Saturday, December 26, 2009

Video: Cuba - Nueve variadades


Cañambú
Septeto de Santiago



"Son De La Loma"
Quinteto de Santiago



"Flores Para Tu Altar"
Sexteto de Santa Clara



Septeto de Santa Clara



"Que Viva Changó"
Sexteto Covarrubia Son - de Las Tunas


"La Mulata Rumbera"
Septeto Morena Son - de Santiago



"Cambia Tu Vida Compay"
Sexteto de Holguin



"La Botijuela"
Septeto De Santiago



"Santiago Danzón"
Quinteto Son De Oriente

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

In memoriam: Ann Nixon Cooper dies at age 107

In memoriam: Kim Peek dies at age 58

He would read eight books a day, taking just ten seconds to read a page. He could read two pages simultaneously, his left eye reading the left page and his right eye reading the right page.


Sunday, December 20, 2009

In memoriam: Alberto Cruz Torres "Pancho El Bravo" 1928-2009 Cuba

Alberto Cruz Torres
"Pancho El Bravo"
Pinar del Rio, Cuba 1928, - Cuba Dec. 2009
R.I.P. - Iba ayé ba yé t'orún
Quimeras y paradojas de un gran músico


Besitos a La Francesa
 
Obreros Somos



El difunto 'Pancho El Bravo' : flauta

"Orquesta Pancho El Bravo"
Areito vinyl 7' EP cover.
1969

Julio Valdés and Cheo Junco on vocals.
El difunto "Pancho El Bravo" on flute.
Piano: Richard Egües
First Violin: Miguel Barbón Brindis a.k.a."El Niño Prodigio"

6. Union cienfueguera - Dejame pensar

7. Almendra - Amor Dormido

8. El Cadete Constitucional - Tan Solo

10. Chirimoya - Repitelo


Rosendo Rosell and Julio Valdés
An excellent review of these recordings as well as of the band and the musicians was written May 31, 2000, by the respected Cuban music historian, Señor 'Luis De Quesada' almost nine years ago...you can read it it Here.

"De Nuevo"
Vinyl LP on Maype

"Guayaba...Ahora Si"
Julio Valdés: Vocal.
Vinyl LP

'Pancho El Bravo' "Los ineditos'en vivo"
Mid 1960's & early 1970's
Excellent sound quality.

2. Para gusto se han hecho los colores

12. Baila Kimbongolo

 

"Charanga Tipica"Pancho El Bravo
A CD on the 'Montmartre' label.

All 15 tracks taken from other vinyl LP's poorly transferred from vinyl to CD,
but swinging.
60's and '70's Pancho El Bravo.

"La Charanga Que Entro En Orbita"
Pancho el Bravo
1990 Egrem/Areito vinyl LP

"Bótate Na' Ma'"
Pancho el Bravo y sus Candelas del Tira Tira
1949-1960-1961
Nicely remastered reissues on a Caney CD

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Miguel Valdés y Su Conj. De Percusión

"Orumila Obbi Wáo"
Cuban percussionist 'Miguel Valdés', grabado en Mexico, as a CD import at Amazon.
"Yemayá"

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The obligatory Christmas post Dec. 2009

"Gemas De Navidad!"
1960
("Gems of Christmas")Vinyl LP on the Cuban Gema label.
With several true gems.
Miguelito Cuní with Andrés "Niño" Rivera Echevarria.
Elena Burke with Juanito Marquez on electric guitar.
(Elena Burke is amazing on this!)
Rolando La' Serie with Bebo Valdés.
Compay Segundo' with 'Amparito'.
And Fernando Alvarez.

There are 12 songs, even though the cover lists 11.
And also incorrectly lists Rolando La'Serie as the vocalist on #6, but it is it is Miguelito Cuní singing with 'Niño" Rivera's big band.

