Puerto Rico Vegan Restaurants Guide
Café Berlín, Calle San Francisco 407, San Juan. 787-722-5205
La Buena Mesa de Oscar, Calle Loíza #1801, Santurce, 787.268.5202
Orgánico Bistro, Ave. Rafael Cordero, Local #16 Plaza del Mercado, Caguas, 787.600.4190
La Familia, Jose de Diego # 151, Mayagüez, 787.833.7571
Freshmart, 201 Calle Calaf, Hato Rey, 787.762.7800
La Zanahoria, Ave. Eleanor Roosevelt 214 Hato Rey, 787.274.0058
Cocobana Café, Calle Loíza #2000, Santurce, 787.268.7758
Peace & Loaf, Ave. Américo Miranda 1402 Río Piedras, 787.293.7773
Puerto Rico Jazz Legends: Willie Bobo
Percussionist William Correa "Willie Bobo," one of the most important figures of Latin jazz was born in New York on February 28, 1934. He played bongos at age 7 and at 13 he was an assistant at the Machito Orchestra. The following year he met Mongo Santamaria.
His nickname was given by the jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams, with whom he recorded in 1951 due yo Willie's antics in the studio. Mary Lou Williams dedicated him the composition "Bobo's Chant".
In 1953, he recorded with Noro Morales and Tito Rodriguez. When Tito Puente left Manny Oquendo Orchestra, Willie enters the orchestra as bongocero. In 1955 he recorded "Chango" with Mongo Santamaria. In 1958 Bobo and Santamaria move to San Francisco to work with Cal Tjader.
Willie Bobo was part of the first recordings of Mongo Santamaria and also records with flutist Herbie Mann.
In 1963 Willie Bobo starts recording as leader of his group, playing drums and singing. In his music Bobo fuses elements of popular music with jazz and uses the guitar as a harmonic instrument. The theme Evil Ways, that years later would be a success of Carlos Santana, was composed by guitarist for the band Sonny Henry Willie Bobo.
During his career in music Willie recorded with jazz greats, among them, Miles Davis, Chico Hamilton, Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock and Wes Montgomery.
In 1964 he reunited with Cal Tjader once again and recorded Soul Sauce.
Willie Bobo played in the Playboy Jazz Festival shortly before his death in Los Angeles on September 15, 1983.