Conga

[e2c]

We don't yet have a thread on congas, and I know there are some conga players (and fans) out there, so I thought I'd post a couple of vids to get things rolling...

One of my favorites, the late Miguel "Anga" Diaz, from Cuba -



from NYC, Little Johnny Rivero (formerly with La Sonora Ponceña) - tumbao demo -



The late Carlos "Patato" Valdés (born in Cuba, emigrated to the US) - video by John "Dandy" Rodriguez, who is a killer bongó player in his own right -



Ray Barretto (also gone), from NYC - beautiful playing by Carlos Soto (bongo) and Jimmy Delgado (timbales). The song is Ray's "Cocinando."



Candido Camero ( Cuba/US; gone, too), playing "Manteca" (not sure of the band personnel) -



Candido teaching -



Another of the great Cuban players, Tata Güines, soloing on "Manteca," (Audio leaves a lot to be desired, but man!)



* Angá Diaz and Tata together -



Armando Peraza (another Cuban immigrant to the US, has worked with just about everyone) -



And.... Mongo Santamaria with the Fania All-Stars, live at Yankee Stadium (1973) -

[BobF]

awesome clips E2C, Thanks!!

[bops]

Great list, thanks e2c. My favorite is probably Patato.

...And what would a congas thread be without:

[e2c]

@ bops: (Since I linked to the Giovanni vid on another thread.)

I'm a big fan of Patato myself; also Tata, Candido, Angá and Ray. (I need to find a good vid of Ray from later in his life, after he switched - mainly - to jazz). I really like what some of the Cuban guys are doing in terms of subtle sounds, accents and pitch-bending.

Little Johnny Rivero's tumbaos are just unbelievable! Killer grooves, yet nothing that would ever demand too much attention for himself. He really knows how to move a band, and work with the other musicians.

[e2c]

A tribute to Cuban Chano Pozo, the man who brought conga into N. American jazz - he died very young, and I don't think there's any extant footage of him, but still...



Another Cuban great, Pello El Afrokan, who created the mozambique rhythm. (Popularized here in the States by Eddie Palmieri and others.)

[e2c]

From the documentary Calle 54, here's a rumba called "Compa Galletano." The lead singer/percussionist is Orlando "Puntilla" Rios; Patato Valdés is on the left -



(I *wish* there was a cut showing the dancers from the front, all the way through, but... if there is, they didn't decide put it in the DVD extras.)

[e2c]

From Cuba, Francisco Aguabella (and lots of other great players) -