1. Esta Navidad - Rolando La'Serie.
2. Feliz Navidad - Fernando Alvarez.
3. Cancion De Pascuas - Elena Burke & Juanito Marquez.
4. Tres Magos De Oriente - Compay Segundo y Amparito.
5. Invierno Y Navidad - Miguelito Cuní & "Niño" Rivera
6. La Virgin Lloraba - Miguelito Cuní & "Niño" Rivera.
7. Navidad Gris - Fernando Alvarez.
8. Lechon Y Guanajo - Rolando La'Serie.
9. La Mano De Dios - Elena Burke & Juanito Marquez.
10. Villancici Guajiro - Compay Segundo y 'Amparito.
11. Mi Nochebuena En Oriente - Miguelito Cuní & "Niño" Rivera.
12. Un Amor En Navida - Fernando Alvarez.

2. Feliz Navidad
Fernando Alvarez: voz

3. Cancion De Pascuas
Elena Burke: voz & Juanito Marquez: elec. guitar

6. La Virgin Lloraba
Miguelito Cuní con "Niño" Rivera y su Orq.

8. Lechon Y Guanajo
Rolando La'Serie con Bebo Valdés y su Orq.

9. La Mano De Dios
Elena Burke: voz & Juanito Marquez: elec. guitar

11. Mi Nochebuena En Oriente
Miguelito Cuní: voz & "Niño" Rivera: tres solo




"Festejando Navedad Con Celia Cruz"
Celia y La Sonora Matancera
1. Feliz Navidad

3. Jingle Bells

10. Rey De Los Cielos

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Conjunto Roberto Faz 1974 - Cuba


"Quija' Chequeré"
Conjunto Roberto Faz - 1974
Canta: 'Onelio Peréz'
(sin Roberto Faz)

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

José Rosario Chávez a.k.a. "Manteca"

"Manteca"
José Rosario Chávez
Photo: 1953-'56
Timbalito player for Sonora Matancera

"Manteca"
José Rosario Chávez
Photo: 1949-'50

Sonora Matancera en vivo with
"Manteca" taking a killing timbalito solo.
Canta: Celio Gonzales


Thursday, December 10, 2009

Video: Cuba - + MP3's: Manley "Piri" López Herrera de "Los Chinitos de la Corea"


'Manley "Piri" López Herrera'

This post has five videos featuring "Piri" playing quinto en rumba.
I like his "rhythmic sensibility" which gives him his own unique "style" of playing quinto.
Also refreshing is that he plays "nobody else's style" but his own.
He plays quinto in the first four videos, in the fifth video he plays Caja (tumbador) then gets up to let another drummer play, then returns to play quinto.
The first three videos, he plays with his Father who is sitting next to him.
'Juan De Dios' sings in several of them.

For more in depth information about 'Manley "Piri" López Herrera' and "Los Chinitos", you can view 'Patrice Banchereau's' excellent web page/s here.
And also here at the apozo82.blogspot: "Música Viva!"

Aditionally, I converted the sound from each video into MP3's, you can download all five in one file. ((here))

1. Piri and his Father
("less is more")



2. Piri y su Padre
Canta: 'Juan De Dios'



3. Piri y su Padre
Canta: 'Juan De Dios'



4. Piri en casa
Canta: 'Juan De Dios'



5. Piri caja y quinto
(no, dis 'aint no Namm convention video)


Video: Cuba - Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo (Rehearsal 1988)


Video: Cuba - Si somos de la Caliente

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

La Gloria Matancera Vol - I & II - Cuba

La Gloria Matancera Vol - I
Canta:
*'Caridad Gonzaléz', 'Cheo Junco', 'Nelo Sosa',
'Roberto Sanchéz', 'Jose "Pepe" Merino'

and Florencio "Carusito" Hernandez.

A nice collection of various Gloria Matancera materiel
on two Venezuelan pressings, mostly from 78rpm's.

1. A Mi Virgen Preferida
Canta: Caridad Gonzaléz


La Gloria Matancera Vol - II

Canta:
*'Caridad Gonzaléz', 'Cheo Junco', 'Nelo Sosa',
'Roberto Sanchéz', 'Jose "Pepe" Merino'

and Florencio "Carusito" Hernandez.

A nice collection of various Gloria Matancera materiel
on two Venezuelan pressings, mostly from 78rpm's.

7. Layé Layé
Canta: Caridad Gonzaléz


Gloria Matancera 1955
Florencio Hernandez "Carusito" standing first on left.
Caridad Gonzaléz sitting on the right.


