using the drum machine??!! - What a strange practic!

[rumbero russo]

I was very disapointed about band played in one club in Roma, Italy, about a year ago I've visited. They were playing salsa with a drum machine. There was a conga player, but not timbaliero or any drummer, the drums was programed in sequensor. All of them were cubanborn, and each of musitians was not bad and the singer was excellent. But it sounded very strange.
I play sometimes with dj's, but it is another thing.
Don't tell me that it's a usual practic, hope not.

[windhorse]

Someone had a sticker on their truck at the Arcata Afro-Cuban camp last summer. I wish I could remember what it said,, but it was about electronic percussion being something that real drummers despise.

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are both well and in an abundance of blessings my friends!

In fact, only last night I played with a "Salsa" group which in part was electronic in nature. The group did have me as a conga player this time, but all the while, I was hearing electronic congas coming through the mix. They actually have three chic singers, one of which plays trumpet, they have a sax player, a piano player and a trap player (drums/timbales). The congas they normally use are programmed into a mix along with the bass track, and minor percussion (guiro/clave). It was kind of interesting, but as you said Rumbero Russo, it does sound strange!

I know that more and more, groups are going to this type of set-up for the marketing aspect. They can make more money this way when they charge for gigs, also, there are fewer things left to chance. Less people to manage and worry about. What a shame though, just like the DJ (whom I have no ill feelings necessarily towards ), has taken many gigs from Live Bands, we just have to ride this wave to shore and see how it plays out!

Many blessings my brothers!

Onile!



Edited By onile on 1127056547

[JohnnyConga]

Using programmed "salsa" drumming is not new at all , as a matter of fact the first person I saw use machines is Larry Lopez a Cuban in Miami that sounded like a 15 piece band . He sang and played keys and programmed all the music, and it sounded very "real" ,one of the few cats i ever saw pull it off and make it work, but screwed a lot of bands out of work too. the one man band.....ugh!.....ps Larry was really a nice guy and just making a living, unfortunatly it affected the music scene in Miami and others caught on and started doing it too. So u started to see 2 and 3 man groups with all this programmed music, and today there are those types u will see on South Beach today...."JC" Johnny Conga....

[rumbero russo]

It's very sad to hear it, brothers!
How about the drum conversation? How about the tempo, it must be constant, not usual for salsa, I think.
It's terrible, it happens everythere here in Russia with pop music, thay can use a complete phonograme. Here are some pop latin groups do the same, but I can't call it salsa.
I have got some records, afrocuban using programing, like Bobi Cespedes, Yerba Buena, Cubismo, but their music is interesting and sounds progressive.
Sometimes I have to play without a timbaliero, in a small group, its a good expiriance, and anyway we can make the audience geting up.
Wish everyone the best

[franc]

you know!! i know for sure that the dancer will get tire of the one man orquestra. i'm positve on that..we must agree that is a super natural high within ourself to see a musician perform. i can say that it does transform the spirit, and heighthens our well being. my best, franc