Sorry guys, I know my blathering on about the camp is probably annoying to some of you,, but it's really so amazing that it's a crime not to have something posted here about just how amazing it actually is!!
So sorry!
Last night!! WHEW!!!!! MAN! Roman Diaz on the Tumba! OMG! really really soft sort of pitter patter resembling a palitos cata pattern with his hands,, but accented basses on the bombo note,,, builds up builds up,, he then plays a tone in the normal Salidor spot just occasionally,,, when the corus really busts out and we get the shaker doubling in the montuno, he starts ripping big fat tones in an amazing dialogue with Sandy Perez on - you guessed it - QUINTO!! WOW!
We stayed until about 3 in the morning, but they kept going apparently until about 6 in the morning!
Today, the second day of David Peñalosa's class with Abukua! Yeah! David is is a GREAT teacher! He had his books for sale here - and we were lucky enough to get nice discounts from a set of culled books he from the first production. Several of us had them in class, so he would point out the bonko parts - etc. he was teaching in the class, and it was really cool to have a book which he wrote as a study guide during, and of course, after the class.. Very informative!!
I felt a little bad that I didn't get the essential pattern locked down in class, but sometimes I'm just a slow learner David.. And thanks for your kindness..
I am however thorough, and will definitely study this! Probably by next year's camp I'll have that particualar "pick-up" phrasing down.. Or maybe the next year..
Good stuff!!
Then, we walk up the hill a bit to the Brikomo dance class with Ray Gonzales.. (Guys, he's running a another trip to Matanzas in January! Let me know if you need his contact info.)
Mike Spiro was on the Caja just frikin' laying it down with a stick,, really fat big full resounding deep playing,, almost like Francesco A,, but a bit prettier and musical..
His son Remi on bell,, solid... and Sandy Perez on the middle drum with two sticks.. He had really nice dialogues with the caja sort of like Itotele and how it responds to the Iya in bata.. Nicely done!!
I just got the last Large T-shirt! Ward actually let me have his own, and traded with one of the last two remaining mediums so that I could have the last large! What a nice guy!
Okay,,, a moment of down time before getting cranked up again for a Sandy P class, then Comparsa rehearsal tonight..
Sigh!