What's your favorite Cuban percussion instrument?

[bongosnotbombs]

Of all the many Cuban percussion instruments which is your favorite? Either to listen to, play, look at, own, etc.

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[bongosnotbombs]

No surprise really that the congas are leading by a mile.

[Quinto Governor II]

Nothing on earth like the sound of bata for me.

[Thomas Altmann]

Same as QuintoGovernor here. While all these instruments are exciting and inspiring and a joy to play, a real batá ensemble, to me, is still the apex; a whole different planet of creative artistry, rhythmic complexity and a sound that's just out of this world. Becoming a part of that is always an honor, a challenge, and an incomparable experience at the same time.

TA

[bongosnotbombs]

ah Thomas, your post reminds me that I forgot a very important instrument.............the cajon! How could I forget? The cajon can go under "other" because I don't think I can edit the original poll choices.

[roberthelpus]

Sorry but I can't pick one. It changes to what I've chosen to focus on at the time.

[Tumbas]

Bongo... though my user name here is "Tumbas"!

[Chupacabra]

I had to go with congas as well. But it's like asking if I like chocolate or ice cream... of course the answer is YES!

[KidCuba]

OPPS!

I voted for Guiro - but really meant Chekere...

I love the sound and dynamic a Chekere can bring to afro-latin music...

[windhorse]

Sorry but I can't pick one. It changes to what I've chosen to focus on at the time.

hehe! You beat me to this answer! Just the other day I was totally geeking out on the chekere.. It's fun to see how awesome you can be at holding a part in perfect synchrony like clave, bell, or shaker,, (but with shaker, there's that added dimension of technique with the flow of the skirt) and it can be equally amazing to do this well, just as it is when on a drum..

But, gotta agree with Thomas about Bata - but not the sound so much as the rhythmic complexity.. Nothing like the experience of holding it (for me a total of only a few seconds) in an ensemble that's rockin' it.

Oh, and the sit-down lowest cajon "bajo".. I've really gotten into that one lately too! Just love the technique and a few rhythms I picked up from Miguel Bernal last year. There's a spoon in the left hand technique that is so cool for Columbia, and playing it in the bombo spot in Bembe!!! Whoof! Doesn't get much better than that!

[guarachon63]

I was going to ask what happened to cajon...

...anyway, "other" now has my vote...

[bongosnotbombs]

You are perfectly right Barry, yes, consider "other" to be cajon!