Must see Afro Cuban Video - Kid on 5 drums ...Awesome

[bongosnotbombs]

More times than not the Government in Cuba decides what you are to become by the time your 9 years old... The two BEST paying jobs in Cuba at this time is actually Cab drivers and Musicians....Castro has had to be more leniient in allowing musicians make their own money since the advent of Cuban musicians garnering Grammy''s(Buena Vista Social Club) and leaving the country....so to keep them inside Cuba and returning he is allowing them to make their own money and now also pays for recording sessions too. A "brain surgeon" makes about 30 dollars a month in Cuba.. . .a musician can make $150 in a day, and a Cab driver also. . .Johnny Conga. ..

Looks like the cab driver would be able to afford brain surgery more than the brain surgeon!

[TONE74]

In Cuba people depend on the underground economy to survive or to get ahead in life. There is also a lot of stealing from the goverment going on that is pretty much normal. For example if you become a butcher you can steal meat. If you are an architect you can steal pencils (no good ). My cousin is an engineer but makes more money selling home made ice cream from her house. Another cousin is a computer programer but makes more money stealing an internet line and having his own costumers. A cousin is a respected surgeon but rides a bike to get around. People are constantly sticking and moving. Another cousin came back from Angola a while back and was given some high goverment job but had to quit bacause if you work for the goverment no one trusts you and think you are a rat so you can't get things in the underground economy. If that cab driver JC is talking about gets cought with that money he is going to jail for a very long time. So that meter is not really running or the money is not reported. Its so bad that those places you see in the roads that sell car parts the person relieving has to count every part so that nothing gets stolen by the previous person. I could go on forever. Everyday is a hustle.

[Tumbatimba]

In Cuba people depend on the underground economy to survive or to get ahead in life. There is also a lot of stealing from the goverment going on that is pretty much normal. For example if you become a butcher you can steal meat. If you are an architect you can steal pencils (no good ). My cousin is an engineer but makes more money selling home made ice cream from her house. Another cousin is a computer programer but makes more money stealing an internet line and having his own costumers. A cousin is a respected surgeon but rides a bike to get around. People are constantly sticking and moving. Another cousin came back from Angola a while back and was given some high goverment job but had to quit bacause if you work for the goverment no one trusts you and think you are a rat so you can't get things in the underground economy. If that cab driver JC is talking about gets cought with that money he is going to jail for a very long time. So that meter is not really running or the money is not reported. Its so bad that those places you see in the roads that sell car parts the person relieving has to count every part so that nothing gets stolen by the previous person. I could go on forever. Everyday is a hustle.

Tone .....overall would you say the people in Cuba are content. Are they passing the days waiting for change ?
I wish to one day visit Cuba. When were you there last ?

[Tumbatimba]

there are a few used copies of afrekete cd at amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Led-Jav....&sr=8-3

guarachon63......Just ordered mine they are NEW ...thanx !



Edited By Tumbatimba on 1197334012

[tocandorumba]

When playing with a funk band I was asked if I would be more of a fill type player, to add statements to the end of phrases- kind of a "colorist." Drove me nuts, in my opinion the percussion was as essential as the drum set for setting the beat. I did work rumba, merengue & abakua into our arrangements over time.

People do know the real stuff when they hear it. One time my friend asked me to sit in with his blues band when they played the Boom Boom Room in SF. I played this deep African toque on bongos and this big dude staggers up to the front of the stage and stares intently at the drums. He stood there bent motionless until I finished then he staggers off. Must have touched something primal.

[TONE74]

[quote]

TumbaTimba I would say overall people in Cuba are not content with the way things are but they are not sitting around waiting for change they are living life the best way they can. Also in the
system they live in they are not slaves to the bills like we are in the US. so the only stress is getting food and other necessities.
Last time I was there was exactly a year ago.
The sad thing for me to see is the potential that most of them have but can't realize any goals. I get the feeling thats the one thing that bothers them the most.

[Diceman]

I shiver when I hear the words Singer/songwriter.

I remember being hired for a gig with a singer/songwriter, and in rehearsal she kept asking me to cut down on what I was playing and to keep the volume right down to a minimum. I seriously thought about baling out, but stayed with it.
When it came to the gig, which was on a big stage in an auditorium in London, she wanted me to sit behind her and to have her voice loudest in the monitor mix. She was all over the place timingwise and I ended up having to keep up, and down, with her bad timekeeping. After the gig she was furious and didnt want to pay me saying that she couldnt hear me properly and what my timing was off. I got the money eventually but profited more from the experience.
Lessons learned- sometimes singer/songwriters dont know what they want, but they are experts in letting you know what they dont want, and sometimes it is better to stick to your guns with your own ideas of accompaniment and rhythm. And always take a parachute

suave

[Tumbatimba]

TumbaTimba I would say overall people in Cuba are not content with the way things are but they are not sitting around waiting for change they are living life the best way they can. Also in the
system they live in they are not slaves to the bills like we are in the US. so the only stress is getting food and other necessities.
Last time I was there was exactly a year ago.
The sad thing for me to see is the potential that most of them have but can't realize any goals. I get the feeling thats the one thing that bothers them the most.

