Sunday, August 30, 2009

Arsenio Rodriguez - Happy Birthday!

'Ignacio Arsenio Travieso Scull'
Born Gúira de Macurijes, Matanzas, Cuba.
August 30th 1911 - December
31st 1970 L.A., Calif.
Feliz cumpleaños! 99

"Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso"

"Sobre El Arco Iris"
Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

In memoriam: Senator Ted Kennedy

Senator Ted Kennedy dead at age 77
1923-2009
Champion of civil rights, education, the minimum wage,
health care, champion of the worker.


R.I.P.

Grupo Candombe / Cuba early 1980's

Grupo Candombe
"A Color" 
Vinyl LP
(Obscure)
Grupo Candombe.
Recorded in La Habana.
Early 80's 'Onda Nueva Areito' funketeo.
Great trap drummer, great Conguero, killer electric guitar.
Vinyl LP.
All 12 tracks "cleaned" and trimmed" with GoldWave v5.23

1. Eterno El Son De Me Cuba

3. El Bailador De Mi Cuba

6. IO Monte IO

7. El Pueblo Manda

10. Si, Ay Ay Ay

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Street festivals and parade this weekend in Manhattan


Saturday, August 15 08/15/2009
6th Avenue Festival

6th Avenue 23rd - 14th Street

Saturday, August 15 08/15/2009
Waverly Place Festival
Waverly Place to Broadway - 5th Ave

29th India day parade
Sunday August 16th

The 63rd year of free independence from British colonialism



Gina Martin - 1957 - Cuba

Vinyl Panart LP/LD

With 'Jesús Peréz' y su Tambores Bata on
Track #2 "Elegua Inkio" and track #8 "Ochun Del Cobre"
(both written by 'Eduardo Davidson')

12. "Baila Que Se Paso"
(with Tata Güines & El Negro Vivar trumpet solo)


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Pancho Amat y su Grupo Manguaré 1985 + 2009 Yo Traigo Un Son

An early photo of 'Pancho Amat' in 1971

I prefer 'Pancho Amat' with "Manguaré" and his playing during the 1980's.
This is my favorite song by
Grupo Manguaré with Pancho Amat playing tres.

7. "Traigo El Guayo Y El Bongo"


"Yo Traigo Un Son"
Pancho Amat

Friday, August 7, 2009

Photos: Edy Martinez Quartet - N.Y.C.

This is a gig at the now defunct "Zinc Bar" on Houston street in Soho with the Edy Martinez quartet.

Edy Martinez: Piano.
I forgot the bass players name (sorry).
Phoenix Rivera
: drumset (the late 'Mario Rivera's' son).
Myself;: tumbadoras, bongoes, Chekeré.

Ernesto Simpson: sitting in.

Photo: John Amira with his Chekeré -N.Y.C.

August. 6th 2009
'John Amira' with his Chekeré made for him by my dad over 20 years ago.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Toque Güiro - Cuba


Toque Güiro from the film "Historia de un Ballet"
Below: a young Lazaro Ros singing,
a young Carlos Aldama and Trinidad Torregrosa drum
.


Photos: The "pickle" Chekeré

"Melgarez y su Chekeré"
Photo:
'Pierre Verger' Cuba 1957

"Melgarez y su Chekeré"
Photo: 'Pierre Verger' Cuba 1957


Of all the Chekeré's my father made in his lifetime... this shape was his favorite, which was influenced by the Chekeré in the 'Pierre Verger' photos above.
He made this one for himself and it was the only one he liked to play. He called it "The Pickle".

Photo: by my dad
Me playing my fathers Chekeré ("The Pickle"),
at the 1980 New Orleans Jazz Festival.


Eddie Bobé, myself and my father playing his favorite
 Chekeré at the New Orleans Jazz Festival 1985.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Omelé - Los Muñequitos De Matanzas & El Goyo + Papi Oviedo - Cuba

Two versions of Omelé, the original version by Grupo Guaguancó Matancero and a re-worked version by Gregorio Hernández Rios "El Goyo", from his 2001 CD titled; 'La Rumba Es Cubana'.. El Goyo".Gregorio Hernández used the same tresero as the original version; Papi Oviedo (de Matanzas)
(I like the original version best)

Omelé
Grupo Guaguan Matancero
 The original version
Papi Oviedo; tres guitar

Omelé
Gregorio Hernández 'El Goyo'
 Papi Oviedo; tres guitar
The re-worked 2001 version

Photo: Thomas Altmann in N.Y.C.

Percussionist Thomas Altmann from Hamburg, Germany was in N.Y.C. this month.
The day before he left, we hung out at my place, played Chekeré, drummed, listened to music and had fun. A great person and great musician.