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Mario Grillo
Today, thanks to Toca artist Mario Grillo there still is a direct link, a blood link. Mario is, in fact, the son of Machito, who was born Francisco Raul Gutierrez Grillo. As the apple never falls far from the tree, Mario has made his calling the revival of his father's legacy in the form of fresh, contemporary ensembles including The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra. The band is staffed with musicians from the original bands in addition to the next generation of musicians from the Puente and Rodriguez families-who brought to the new band their fathers' original music charts. All are ably led by Mario Grillo. Since the nineties he has toured the world, revisiting some of the spots where Machito's orchestra reigned. Mario Grillo is old enough to have caught the tail end of the mambo craze, to have played with his father, yet young enough to absorb the trends that have turned the music industry inside out. A purist at heart, he is nevertheless open to contemporary developments such as DJ and turntable artists-and the rearranging of his father's musical book. A drummer-percussionist from the New York area, he has studied with the biggest names in history: Henry Adler (who co-wrote a book with Buddy Rich), Ted Reed, Joe Rothman, and Sam Ulano. Mario is a performer and also a respected clinician. Mario gets his signature rimshot and shell tones from Toca instruments. He is a firm leader and, in his father's tradition, insists on a band that looks as elegant as it sounds. Watch Mario's free online instructional videos:
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in the Forties, Fifties and Sixties, American urban culture in big cities
spiked with the introduction of Latin-jazz big bands. When reminiscing
about the "age of Mambo" and the Palladium Ballroom, a few
names especially come to mind,