Your favorite Conga player

[Omelenko]

My number one inspiration has to be Don Ramon (Mongo).No one has that strong driving sound. In the new school Gio is the man,I also love Vizcaino, Anga and Paoli. In the marcha "afinque" tradition I'll take Tommy Lopez, Papo Pepin and Eddie Montalvo. Numero Uno goes to Mongo hands down ! Saludos, Dario.

Enclosed, Mongo and I. Sofrito Na' Ma' !

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... _Mongo.jpg

[rebongo]

I see that nobody has mentioned tre great Yaroldy Abreu, a young cuban lion that often plays with Chucho Valdes; i have seen him playng the last summer here in Sardegna, he have tremendous swing, technique and a lot of "sabor"; for me one on the best conga player on the stage now!

[Thomas Altmann]

Have you heard Yoel Driggs playing a 3 drum songo in the track "Tu Tranquilo" with Los Van Van? Best congas in songo that I have ever heard, tiene un sabor that would make even Giovanni jealous. Do you know what ever happened to him?

Hi Jorge,

"Tu Tranquilo" - That's the one, exactly! Man, I deavoured this track, I studied it, transcribed the elements he used.
Next to this number is probably "Negro de Sociedad" with Rumbavana.

He must have done something wrong. I heard that even before I asked Changuito for him. I don't remember exactly what Changuito said, and I don't want to put anything in his mouth he did not say, but it was in no way positive. According to a percussionist I met in Cuba he must be a braggart and an A rate womanizer (nothing extraordinary).
It seems to me that in Cuba, if you goof morally, you are out, or at least have a very hard time. It get's around in an instant. I know at least one very prominent instance for people who had to leave the country to sustain their living.

Thomas

[deadhead]

Mongo for sure! However, the conguero that got me interested in playing congas was "Sunny" Domingo Ortiz from Widespread Panic. I have since come to the realization that he is not the greatest player as far as traditional music goes, but Widespread is a high energy southern rock band, and what he does fits very well. He is an amazing percussionist with so much energy.

[JohnnyConga]

Is it natural energy or cocaine inspired.? ..You cant leave drugs out of a musicians life, if he is straight cool....I know toooooooo many cats that have that X tra energy becuse of drugs....let's get real......I know we dont like to admit it but it is part of the musicians lifestyle.....if you have never done drugs ..Congratulations!....but i know too many guys that I believe NEED drugs, or should take them cause they suck sober.....sorry my experience...and the reality is some of the most famous conga players in the world take drugs....but i wont name them here....u ever wonder how some of these guys have the speed they have?....think twice...."JC" Johnny Conga....41 years in the business of show......

[jorge]

Hi JC,
You hit a nerve, so many talented musicians, especially drummers and rumberos, have lost so much to drugs. I see it all the time, people's lives being made worse by the drugs. Some guys I know even claim they can't play if they are not high. If you include alcohol as a drug, and in terms of numbers of deaths, it is the single most deadly drug of all, this is a massive problem. Not to hijack this great thread about our favorite conga players, although as you said, it the two topics are definitely related. Maybe we should start a new thread about this, it affects all of us directly or indirectly. The question is what to do about it. The good news es que la rumba tambien es la terapia de nosotros.
Ache
Jorge



Edited By jorge on 1181336997

[OLSONGO]

Yes JC now that you mention it , yes it is sad and you can see it come through on stage and it become very obvious. They can fool some of the people some of the time.
No names to mention, but yes many of the best take that crap as they say for enhancement.
I remember being at a Jazz festival and heard the comment from a local DJ " Man that sure is a junky band"

Peace OLsongo

[JohnnyConga]

Let me be the first to say I'M GUILTY!....and thru the grace of God,I overcame my addictions and that I'm still here today and playing..."JC" Johnny Conga...

[Thomas]

I never had problems with cocaine (if there's enough :;): , just kidding)
I just have to be careful not to breath in too hard when my band members around me are smoking weed before going "pon di stage" (ya know those Rastafari's :;): ), otherwise I'm too slow when playing.
But it scares me enough when I see that many musicians out there are addicted to any kind of drugs, alcohol included.
I for my part stopped taking drugs 5 years ago.
All the best,
Tom!



