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Posted:
Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:26 pmby mangorockfish
Hello,
Long time no post.
Can some of you guys give me some examples of songs that you can play a guaguanco pattern to. For example, songs by like maybe Eric Clapton, James Taylor, etc. What are some examples that are on Mongo Santamaria's Greatest Hits?
Mangorockfish
Posted:
Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:43 pmby davidpenalosa
Hi Mangorockfish,
In general, I'd say that songs by Eric Clapton, James Taylor or other pop musicians are not suitable for guaguanco. There's too much rhythmic tension in rumba for it to be applicable to most pop music. The rumba competes with the song instead of supporting it. Maybe you are thinking about just the tumba and segundo and not quinto? A more simple rhythm such as the typical marcha (tumbao) or say, a clave-neutral rhythm like calypso would be more suitable for the kind of thing I think you are trying to do.
-David.
Posted:
Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:57 pmby mangorockfish
I'm not really trying to work the guaguanco into any songs, I'm just wanting to know what songs you could play a guaguanco in. I can play guaguancos, but have never had a chance to use it in a song.
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:02 amby congamyk
I play guaguanco and sing anything to it. You can play the guaguanco rhythm over any song. It may work or may not.
Edited By congamyk on 1140483831
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:56 amby tfunk
Curtis Mayfield - If There's a #### Below, We're All gonna Go. Great version on the "Live at the Bitter End" album. Master Henry Gibson plays a funky guaguanco with congas and bongos...nasty!! Great album for congas in a non-latin setting.
tfunk
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:03 amby davidpenalosa
tfunk,
Thanks for reminding me of that Curtis Mayfield song. I haven't heard it in years! I loved it as a teenager, loved the congas and bass line, but knew nothing about guaguanco or Cuban music. I just downloaded the song from itunes. Great to hear again. It's definitelty not rumba Cubano, but that riffing bongo is unique in funk music.
-David
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:25 pmby tfunk
No problem, I'm kind of a amature researcher on revised afro-cuban grooves used in funk music. It's never straight "cubano" but with the adapted variations, beacuse the music is rarely clave music, some really cool conga grooves come out of it. There are some great, funk songo and funky tumbao lines in alot of late 60's, early 70's funk hits. The Temptations-Runaway Child, Jackson 5-I Want You Back, Tower of Power-Soul Vaccination, and of course any Curtis Mayfield from that era, just to name a few. Great conga playes like Eddie "Bongo" Brown, Bobbie Hall, and Master Henry Gibson, were largely responsible. This music was my first introduction to the sounds of the conga...it got me wanting more, which is of course is the source, Cuba & Africa.
tfunk
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:40 pmby captainquinto
Now we're talkin' !! 
Let's add Herbie Hancock to the list. I was just listening to a live version of "Spank-a-lee" with
a super conga solo at the beginning.
Oh yeah ... how about Con Funk Shun!?
And Bill Summers has a HUGE discography - everything from the Pointer Sisters to Sting!
... and on, and on ...
Yup - I luv da' funk!! :laugh:
Peace!
CQ
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:14 pmby onile
Alafia Abures!
Waz Up CQ!
I hope that you are all well and in an abundance of blessings!
Since we're on a reminicent tour, let's not forget the late Donny Hathaway, "The Ghetto". His "Live" album has an incredibly simple, yet tasty conga solo on it with Earl Deruin (?sp) playing "cungas" as Donny calls them....! I listen to it over and over!
Now Curtis Mayfield's conguero, woah! now that cat was playing congas and bongos at the same time, all the while maintaining the funk! "Move on Up!", "Little Child Running Wild" Great call Abure TFunk!
Sweet!
Onile!
Edited By onile on 1140542447
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:04 pmby zaragemca
Saludos into the debate,of congas in the AfricanAmerican music,we could say that the one which started the fire was Mongo Santamaria in 1960's, which his transformation of Hancock's 'Watermelon Man', which took the song all over the U.S.. Dr. Zaragemca
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:05 pmby zaragemca
Saludos into the debate,of congas in the AfricanAmerican music,we could say that the one which started the fire was Mongo Santamaria in 1960's, which his transformation of Hancock's 'Watermelon Man',(setting the stage of the Bugaloo), the song was all over the U.S.. Dr. Zaragemca
Posted:
Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:29 pmby davidpenalosa
During the 1970's, percussionists Ralph Macdonald and Kenneth Nash played congas on the top jazz and jazz-fusion records. Neither of these percussion masters were very knowledgable of Afro-Cuban folkloric music though. The significance of Bill Summers' work with Herbie Hancock and other groups was his knowledge of the folkloric genres, which influenced his work. Mongo indeed brought Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms to funk and jazz well before Summers, but most of Mongo's work in the 60's and 70's was in his own band.
-David
Posted:
Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:59 amby captainquinto
Alafia Ni Onile!
Is that the same "Hathaway" that did all those songs with Roberta Flack? KOOL!
The initial post mentioned Eric Clapton, James Taylor ...but then we had to go and "funk it up"!
More along those lines, though, I would like to add CSN and Manassas. Some good tumbadora licks in there.
Peace!
CQ
p.s. you about ready to part with those tumbas, Onile?
Posted:
Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:59 amby onile
Alafia Abure CQ!
I hope that you are well and in an abundance of blessings abure!
Oh yeah! I've got them sittin' in the back room collecting dust..............hummmmmmmmmmmm!
Whenever you're ready my brother! Just give me a holla!
BTW....CSN(?)
Sweet!
Onile!
Posted:
Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:35 amby captainquinto
BTW....CSN(?)
Crosby Stills and Nash - before Neil Young joined!
Also, Manassas is a project with Stephen Stills.
Keep those drums dusted ... I'll be callin' soon. :laugh:
Peace,
CQ