straight ahead jazz

[Quinto Governor II]

Great post congamyk. Keep the straight ahead jazz with conga vids coming. I imagine they're not easy to find.

[zaragenca]

Well guys what Candido and the Taylor Band is playing is Afrocuban Jazz,,..The video with the congera, Mayra Casales is the one playing Straight Ahead Jazz.Dr. Zaragemca

[congamyk]

^ It doesn't sound "Afro-Cuban" to me. And the term "Afro-Cuban Jazz" is an American term, not a Cuban one.

It has elements of Cuban music, but all 3 percussionists - the drummer, Candido and bongocero - are all swinging their instruments in a more American Latin jazz feel.

However one wants to qualify it, I think it's neat that a standard jazz group like Billy Taylor would have Candido join them on this set.

[CongaTick]

Sitting in again tonight for second and third set. Nervous? Yep. Wish me luck. I'll report tomorrow.

[CongaTick]

Been experimenting and varying my swing into a more melodic interpretation tween the three drums. Tricky, very tricky and requires very big ears for tempo shifts.

[burke]

I'm not a Pro but I've sat in a few times with a local jazz combo on what they call their "Latiny tunes" - also on some of the swing standards. I tended to find playing bongos very comfortable for swing but also tried a three conga set up on "take the A Train". It sounded Ok when I was playing it but hearing the recording it was just a little off somehow. Haven't quite figured out why so anything you share on that front would be appreciated for sure.

Cheers

[CongaTick]

Will do.

[Diceman]

Know the problem, and I sit in frequently with swinger and Be boppers.

The secret is to 'swing' the left hand somewhere between a triplet feel and straight.
Mongo managed to do it, but try listening to Kenny Dorham-Afro Cuban, Red Garland-Manteca and Rojo for starters.

However, I still find that bongos fit better, mainly because of the voicing against a full-on swing kit player.
Anyone else got any thoughts?

suave

[CongaTick]

Excellent music suggestions, Dice. They illustrate the swing feel beautifully. BTW Red Garland's handling of MORT's REPORT is a lesson. The dificulty in straight jazz-- I've found-- is distilling my technique with simplicity, and yet being ready to selectively weave short, complex rhythmic tapestries with piano/sax/trumpet/etc. To give better voice to the drums I tune high and primarily split my swing between quinto (due respect to those who don't include quinto in non-flokloric) and conga, using tumba to contrast.

[CongaBoy]

This is an awesome video i found

http://video.google.com.au/videopl....index=8

[CongaTick]

Congaboy,

Thanks for that vid. Definitely awesme. BTW my sit-in session last night was equally so for me. My practice on swinging the tumbao gave me confidence on holding th swing feel in the fills and solos. Great fun, lots of chemistry--I'm hooked on straight jazz as another expansion of my conga horizons.

[congamyk]

This is an awesome video i found

http://video.google.com.au/videopl....index=8

Thanks for posting this.

The pattern here is more fusion/pop/smooth rather than straight-ahead jazz swing. Towards the end he goes into a guaguanco pattern, then into some shuffles. Definitely a good example of being versatile in a "jazz" setting.

[JohnnyConga]

Man I used to work for John Klemmer back in the early 80's....very strange cat...can blow all day long too...I wonder what happened to him..His trip was to take one tune and create other versions of the same tune(variations on a theme)....and he never told me or asked me to play a certain way either , you just played and if he liked it cool....Johnny Conga.... ...ps the conga player is on it...



Edited By JohnnyConga on 1201891925

[CongaTick]

JC, Is there anybody you DIDN'T play with? :laugh: :laugh:

[JohnnyConga]

Stevie Wonder-Chicago-James Brown-Tito Puente-Cal Tjader- and some others I never worked with....but if you would like to see WHO I have worked with just go to my site at http://www.myspace.com/jcjohnnyconga and look for "Performance History".....Im up to 147 bands to date that I have been in, over my 44 years of performing....from symphony's to funk to jazz to salsa,to pop, and many other "styles"....radio, film, and recordings(over 200 to date)....but nothing really major...just a few....most unreleased recordings unfortunately...so stay tuned for my New release on "Walboomers Latina" label-"Breaking Skin"....Johnny Conga....