by windhorse » Sat Sep 10, 2005 4:37 pm
Last night one of my drumming buddies Mark came over to hang out, play a drum or two, and have some dinner. He played the two high drums to Bembe while I messed around with the lead drum. I'm being greatly influenced by listening to Francisco Aguebella's Cantos A Los Orishas CD. As well as stuff I've got recorded from last year's Afro-Cuban camp. His trademark is to play sparse thick tone rolls at really interesting spots. Like right off of the Bombo note (second note of clave). Also my friend Dusty (who I've learned countless hints and great licks from) likes to play right from the bombo as well..
So, I've been working on the Agbe lead which sort of rolls with light touches right through the "one" and you hit a giant bass note right on the bombo. Then some really killer kicking slaps just before the downbeats leading up to the "one".
Anyway, I've been discovering some spots where really thick tone rolls can can fit starting on the bombo (where you'd normally hit a big bass) and between the last kicker slap just before the "one".
It was WAY fricken cool! Reminiscent of Aguebella's stuff!
I'm going to try this lead when we play Bembe more often!
We also were fitting a two drum Guarapachangueo on the lowest, and a two drum Guaguanco on the highest right together.
When you get them fitting perfectly, it'll certainly bring a smile to your face! The third bass of the Guarapachangueo coincides with the first tone of the Guaguanco, and the first tone of the Salidor of Guarapach fits nicely where the Guaguanco leaves out, then the second tone of the Salidor hits right on the Guaguanco bombo note. Then, there's a nice kicker slap leading into the three bass roll of the Segundo of Guarapach that pulls the rhythms apart with interesting tension. Even without clave, the two rhythms together sound really full..
OK,, gotta get down to work today!
All the best everyone!
Love,
Dave