by jorge » Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:54 pm
Great drummer. I didn't know him well, only met him a few times, but he saved my butt one day at a rumba in Central Park. Early 1980s, in the middle of the post-Mariel clave wars, I was getting yelled at for supposedly crossing the clave on the tres golpes part that I was playing (after a few weeks practicing at home) with the tones on the 2 side of the clave. Still a little unsure of this "new" part, after a decade of playing on the other side of the clave, I was trying to stick to my guns through all the flak, "ta cruzaa" and much worse stuff not appropriate to write in a public forum. All of a sudden I heard some incredible quinto playing like I had never heard in the park before, I looked to my right and Daniel had grabbed the quinto from one of the guys who had been yelling at me. He saw what was happening and told me keep playing. Nobody dared to mess with Daniel, they all shut up and sang. Eventually the Central Park rumberos all started playing with the tones on the 2 side of the clave, thanks to Daniel Ponce, Manuel Martinez, Puntilla, Pablito, Pescao and some of the other Cubans who came in 1980 through Mariel, a decirte a ti que la timba es brava, la timba no es como ayer.
There will be a rumba for Daniel Ponce (Ibae) Sunday March 17, 2013 from 7 to 12 at Los Gallos Social Club, 339 East 115th St (between 1st & 2nd), second floor in East Harlem, NY. RIP, QEPD.