Tom Mason: Music

Chano Pozo's Shoes

(Tom Mason)

The true story of Chano Pozo, reputedly one of the best percussionists of all time. He introduced Afro Cuban rhythms to Dizzy Gillespie, and made quite a mark before his untimely death in 1947.
" A few years back I was in Door County, Wisconsin playing with my friend Cat Braaten and staying with our friend Paul, and after a particularly fun show I was wide awake in the middle of the night and took Marshall Stearns' History of Jazz down from a shelf, saw Chano's photo and read his tale, and started the song." TM

Tom Mason: vocals, guitar
Pru Clearwater: vocals
Jen Gunderman: piano, percussion
Jim Gray: bass, percussion
Mark Horn: drums, percussion
Martin Lynds: percussion, drums

CHANO POZO’S SHOES

Zoot suit the color of wine
A bullet in the base of his spine
In Havana he’d lost his head
His royalties were paid in a shower of lead
Now it hurts too much to sit down
But he can play like Diablo on a bebop song

Chano Pozo’s Shoes Chano Pozo’s Shoes
We’re all wearing Chano Pozo’s Shoes

In ’47 in Dizzy’s band
He had the whole rhythm section in the palm of his hand
Carnegie Hall baby I was there
It was SRO not a soul in their chair
A sharp-dressed Cuban with a temper of heat
Seven rhythms going in his hands and feet

The city morgue on a gurney bed
Chano Pozo is lying dead
Shot by a bookie for a debt unpaid
From a Harlem bar to an early grave
The coroner found in his wingtips’ soles
Seven grand in a tight little roll

© 2009 Tom Mason Gas Station Music BMI