Papi Oviedo

Gilberto Oviedo la Portilla (9 February 1938 – 31 October 2017), better known as Papi Oviedo, was a Cuban tres player.

Papi Oviedo
Papi Oviedo (2015)
Background information
Birth name	Gilberto Oviedo la Portilla
Born	(1938-02-09)February 9, 1938 La Habana, Cuba
Died	October 31, 2017(2017-10-31) (aged 79)
Genres	Son
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Tres
Years active	1952–2017
Labels	EGREM Tumi World Circuit

Early life

Papi Oviedo was born Gilberto Oviedo La Portilla in 1938, son of tres player Isaac Oviedo (1902–1992). Papi Oviedo began playing tres in 1952 and worked his way up through local bands to be the primary tres player for singer Orlando Contreras. Between 1957 and 1969, he was the featured tresero for Conjunto Tipico Habanero, Conjunto Chappottín and Estrellas de Chocolate.^[1] Between 1980 and 1995, he teamed up with Elio Revé in a re-formed version of charanga outfit Orquesta Revé. In 1995, Papi left Orquesta Revé to record his debut solo album, Encuentro entre soneros (1997, Tumi Music).^[2] In 2001, he released Bana Congo, a collaborative album with Congolese guitarist Papa Noël.^[3]

Discography

As a leader

• 1997: Encuentro entre soneros (Tumi)
• 2001: Bana Congo (Tumi) – with Papa Noël

With Jane Bunnett

• 2002: Cuban Odyssey (Blue Note)

With Rubén González

• 2000: Chanchullo (World Circuit)

With Isaac Oviedo

• 1992: Routes of Rhythm Vol. 3 (Rounder)