Video: Cuba Cantarla, bailarla, tocarla (1982)

Documentary featuring Juan García Reyes and Gonzalo Ascencio (Tio Tom).
Also has scenes featuring Amado Dedeu, Guillermo "El Negro" Triana, Carlos Aldama, Mario Dreke "Chavalonga" and others.

Mexico Disbands Entire Police Force In Veracruz

Mexico Disbands Entire Police Force In Veracruz
by The Associated Press, December 21, 2011.

The entire police force in the major Gulf coast port city of Veracruz was dissolved on Wednesday, and Mexican officials sent the Navy in to patrol.
The Veracruz state government said the decision is part of an effort to root out police corruption and start from zero in the state's largest city.

In memoriam: Danny Chen

Private Danny, Chen, 19,

who was found dead in Afghanistan on Oct. 3.
R.I.P. /D.E.P.

Army Pvt. Danny Chen was driven to his death in Afghanistan by sadistic fellow soldiers who assaulted him repeatedly and made fun of his Chinese ancestry, family and friends charged Wednesday.

The 19-year-old soldier from Chinatown in N.Y.C. was dragged by the bullies out of his bed, pelted with stones, hung upside down while his mouth was full of a liquid, and mocked as “Jackie Chan,” they said.

Feliz dia de Sàngó - Changó - Xângó - Shangó

Dia de Sàngó

Three Yoruba 'Oshe Sàngó' I inherited from my father.
The one on the left was made in 1920, the middle made
in 1970 and the one on the right made in the 1930's.

"Canto a Changó"
Amelia Pedroso with Ilu Aña

"Canto a Changó"
Amelia Pedroso with Mark Lotz' band

"Canto a Changó"
Lazaro Ros con Los Papines

Video: Cuba - Conj. Clave y Guaguancó

Miguel Chappottín Beltrán
R.I.P. / D.E.P.

Video: Cuba - Los Compadres - Cuba

1946

Los Compadres

1970's

Reality is real

Ebay auction: MAGIC GUITAR by WILSON & HIS COMBO on PUCHITO 1961 Cuba

MAGIC GUITAR by WILSON & HIS COMBO

Video Cuba: Clave y Guaguancó de Mario Alán 1966

Agustín Gutierrez playing el quinto and dancing.
Cantado por Miguel Angel Messa Cruz.

Rumba Columbia
"Coco Mondanseré"



Video courtesy of Barry Cox.
"El que sabe, sabe"

Reality is real.. no I'm not kidding.

It's all about fate, not luck.

Lázaro Buides - Cubayende "Tributo Al Son Cubano" 2011 Cuba

"Tributo Al Son Cubano"
Lázaro Buides y Cubayende.

1. Toca Bongosero! - Sixto Llorente (El Indio)
2. Cubayende - Sixto Llorente (El Indio)
3. Por Hablador
4. El Inteligente
5. La Habana Me Espera
6. Por Tu Remolacha - Conj.Clave y Guaguancó
7. Mi Raíz - Laito Jr.
8. Mira Quién Viene - El Noro
9. Pero No Puedes Vivir Sin El
10. San Leopoldo - Pedro Lugo Martínez (El Nene)
11.Por Ahí - El Noro
12. Zarzaparrilla - Pedro Lugo Martínez (El Nene)

6. Por Tu Remolacha
Conjunto Clave y Guaguancó

7. Mi Raíz
Cantado: Laito Jr

Video: Cuba - Carlos Rios, Descarga en la casa

Carlos Rios on bass, when he was much younger.
Carlos Rios- Bajo
Efrain Rios --Tres
Roberto Riveron -- Güiro
José Espinoza- Bongoes
(vaya Espinoza!)

Carlos Barberia "Combo Cubano de Barberia" 1960 - Cuba

"Sabor A Mi"
Barberia Y Su Combo
1960 Velvet
Cantan: Regino Tellechea y Ivette De La Fuente

2. Bilongo
 

8. Medly


LP sold on Ebay 10/2011 for $152.50

"Combo Cubano de Barberia"
Carlos Barberia

Vocals by Regino Tellechea & Argelia Cordero.
Vinyl on Panart, 1960

10. A Mi Que


11. Eres Sensacional
Comp: Senén Suárez


12. Las Mulatas Del Cha Cha Chá



LP sold recently on Ebay 5/2011 for $81.00

Reality is real

"Something’s Happening Here"
By Op-Ed Columnist THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: October 11, 2011

Caridad Cuervo con Conjunto Rumbavana & Pachito Alonso - Cuba

Caridad Cuervo
con Pachito Alonso.

5. Llegó El Tresero

6. Marchante

7. Si Te Las Dabas De Sheriff-Si Te Tiras, Quedas Son

"De Mi Cuba Para Ti"
Con Conjunto Rumbavana.

1. De mi Cuba para ti

2. El Paralitico

4. No se deje engañar

Grupo Rumbatá "La Rumba del Siglo" 2011 - Camagüey, Cuba

Grupo Rumbata de Camagüey, Cuba
Director: Wilmer Ferrant Jiménez
Foto: Juventud Rebelde

"La Rumba del Siglo" CD 2011

My thanks to Patrice Banchereau.
Je vous remercie beaucoup mon ami!

1. Dale Al Yalé
2. Entre La Rumba y El Son
3. Güines Que Le Pasaa Tata
4. Homenaje A Ricardo Abreu 'Papin'
5. Manicero
6. Marinero
7. Oleo De Una Mujer Con Sombrero
8. Para Cantarle A La Habana
9. Pastora Tic Tac
10. Rumbateaté
11. Sambaloya
12. Songoro Cosongo
13. Veinte Años
14. Ya Yo Mate Mayoral


2. Entre La Rumba y El Son

3. Güines Que Le Pasaa Tata

4. Homenaje A Ricardo Abreu 'Papin'

8. Para Cantarle A La Habana

11. Sambaloya

12. Songoro Cosongo
Con participación: Mayito

In memoriam: World Trade Towers, Manhattan - Ten Years 2001-2011

World Trade Towers
Manhattan, N.Y.C.
September 11
 Ten Years
2001 - 2011

Ebay auction: Cuban style bongos made by Junior Tirado 1993 N.Y.C.

Charanga 86 - "De Camagüey" 1987 - Cuba

"De Camagüey"

Charanga '86
1987 on Siboney

5. Cronista Social
Rafael Lay: comp.

6. El Son De Angelito

Video: Carlos Rios bajista - Cuba

New Orleans cops convicted in post-Katrina shootings case

Miguelito Valdés con su ritmo - Cuba

"Adios Africa"
Miguelito Valdés: voc.
Comp: Arsenio Rodriguez

(courtesy of Bary Cox)

Grupo Los Papa Cun Cun de Evaristo Aparicio 1970 - Cuba

1970

Por La Ventana
Ritmo Papa Cun Cun

(courtesy of Bary Cox)

Silvestre Mendez y su Tribu

"Silvestre Mendez y su Tribu"

El As De La Rumba
Silvestre Mendez: vocal y comp.

(courtesy of Barry Cox)

Orquestra Afro-Brasileira 1957 and 1968 LPs - Brasil

Obaluayê!
1957 vinyl LP
((((****))))

• 1. Amor de escravo
• 2. Apresentacao e Chegou o Rei Nagó
• 3. Babalão
• 4. Calunga
• 5. Liberdade
• 6. Obaluayê
• 7. Saudacâo ao Rei Nagó

Orquestra Afro-Brasileira was founded in 1942 by its
director, 'Abigail Cecílio de Moura' to promote and disseminate Afro-Brasilian music and culture in Brasil.
Abigail Moura died in 1970.

The horn arrangements are great and at times the melodies
border on being really "out", especially on the 1968 LP.
This LP is selling for $820.00 on Gemm.com

"Orq. Afro-Brasileira"
1968 vinyl LP on Columbia

"Ora iê iê ô Oxum!"
((((****))))

Personnel:
Percussão: Genny Pires (Urucungo), José Pedro (Angona-puíta), Joércio Soares (Agogô), Antônio Cruz (Gonguê), Oswaldino Lucas (Rum), Carlos Negreiros (Rumpi), Cândido Santos (Lê), Valmir Rosa (Afoxê), Djalma da Paixão (Adjá).

Horns: Horácio Soares (Sax alto, Clarineta), Carmélio Alves (Sax tenor, Clarineta), João Amâncio (Sax alto, Clarineta), Álvaro Nascimento (Sax tenor, Clarineta), Ananias da Silva (Trumpete), Gamaliel da Silva (Trumpete), Jaime da Silva (Trumpete), Alfredo Alves (Trombone) e Milton Profeta (Trombone)

• Tracks:
• 1 - Agô Lonan (Abigail Moura)
• 2 - Tire o Calundú (Abigail Moura)
• 3 - Índia (Abigail Moura)
• 4 - Palmares (Abigail Moura)
• 5 - Babaloxá (Abigail Moura)
• 6 - Canto Para Omulú (Abigail Moura)
• 7 - Mo-fi-la-do-fê (Abigail Moura)
• 8 - Saudação aos Orixás (Abigail Moura)
• 9 - Xangô (Abigail Moura)
• 10 - Nagana (Abigail Moura)
• 11 - Os Oinho de Iaiá (Abigail Moura)
• 12 - Rei N'aruanda (Abigail Moura)

Video: Cuba Grupo Layé - bailarine: Luis A.Chacón 'Aspirina'

Photos: 1976 N.Y.C.

1976 Brooklyn, N.Y
L-R:
John Amira, my Father, Howard Levy, Frisner Augustin.
6 a.m. after playing a Haitian ceremony from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
We came up from a basement and it was snowing.

My Father, Howard Levy, John Amira,
playing a Haitian ceremony in 1976 Brooklyn, N.Y

Playing for a dance class in Manhattan, 1976
L-R:
John Mason, Frisner Augustin, John Amira, Howard Levy.

Playing for a dance class in Manhattan, 1976
L-R: Myself, my Father, Frisner Augustin,
John Amira, Howard Levy.

Agô! - Cantos Sagrados de Brasil e Cuba

"Agô! - Cantos Sagrados de Brasil e Cuba"

((((****))))

1. Exú
2. Oxossi
3. Agradecer e abraçar
4. Xaxará
5. Xangô
6. Oxaguian
7. Quebrando pratos
8. Iemanjá
9. Muzenza
10. Caboclos
11. Agô
2. Saudação a Oxossi
13. Saudação a Omolú
14. Saudação a Ogum

Recorded in Salvador Bahia, Brasil and Havana, Cuba
Prod. by Guga Stroeter (vibraphone)
featuring Orch. HB and Grupo Abacai.

Photo: Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria

Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria

playing one of his drums made by
Gonzalo Vergara.

Mongo wearing a very hip lightweight
Seersucker jacket, a hip hairstyle and
do you notice something about his hands...

LP cover: Moreira da Silva - "O Ultimo Malandro" 1959 - Brasil

"O Ultimo Malandro"

Moreira da Silva
1959
Odeon-Brasil

Photo: Grupo Lulu Yonkori con Oscar Valdés Jr. 195? Cuba

Grupo Lulu Yonkori

early 1950's
with a teenage Oscar Valdés Jr. playing quinto
(photo courtesy Barry Cox via Chan de Yoruba Andabo)

Happy Fathers day! - Feliz dia de los Padres! Sunday June 20th

My Father is no longer here in body,

but his spirit is always with me.

Happy Fathers day Papa!

I miss you!

1928

1936

Brooklyn, N.Y. 1941

Brooklyn, N.Y. 1941

Tunisia, North Africa 1942

La Habana, Cuba 1959

1960

Central Park N.Y.C. 1973

Central Park N.Y.C. 1974

My Father and myself, New Orleans 1974

Central Park N.Y.C. 1991

Central Park N.Y.C. 1994

2000