Josecho Sesma - Tapiman

Born and raised in Pamplona, Josecho was inspired by the likes of Ray Charles, SDG and his dear friend and legend, Taj Mahal. Sesma learned how to play the bass and would go on to participate in a handful of groups before joining the fierce Tapiman in the mid 70’s. And at 72 years old, he still jams and plays his bass! It was pleasure to speak to Sesma about his early day of music, joining Tapiman and what he’s been up to in recent years. Who doesn’t dig TAPIMAN? Enjoy1

When and where were you born? Are you originally from Pamplona, Spain? What was growing up like for you? When did you first begin to fall in love with music and what was it about the bass guitar that initially fascinated you? Did you play a few keys as well?

I was born in Pamplona, a small town North of Spain near the border of France. I used to listen to music on the Spanish and French radios, then I fell in love with music. I was deeply impressed with Ray Charles and the show that introduced me to the bass was “Keep On Running”. Spencer Davis Group was one of my favorite bands and in that very moment I knew I was going to be a bass player.

Josecho at eleven months old.

What was your town like and what would you and your friends do for fun? Did you go to many local shows in your area? So many incredible bands came out of Spain in the 60s and 70s! Where would you go to see concerts and what was the first band you saw that made a big impact on you?

My town wasn’t very fun. A very conservative one that had real problems if you had long hair, or of your clothes were “different” to the rest of the people. There were many places where you could play, or listen to other bands. That was a good thing. We use to go to South France to see concerts of foreign bands and we would even go to Paris. Thee I could see my favorite band Spence Davis Group.

At the age of 14 you were inspired by groups such as The Beatles, Spencer Davis Group, and more specifically, Steve Winwood’s Georgia On My Mind’. Can you tell me about the influences these guys had on you and how that changed your world and approach to life?

Spencer Davis Group showed me the way. With “Georgia On My Mind”, the blues of Steve, later Vanilla Fudge, especially Tim Bogart at the bass and later Cream with Jack Bruce as a bass player all showed me the way.

Tell me about playing in the group Los Rebeldes in 1967. Was this the first group you participated in prior to joining Tapiman? What were your expenses like while playing in that group? How did you initially meet your band mates and what was the sound of the band like? When and where did you play your first live concert and what was that experience like for you?

Los Rebeldes wasn’t my first band, just the second. With them I grew up as a musician and later I joined Los Condes. All of them were local bands and then Pablo Webber (Hoelderling, Fraklin) called me to make a new band, “Moods” and I left and kept on playing as a professional musician.

              Los Rebeldes circa: 1967.

Obelix.

When did Los Moods come together? Where does this fit in the timeline leading up to joining Tapiman? Can you tell me about your experiences while playing in that group? You also played in groups OM and Clan Zero. Can you give a brief history on your participation in those outfits?

Moods were a real good band, Rock, blues and a lot of improvisation. That was in 1968. I joined Grupo Om (probably the first fusion group in Spain) in 1970 with Toti Soler as the guitar player and Peter Hodkingson as the drummer. After that I joined Clan Zero, a real fantastic band. The only problem was that Clan Zero was too far ahead of its time in Spain. In the 70’s I had been playing in Barcelona as a recording musician and I played with Taj Mahal who lived in the house Joe Skaldzien and me had in La Floresta Pearson near Barcelona. Taj left the US because of problems with production of discography, or something like that. He was really important in my life and I learned a lot about blues from him.

Various published articles about Los Moods, Clan Zero and Obelix.

With Tapi en Maquina at the Barcelona amusement park circa: 1970.

Tell me about recording at Estudios Gema, Barcelona 1970/71. What project were you working on because in our correspondence you mentioned you joined Tapoman in ‘73? How did you initially meet José María Vilaseca (Tapi), M. A. Núñez (MAN)? What was the current line up in ‘73 upon you joining? Was Max Sunyer and Jordi Querol still around. How did joining the band go down and what were your first impressions of everyone?

I recorded a lot in Estusios Gema. Discs, music for adds, everything you could imagine. I met Tapi (Jose Maria Vilaseca) when I was recording in Estudios Gema. No really, I met him in ‘24 Hours Of Music’ playing in different bands. He called me in 1971 to join Tapiman, but I was in the military service. When I finished, I joined Tapiman in 1973. Max had left the band the previous year. The musicians in Tapiman at that time were Palo Weeber, Tony (Evolution) as the guitar players, T.J. Brown on keyboards, Tapi on drums and myself on bass. It sounded fantastic, but in those years the work for the bands was very poor and all of us were professionals. That was reason for the end of the band. Tapi went on with Lone Star, Pablo with Hoerdiling in Germany. Tony and myself played with singers Antonio Machin, Marujita Diaz and much more.

Gema Studios, Barcelona circa: 1970/71.

When and where was your first show with Tapiman and was that experience like for you? Were you familiar with their first record before you joined? It would be nearly 7 years before the band would record another album. How long were you with them? Are there any shows that still stand out in your mind to this day? When you reflect back on your time in Tapiman, what are you most fond of?

My first show with Tapiman was in Trocadero in Bareclona. I stayed in Tapiman about 7, or 8 months, but I always kept in touch with Taj. When I was in the band I lived in his home. The reason for those years without recording was because a forced stop due to lack of work for the band and most of the others from 1973 to 1980.

With the late Tapi in "Trocadero", Barcelona.

Josecho and Tapi making some arrangements at Tapi's house circa: 1973. 

Various published articles about Tapiman.

What have you been up to in recent years? Are you currently playing in any bands? Are you still in contact with your old band mates from Tapiman? When you reflect back on your career as a musician, what are you most fond of? What are you most proud of?

I’m 72 years old, but I keep on playing. In fact I just released a new disc with Abogados Del Ritmo. I’ve been on tours in Germany, Austria, Swiss, Italy, France, etc. with The Perfect Strangers.

Sesma played his first solo gig and these are various article clippings from that performance.

Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?

There have been a lot of moment to remember, but I’ll chose two. My first performance in Barcelona was in a concert with the best bands of progressive music in Spain. I was in Grupo Om and the performance in Madrid in M&M with Tapiman.

Dakota Brown