congaplace.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5q2gLc3_N0

This is a clip of a gig I did with Aretha Franklin on Oct. 30, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in NYC. She was part of the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert
that took place on Oct. 29 & 30. Highlights from the 2 nites is on HBO this month. You'll probably just hear the congas on the short drum/percussion break.
Annie Lennox,from England, is the guest singer with her here. Lenny Kravitz sang w/Aretha also, but it wasn't aired.

yeeman,

I just watched the video! Way cool!!!

I'm mainly a pop percussionist myself, a big fan of Aretha Franklin and, to a lesser extent, of Annie Lennox (luv her provocative t-shirt). "Chain, Chain, Chain" is one of Aretha's songs that my dance band covers.

I tried catching your fundamental conga pattern(s)/rudiment(s). You seem to do a variation of the galloping (caballo?) pattern on the high drum combined with a hit on the low drum on the 1st beat of every 4/4 bar. Am I right?

All the best,

...hmmmm...I actually don't recall what I played!!! Thanx for the keen eye & ear anyway !!! Hopefully, when the DVD set comes out, there will be more footage of the other songs she did. I think we played 6 tunes...HBO only aired 3 of them. Aretha only got a total of 11 mins. out of the 4 hr. program...everyone else seem to get at least 20 mins. or more. Lot of great bands & rock stars. I only stayed & checked out Jeff Beck a little. Hope you can catch the HBO special. I'm more into the commercial aspect of hand drums & percussion. Working on an instructional DVD right now. Keep in touch...good to hear a response....thanx.

Congratulations... Nice work and what an awesome gig to play!
Definitely one to remember and great that you have video of it.
Pavlo