1950's/60's Beat Style

[sticksnhands]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some good recordings of bongos from the "beat movement" style of the 50's & 60's. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Lost Marbles

[zaragemca]

In the 50's and 60's there were a several groups of Bongoceros,one group which were still playing in Cuba,another out the U.S.,another out of South America,and some of then in Puerto Rico.So you are facing different sources.

[JohnnyConga]

I'm not sure what u mean by "beat style" is that "beatnik"?...I would recommend of course the great Jack Costanzo on Liberty records. Candido Camero and Armando Peraza. But these of course are not "beat" players. Then there is Mike Pacheco on "Bongo Bop"from the 50's on the Tampa records label and "Bongo Bongo Bongo" by Preston Epps. ...."JC" Johnny Conga..... :;):

[zaragemca]

Saludos brother JC,out of the cuban music structure,in the African-American recording there is a Conga-Bongo player considered by 'them' Master Percussionists',it is Henry Gibson,around the Chicago area.



Edited By zaragemca on 1093893243

[JohnnyConga]

HI Zara..."Master" Henry Gibson is a personal friend of mine many years going back to when he was with Curtis Mayfield. He's in the movie "SuperFly" performing with Curtis and you see him playing with bongos between his legs and 3 congas. I ran into him at the old Stevens Talkhouse on South Beach,Miami when I was Hosting monday night Latin meets Jazz concerts. He came in with his new lady from Europe, possibly Amsterdam,where he was living most of the time. This was back in the 90's....."JC" Johnny Conga.....

[zaragemca]

I was thinking that he had the bongos on the stand on top of the congas,but if he was playing like that,then he would have to see Candido Camero playing while ago.(I did listen to some recording and I was trying to see from where he could pick up some of the riffs).



Edited By zaragemca on 1093978161

[sticksnhands]

Hi guys,

Yes,I was referring to the "beatnik" style ,and thanks for your ideas! Will check 'em out....

Lost Marbles

[JohnnyConga]

Percy James with the band Quartet Tres Bien, plays a "beat" style, with bongos and congas...Big Black is another one with that type of style on congas. ...."JC" Johnny Conga.... :;):

[zaragemca]

The whole rhythms section for the funk(beat)machine,Richard'Pistol' Allen(drums),James Jamerson(bass),and Henry Gibson,or Eddie 'Bongo' Brown,(percussion).



Edited By zaragemca on 1094065071

[Cohiba]

You should check out Kenneth Rexroth or Johnny Hartman, these guys were the poets to originally incorporate Bongo, sourcing recordings though may be difficult...

[JohnnyConga]

I remember Johnny Hartman being a singer, right?...the earliest recording I have on vynil with Bongos is Candido on the 1952 recording with the Billy Taylor trio. I don't know of any other recording with bongos before that,....of course with Machito's band in the 40's, and a few other Latin bands.But of course that is "tipico" bongo playing...."JC" Johnny Conga... :;):

[Cohiba]

Yeah, I think a lot of the Beatnik stuff was improvised and without technique but some of it came off o.k. The tonal qualities of the Bongo worked well with the spoken voice and of course looked cool and exotic...

I've got Lecouna Cuban boys stuff from the late thirties early forties..

[JohnnyConga]

Actually I started playing that way back in the 60's in the Village in New York backing up "Beat" poets at the time like Nikki Giovanni and others, just interpreting their poems with my bongos and toys, for effect and response. ..."JC" Johnny Conga..... :;):

[zaragemca]

The first one recording Bongos in the U.S. was Agustin'Manana' Gutierres which came with Sexteto Habanero for recording with RCA Victor in NY...after that Sexteto Occidente of Maria Teresa Vera,(with Ignacio Pineiro playing Bass) came in 1926 for the recording with Columbia,Manuel Reinoso, was the bongocero for that recording.



Edited By zaragemca on 1095709211

[JohnnyConga]

Now that's what I'm talkin bout!.....learn something new everyday...Gracias...Zaragemca..... :;): "JC" Johnny Conga......