This is my second post regarding female trombonists. I have talked about Melba Liston, the trailblazing artist that paved the way for so many female jazz musicians. Now I turn to another, much younger, trailblazer.
Rita Payés is the type of artist that causes jaws to hit the floor. She was born into a musical family, in Catalan, Spain - her mother, Elisabeth Roma, is an outstanding classical and jazz guitarist, steeped in Latin music (bossa nova, fado, boleros and more). Rita started out on piano but for some reason, she decided to try the trombone. Some people have a natural affinity for a specific instrument, and I suspect that this young woman instinctively knew how to play this horn. Of course, she must have put in many hours of practice, but her facility and tone sound like they come from a deep place, beyond intellect and scale exercises.
Oh, and Rita sings. And plays guitar. Her cup of talent runneth over. Her vocals are sweet and wistful. The combination of her voice, her mother's guitar and quiet accompaniment from other compassionate musicians creates an almost magical experience. Here's an example of Rita's artistry. Her voice is delicate and sensitive, but not weak. She covers the entire range of the trombone and the musical ideas that she sends through the horn are full of yearning.
Rita is 22 years old. She released her first record when she was 16. She plays around Europe, mostly in Spain and France. I don't think she has toured North America, which is a huge loss for lovers of great music that live on this continent. I have never visited Spain, but now I must. I need to hear Rita play and sing.
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