El Gran Maestro Argentino de Jazz

A few days ago I received a message from Jorgelina Aleman, the granddaughter of Oscar Alemán, the great Argentine guitar player who lived from the 1940s onwards in Buenos Aires. During the last decade he lived at Maipu number 359. She forwarded me a message with a decision made by the local authorities: Dispónese la colocación de una placa recordatoria al gran maestro argentino de Jazz, Don Oscar Alemán, en la fachada del edificio de la calle Maipú n° 359 de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, en el cual vivió, dio clases y compuso sus más importantes obras musicales ( = .... to place a plaquette dedicated to the great master of Argentine jazz, mr. Oscar Aleman, at the wall of his house at Maipu no. 359 in the city of Buenos Aires, where he lived, taught and composed his most important musical works).

photo courtesy: Daniel and Jorgelina Aleman - May 2008

The Legislatura de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires ( = local authorities of Buenos Aires) decided that the plaquette will have the text: En este edificio vivió y transmitió su arte el gran maestro argentino de Jazz, Don Oscar Alemán. Homenaje de la Legislatura de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires ( = In this building the great master of Argentine Jazz, Mr. Oscar Alemán, lived and made his music. A Tribute by the Legislature of Buenos Aires. )

photo courtesy: Daniel and Jorgelina Aleman - May 2008

The unveiling of the plaque will take place on the 13th of June 2008 and this event is organized by the local authorities of Buenos Aires. Jorgelina Alemán, his granddaughter, and vocalist who still loves to spread her grandfather's musical legacy with concerts in theatres and clubs in the honor of Oscar Aleman, will be the central part of a small performance that will be held in the hall of the apartement. Jorgelina will be accompanied by some great Argentine jazzmusicians: Ricardo Péllican - Enrique Varela - Carlos Negro”García Lopez - Chachi Zaragoza - Juan Martinez - Cao Bornes - Daniel Cossarini - Willie Bozas - Julián García - Adrían Lucio - Betty Grifith- Lus Segura - Gisela Lepio - María Cabral and more. Some of the musicians that will take part of the event, like Enrique Varela, Ricardo Péllican and Chachi Zaragosa played with the old master long times ago.

photo courtesy: Daniel and Jorgelina Aleman - May 2008

Thanks to Daniel, Jorgelina's husband, I can share with you some great pictures of the house, in which Oscar lived with his wife in an apartement before he passed away in 1980. In the building where several apartements and in the hall, behind the gate, the event will take place and the plaque will be unveiled.

photo courtesy: Daniel and Jorgelina Aleman - May 2008

Of course, Jorgelina and her friends will understand that we three, The Alemaniacs, Theo, Joergen and myself, loved to be at this cermony, which will be a great overture for next year, 2009, when we celebrate Oscar's 100th birthday.

I will later post the so-called Fundamentos, the account by the local authorities or Buenos Aires, so everyone can read again why Oscar Aleman is labeled as El Gran Maestro Argentino de Jazz.
On behalf of the three Alemaniacs: Hans Koert - keepswinging@live.nl

This contribution is also posted in English and Dutch at the daily Keep Swinging Web Log.

Keep swinging

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl