Thomas Altmann wrote:The guataca: not quite the Cuban design, but works just fine. Flea market, 1.50 DM.
Thomas Altmann wrote: Conjunto music and Son Montuno are only the "home of clave" as far as band music (using European instruments of definite pitch) is concerned. Son is reported to have adopted clave from Rumba; but you can go further back to the Afro-Cuban musical traditions (Carabalí, Lucumí, Bantú etc.) and as far as Central- and West Africa itself. However, I speculate that clave as a spiritualized concept, as opposed to a physical instrument playing a concrete timeline rhythm, started with Rumba. In Son, I can almost hear how it took on shape during the Septeto period and started to reign with Arsenio's music and everything that came after.
I have heard a few times about clave being added to Son through Rumba/Abakua when Son reached the Western part of Cuba, sometimes pointing even personally to Ignacio Piñeiro as the main agent. But I guess it must have been more or less collective. And I suppose Rumba was at the time traveling to the East too, if not already there, right? When I listen to some "Duo Los Compadres" or "Trio Matamoros" records (also all-time favourites!), I too think I hear the early transition (or pure coexistence) from more clave-neutral oriental-style to more clave-oriented Son.
Thomas Altmann wrote:I've never heard about the Rumba having travelled to the Oriente, at least at that time (1890-1920). It could have happened, though. But the point is: Did it gain a foothold there? I've often been surprised about the obvious separation between the Western and the Eastern cultural zones, and how little permeability there was (traditionally). There was some exchange after the revolution, however, when the folklore ensembles intended to incorporate some of the "other" Cuban traditions, too.
Thomas Altmann wrote:Los Compadres were founded in 1947, according to Wikipedia - which places them right in the conjunto era.
Cachao y su Ritmo Caliente - Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature
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