Edited By Thomas on 1181817656

[tamboricua]

Have you heard Yoel Driggs playing a 3 drum songo in the track "Tu Tranquilo" with Los Van Van? Best congas in songo that I have ever heard, tiene un sabor that would make even Giovanni jealous. Do you know what ever happened to him?

Hi Jorge,

"Tu Tranquilo" - That's the one, exactly! Man, I deavoured this track, I studied it, transcribed the elements he used.
Next to this number is probably "Negro de Sociedad" with Rumbavana.

He must have done something wrong. I heard that even before I asked Changuito for him. I don't remember exactly what Changuito said, and I don't want to put anything in his mouth he did not say, but it was in no way positive. According to a percussionist I met in Cuba he must be a braggart and an A rate womanizer (nothing extraordinary).
It seems to me that in Cuba, if you goof morally, you are out, or at least have a very hard time. It get's around in an instant. I know at least one very prominent instance for people who had to leave the country to sustain their living.

Thomas

Thomas & Jorge,

Could any of you please let me know in which Van Van and Rumbavana albums or compilation this songs you mentioned appear on?

Thanks in advance,

Jorge Ginorio

[Thomas Altmann]

Could any of you please let me know in which Van Van and Rumbavana albums or compilation this songs you mentioned appear on?

Hi Jorge,

For the longest time I just had a cassette recording of both vinyl records. The Van-Van record stuck in one of these standard white cardboard egrem sleeves. I don't even think it had a title. Today it is re-published on CD in the egrem "Coleccion" series as "Juan Formell y los Van Van, Vol. VI, Edición Especial" (egrem CD 0131). The original recording date was 1980.

The Rumbavana record had either a reddish photo or graphic cover, I can't remember. I could not find a corresponding CD reissue in the Descarga catalogue. Nor do I remember the record title. Here is the track list:

Baila este Son
Lagrimas Negras
El Son del campeón
Lo mismo que usted
Aunque te quiero me voy
Calor en Santiago
Novia de la noche
Arra rra rra en Pot-Pourri
Me muero de amor
Negro de Sociedad

Good luck!

Thomas

P.S. - Jorge: I just found this page: http://www.audiophileusa.com/item.cfm?record=11750&c=1&kw=Jazz. According to http://library.fiu.edu/latinpop/SECCION05R.pdf the original LP was also called "Conjunto Rumbavana" (LP areito 3872). -TA



Edited By Thomas Altmann on 1181849423

[jorge]

Hola tocayo,
Thomas gave you the right references, the man is a true scholar of Afrocuban music! Pa'lante Thomas!
The only thing I have to add is that the original Van Van vinyl LP, Juan Formell y los Van Van, is EGREM LD-4005, maybe you can find a used copy on the web. I couldn't tonight, Timba.com only listed it but is not selling it. My copy is a little scratched, and very overplayed (especially "Tu Tranquilo", and the original "De la Habana a Matanzas") but I may try to digitize it and make an MP3 if I can't find the CD anywhere.
Jorge

[tamboricua]

Thomas & Jorge,

Thanks both of you for the very helpful information.

It's very much appreciated.

Saludos,

Jorge Ginorio



Edited By tamboricua on 1182008066

[Tito Diaz]

Hi everyone,
As far as I am concerned, here's my top 3

Anga Diaz
Mongo Santamaria
Candido!!!!!!!!! Let's not forget him!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of Anga,
Check out You Tube. You'll find four vids about his latest LP Echu Minga; He briefly explains how he took up congas and how he ended up with Echo Minga.

Saludos desde Bruselas,
Tito Diaz

[Firebrand]

Giovanni Hidalgo, hands down. I've heard everyone else (Paoli Mejia, Richie Flores, Cachete Maldonado, etc.) and nobody comes close yet to the sheer technique PLUS musical diversity. Richie's fast, but he's all double-stroke rolls, for the most part. And, although Paoli is an excellent musician, I didn't get the same "Wow...this guy's out of this world" feeling when watching him, as I did when I saw Giovanni simultaneously play 4 congas AND a pair of bongos.

But, you couldn't go wrong with listening to Giovanni, Richie, and Paoli. Those three are most likely the three best congueros of the world right now.