Sunday, December 6, 2009

"Estampas Populares" Music of Bienvenido Julián Gutiérrez - Cuba

"Estampas Populares"
Vinyl LP on Egrem/Areito mid 1960's

Same LP, alternate Egrem cover

An LP of instrumental compositions and music by the legendary 'Bienvenido Julián Gutiérrez'. The orchestrations on this kill, due to these studios sessions directed by four superb bandleaders:
Generoso "Tojo" Jimenéz, 'Andrés "Niño Rivera" Echevarria' and 'Joaquín Mendível Guerra'

Killer orchestrations, killer Orquesta, which I'm sure included many of the first call studio cats in Havana during this period, several of whom may include:
percussionists Oscar Valdés Sr. & Marcelino Valdés - brothers 'Emilio Peñalver' (tenor Sax) and 'Osvaldo Peñalver' (Alto Sax), "Tojo" takes several short tasty trombone solos.

You are correctly seeing the price in the upper right corner on the back of the album jacket... that's what this LP sold for.
Long out of print and rare.

1. Azucar Con Amargao

2. Hagan Juego

3. Cundunga
(Check out the Piccolo parts)

6. Con Un Solo Pie

7. El Huerfanito
My Father used to love the way Abelardo Barroso sang this

Jesús "Chucho" Valdés - The original Cuban LP covers

The original LP covers.
Most of these songs have been
remastered and reissued on CD


"Jazz Bata"
Egrem/Areito vinyl LP
Chucho: piano, Carlos Del Puerto Sr: bass,
Oscar Valdés: Bata.


"Jazz Nocturno"
Vinyl LP on the Cuban 'Palma' lable.


"Descarga"
Jesús "Chucho" Valdés & Combo
Vinyl LP


"Pianoforte I"
Rafael Somavilla, Jesús "Chucho" Valdés, Felo Bergaza.
Egrem vinyl LP early 1960's


"Pianoforte II"
Adolfo Guzman, Frank Emilio Flynn, Pedro "Peruchin" Justiz.
Egrem vinyl LP early 1960's


Jesús "Chucho" Valdés
45 rpm

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Video: Cuba Frank Emilio Flynn 'Quinteto De Musica Moderna'



'Quinteto Instrumental De Musica Moderna'
Havana, 1960-'61

Frank Emilio Flynn, Orlando "Papito" Hernández,
Tata Güines, Guillermo Barreto, Gustavo Tamayo


'Sexteto
Instrumental De Musica Moderna'
"Los Amigos" - Havana, 1980-'82

Frank Emilio Flynn, Cachaito Lopez, Miguel O'Farrill
Tata Güines, Guillermo Barreto, Gustavo Tamayo

Video: Cuba - Tata Güines interview (Manteca) 1993



Thursday, December 3, 2009

Photos & video: Marlon Brando early 1950's

With a nice pair of early Cuban 1950's "tack-head" bongoes.

With an early 1950's Cuban "tack-head".

Marlon playing a 'Gonzalo Vergara' drum.
Late 1950's.
(Photo contributed by
'Geordie Van Der Bosch')

Marlon playing bongoes with band.
Tunable with metal lugs.
(Photo contributed by 'Geordie Van Der Bosch')

After Marlon Brando died, many of his personal possessions were auctioned off publicly about ten years ago. Included were a pair of bongoes given to him by 'Mario Diaz' in 1956.
I bought a pair made like these on Ebay five years ago on Ebay,
I made the mistake of selling them.
These styles of bongoes (typically with red and black bands) were commonly sold in music stores in Havana in the 1950's, many sold at the well known 'Solis' music store in Havana.
Drums sold by 'Solis' usually had the stores
sticker on the inside of all their drums.

The reason why Solis put a "disclaimer" sticker on the inside was because the majority of drums were bought by tourists, who would then take them back to the U.S.A. where the climates were very different than in Cuba, in cold weather the wood often would contract, sometimes causing the 'stave's' to separate and the drums to then fall apart.


Below: Marlon's "tack head" tumbadora, with a "custom made" travel case with his name on the top. It was also auctioned off.
(Photo contributed by 'Geordie Van Der Bosch')



Video: Marlon "jamming" with 'Jack Costanzo'
Interviewed by 'Edward R. Murrow'.


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