Celpa, Ramón Vázquez, there's a lot of great latin and Puerto Rican bass players.
Jaime David Vazquez endorsed by Lathon Bass Wear, Morley Pedals, Gruv Gear, MTD Kingston Basses, SIT Strings, Ashdown Amps, Eminence Speaker, Eventide Stompboxes, Analysis Plus Cables, iGig Gig Bags/Cases, Delano Pickups & Electronics, Hipshot Products, Radial Engineering y Scratch Pad Guitar Finish Protectors.
Jaime David Vázquez