Tone ......When the subject of Cuba comes up with family or friends. One important question often comes up. When Castro dies will things change ?

[Congadelica]

My Friend Antonio who is from mantanzas Has just left Cuba to find work in Spain . He is a qualified Child Sycologist , But earned more money as a waiter in Hotels . Yes they are content in cuba good food and music but the western bug of wanting more is affecting them from my observasions. I think the people of Cuba will if allowed prosper with the right direction. Thats said not all of what I saw on the comunista front was bad, no different than the free world we allegedly live in anyways.

There are some very well educated people there and Im sure if things change politically the place will boom with good investment .
But its like the problems we are suffering here they will be exploited if it was to happen .
Basically the cause and effect we the western free :p woul have a sad effect on Cuba IMHO .
The Cubans are one of the most beautiful peoples I have met in my journeys around this planet .


I understand the tippy tappy stuff too ignorance is bliss .

Marco

[Jure]

I have been in Cuba for a month this summer and it is true that they are in general trying to survive (financaly) trough the day and quite many people are not working because it is easyer to get money from turist or black market ( average salary is 10cuc - 10$ and for example shampoo cost 2 cuc). Like TONE 74 said "The sad thing for me to see is the potential that most of them have but can't realize any goals. I get the feeling thats the one thing that bothers them the most.". Every day in Cuba is full of joy,music and dancing, getting together with everyone,helping each other, no stress (except money), no rush,.... Ahh VIVA CUBA! I will return again and yes before Castro dies because after that Cuba will not be Cuba anymore (that is what i think) and as i noticed it is already changing. I hope i will post about my traveling to Cuba (playing and learning percussion and dancing) here on this forum

Jure

La vida es un carnaval

[Tumbatimba]

I have been in Cuba for a month this summer and it is true that they are in general trying to survive (financaly) trough the day and quite many people are not working because it is easyer to get money from turist or black market ( average salary is 10cuc - 10$ and for example shampoo cost 2 cuc). Like TONE 74 said "The sad thing for me to see is the potential that most of them have but can't realize any goals. I get the feeling thats the one thing that bothers them the most.". Every day in Cuba is full of joy,music and dancing, getting together with everyone,helping each other, no stress (except money), no rush,.... Ahh VIVA CUBA! I will return again and yes before Castro dies because after that Cuba will not be Cuba anymore (that is what i think) and as i noticed it is already changing. I hope i will post about my traveling to Cuba (playing and learning percussion and dancing) here on this forum

Jure

La vida es un carnaval

Jure.......So if things do change maybe it will give the people the opportunity to reach their full potential. I dream of one day visiting Cuba and drink mojitos at the beach y bailar son por la noche...............salud........T

[Jure]

Yes Tumbatimba the cuban people will get their oportunity to reach their full potential and i am happy about it. I am afraid that it will have to much infuence on culture and music, "OLD SCHOOL" i mean and that cuba will become ( no offence please!!!!! ) like america or (better one) hi class island who owners mostly will be rich americans, europeans and russian. But the time will tell and i am maybe wrong about the change. I wish the best to Cuba and cuban people! I got a lot of friends there now.

BR
Jure

[Tumbatimba]

Jure ......I know what your saying. And I hope that doesn't happen either. I think the people will have more opportunity. But there will be a price to pay. Big Hotels... Casinos and a class society of rich and poor,discrimination,racism.......
Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic. You think ?

[zaragenca]

There was money to be making in Cuba before Castro and after Castro,(it all depend of whom you playing with,( I didn't want to be subject of the 150 pesos per month),so I played Rock which would give me 100-120 pesos per gig and only play for the CNC in the Carnivals time and outside the Havana where they pay 13 pesos a day,(for hausing and food),beside the 150 base...Also the 150 base is the bottom of the scale which could go to 450 a moth,(according to the category)....The main problem is that if you are not integrated they don't let you to go outside of Cuba,(that happened in sports also), and in the recording business you don'y have any money to make becouse it all goes to the CNC,and you don't even have knowledge of how much money you recording is grossing.Dr. Zaragemca

[Bachikaze]

there are a few used copies of afrekete cd at amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Led-Jav....&sr=8-3

I ordered one of these. Thank you for the link.