New musical heights for Cesare Cassarino

HE attributes his love for music growing up in a home where music played a huge role in their daily lives. Cesare Cassarino (44), a bass guitarist from Linmeyer, recently met up with the Comaro CHRONICLE and shared his story.

Cesare was born in the South of Johannesburg. As a young child, his father Ernest used to listen to opera and choral music and his mom, Severa, enjoyed the music of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.

“Some of my early memories were of them singing along to old records.”

He attended St Martin’s school where some of his friends played in bands. A few years later he went to Damelin in Joburg CBD, where there were three music shops on the same street.

“During breaks we would descend on those shops and annoy their staff. We got thrown out of TOMS for eating slap chips and greasing up the guitars with our oily fingers. It was a great time and I made some good contacts there,” Cesare said.

“Sometime around 1988 my close friend told me that my hands were too big for guitar and that I should buy a bass if I wanted to be a musician. Soon after I cashed in a bank account my gran had opened for me and bought my first bass guitar. I’ve never looked back.”

A previous lover of new wave, punk, funk and then reggae, Cesare’s appreciation for music later developed and he began to listen to everything from jazz to avant-garde, experimental music.

“While digging through my mom’s record collection I found an album by Karlheinz Stockhausen. His music was totally abstract and blew my mind. It left an indelible mark on me.”

Set up his musical career

When he left Damelin he had the choice to go to the army or study Jazz at the Pretoria Technikon.

“It was a no-brainer,” he laughed.

“I auditioned for the Tech and somehow got in with little formal music education. One of my teachers was the late Johnny Fourie. I soaked up all the knowledge I could. I think being there set me up for the rest of my musical career and I made friends with many producers, teachers and players.”

Over the years he’s played on stage with Gang of Instrumentals, Dozi, RJ Benjamin, Loyiso, Jazz Company, Riku Latti (Wasgoedlyn), Jonathan Crossley, Tamara Dey, Cameron Bruce, Karin Zoid, Battery 9, Beukes and Delaney, Valiant Swart, Peter Auret, Tsunami, Paul Riekert and too many more to mention.

“As a freelance musician you have to be open to taking any work which comes your way. I was willing to play anything and everything back then. It’s only recently I’ve decided to record and play my own instrumental music. I have done a couple of low key gigs in and around Joburg playing with the irreverent and daring improv band, Deep Spacer. Those gigs gave me the momentum to follow through with my own music.

“I also take inspiration from musicians like Squarepusher, Frank Zappa and Carlo Mombelli (South African composer and bass player). My music is nothing like theirs but their determination and focus to do something special is admirable.

“For me it does require a lot of nerve to make the change from being a backing musician to being the actual artist but I’ll continue to take as much (sideman) work as possible. I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater,” he laughed.

“People can expect jazz funk with electronic textures, improvisation and references to my own musical inspirations. It’s going to be edgy and personal. I’m taking my journey to the next level which will be scary but loads of fun.”

Cesare once enjoyed painting and named his 10-year-old daughter Frida, after the great Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist who painted many portraits and self-portraits.

“Having Frida has most definitely changed me and put things into perspective. She happens to be interested in art and music but I don’t want to force her in any particular creative direction. There is something to be said for following one’s own path in life.”

Cesare can be reached for bass and guitar lessons on 072 347 1731.

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