Bass Lines with Jaime Vazquez: Erick “Jey” Seda Fusing Salsa with Rock!

Erick Seda, better known as “Jey” started his musical career as a bass player in 1982 with “Nirvana”. The band published their first record (45rpm) “Don’t wait” early in the eighties followed by “On the Radio” in the same decade and “Generacion Espontanea” in 1991. At that time, local bands in general were suffering a major identity dilemma due to the bilingual culture of the island. Most musicians solved the problem singing in both languages. The band’s career was cut out short right after the alternative musical phenomena from Seattle came out with the same name. Local confusion reached its peak when Kurt Cobain took his own life and a local newspaper printed the article with a picture of Nirvana from Puerto Rico causing hysteria among band relatives and local fans.

In 1993, Jey went on tour with Ricky Martin to promote the album “Me Amaras”. During this tour, Jey had the opportunity to travel the world and to prove himself as a professional musician in the international scene. After over a year of touring with Ricky Martin, Jey decided to go back home and work with his own material.

In 1996, Sol d’ Menta, one of the most influential and respected Puerto Rican rock bands of all times, was born. Sol d’ Menta’s discography consists of six albums: Sol d’ Menta I (1996), El concepto (1998), Tocando Madera(2000), Insomnio (2001), Vivos (2002), and Ciclos (2006). Songs like: “El Inconforme”, “Skalamientos”, “La Cachetera” and others became instant hits in the underground market and in the radio achieving top positions in Billboard reports. Sol d’ Menta’s cover versions of “Oubao Moin”, “Calle Luna Calle Sol” and “Could You Be loved” also received extraordinary reviews. The video for “Sentido Contrario” occupied a top 10 position in Mtv Latino.

As a bass player, Jey has always provided a well-balance mixture of solid rock lines with some Latin flavor pulses that have influenced generations of local bassists. His peculiar playing portraits a rock-bass hero tamed by the lay back and sensual nature of the Caribbean. His song writing has been praised as well. In 2003, Sol d’ Menta was awarded Best Independent Band by ASCAP in Hollywood California.

As recent as 2010, Jey started a new musical adventure, La Vitrola. Trying to explore behind old closet doors and removing the dust on old vinyl records, La Vitrola’s musical proposal involves the remaking of salsa classics in a Pop-Rock platform. Fans of all ages have come together to enjoy what seams to be a very pleasant alternative to the traditional salsa or the mainstream rock. Their first album is already sold out and the band’s life performances have proven to be the perfect place for a musical bonding between generations.

Transcriptions:

Download Soy Boricua
Download Payaso
Download Ojitos Chinos
Download La Rueda
Download La Cura
Download La Cuna Blanca

Visit online:

facebook.com/erick.seda
lavitrolarock.com
facebook.com/lavitrolarockola
twitter.com/#!/Lavitrolarock