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Leedy,

What can you tell me about Ubaldo Nieto? I feel Ubaldo Nieto (RIP) is a greatly under-rated timbalero.
I know some people considered Ubaldo Nieto as the best big band timbalero that there ever was. I think
I read once that Leedy really wanted to put Ubaldo Nieto's name on their timbales instead of another
great drummer Humberto Morales.

Some pictures taken by Martin Coen years ago:

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Thanks, Leedy. I have read that many top notch timableros looked to Ubaldo Nieto.
Humberto Morales was another vey under rated drummer.

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Just to add to what Leedy said...I met "UBA" as a young man of 22 and took a couple of lessons with him at his apartment in the Bronx...His wife was always gracious and he was a very humble man...He was the first one to show me a 'timbale chart' which scared me..I had no idea that timbale players read music as he did...he taught me about the form, baqueteos, how to play the basics on the timbales and to 'follow' a chart if you couldn't read it...which i didnt do at the time..I will never forget that small apartment and the BIG heart he had...to us he was one of the "Godfathers" of the timbale as well as Humberto Morales...how many guys today can actually 'read' a timbale chart for a big band?....and know all the things that go into a chart?...

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Yes 15 bucks then was a lot!...I only had 2 lessons...I didnt have a job, I was in high school when I had those lessons, back in the 60's....

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Uba Nieto , Manny Oquendo, Willie Rodriguez and Tito Puente all studied under Carlos Montesino, a black Cuban timbalero that lived in "El Barrio". Mongo used to tell me stories about Montesino.

Another favorite timbalero of mine and not metioned was the great Cuco Martinez, who played with Mongo and also Cal Tjader back in the day.

Dario

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