Enrique Gonzalez could’ve gone to France. The painter and singer from Venezuela won an art competition in high school where he could choose to study in either Miami or France. Gonzalez went to Miami to stay with some family. The effervescent artiste stayed there for a year, but the fast pace and competition was exhausting and frustrating. A friend of his from Venezuela had moved to Lexington and invited him to visit; it didn’t take him long to feel like he’d found a new home.
In the last 11 years, Enrique has fallen in love with Kentucky culture. In his studio at the Lexington Art League, paintings of horses racing at Keeneland and empty shot glasses next to Maker’s Mark bottles are stacked against the walls. For the last six years, Enrique has had no job other than painting and performing – what he loves the most.
“It’s like paradise,” said Enrique. “Feels like heaven.”
In 1974, Enrique experimented with percussion instruments. He began to desire performance and explore vocals, songwriting and other instruments.
“It creates you,” said Enrique, who grew up with a mother who sang opera.
Raised in Venezuela with five brothers and five sisters, Enrique now owns a home in Lexington with a son and a daughter. He shares with them his greatest loves and, although he is far from the rest of his family, he has come to America and made an enriched life.
“He is a perfect example of finding the American Dream,” said Chris Sullivan, saxophone and guitar player for Enrique’s group The Big Maracas. “He doesn’t take anything for granted.”
Eight years ago, Chris met Enrique at the old Alfalfa’s and the two became instant friends and, together, plotted a Latin music movement in Fayette County. Warren Byrom, Andy Mason, David White, Jeff Watts and Anna Hess soon feel in line, and the troupe began looking for a stage large enough to hold their company and dance floors with reinforced support.
Sure enough, once the Big Maracas hit the music scene, people came and danced the night away.
“American people appreciate Latin music more than Latino people,” Enrique said. “It’s something different.”
The Maracas mix Samba, Brazilian, Cuban, Venezuelan and other Caribbean modes of music. The energy is intoxicating: the percussion, the horns and strong tenor voice of Enrique stir up a soul shakedown party – whether at the Lexington Art League, Lynagh’s, The Fishtank or The Dame.
“Music is better than drugs,” Enrique said. “It makes you happy everywhere.”
While Enrique makes a compelling front man and gives The Big Maracas true authenticity in the Latino music genre, the annals of other musicians further steeps the band in cultural diversity.
Chris and trumpet/guitar/clarinet player Byrom are both from Lexington and, for over 10 years, have played together in an old-timey, hokum jazz outfit, The Swells. Both musicians are from Lexington, but they have traveled and, in the process, have been exposed to music that has changed and shaped them into the people and performers they are today. Chris’s trekking has taken him through Europe and Alaska, and to performing in New Orleans. In Europe – Spain in particular – Chris would play in the street and meet other performers.
“It’s amazing,” Chris said, “the stuff you can learn by getting out there. I feel lucky.”
While living in New Orleans, Warren played on the streets of the French Quarter and met and sat in with musicians that he would hear on his favorite New Orleans radio station.
Satchmo, Professor Longhair, Warren Batiste and the cultural, unique, rhythmic jazz birthed in New Orleans has sensationalized Warren’s love for music. He has discovered artists there and brought them to Lexington, sharing their art to a new crowd.
“You hear something that not many people have heard, you get their joy,” Warren said. “The joy of the dead.”
Chris, Warren, Enrique and the rest of the Maracas want to proliferate that joy, engage and energize. They want to turn people on to different music and, as Warren said, “overcome the apathy and suspicion engrained in the culture toward live music.”
“Our shows are like meals,” Chris said.
“Occasionally the audience should be wearing bibs,” Warren continued, laughing.
The Big Maracas play mostly covers, but they sprinkle in originals. There is no set list; they read the audience and make up their mind from their mood.
“Seeing a live band can really move you,” said Warren, who himself is a mover of furniture – as is Chris. Together, they are not just movers of furniture; they are movers of people.
Enrique didn’t go to France. Now there is a Latin band in Lexington. The Big Maracas will be kicking off Central Bank’s Thursday Night Live series from 5 – 8 p.m. June 7 in Cheapside Park. They will also be packing the house the following night, June 8, at The Dame.