the new pecussion scene - Am I alone hating it?

[JohnnyConga]

Well the same thing happened to me when the tour was over and I moved to an apartment on Walton ave and 167th off the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.....my apartment was broken into by local "junkies"(while I was at work) they took my brothers 2 congas,, sat in my living room , listened to my music, smoked my weed, and took everything else including my "stage clothes' , underwear, and anything else they could carry, they also came back a second time but i moved my record collection out by then and all they got was silverware....A Bronx Tale......"JC" Johnny Conga...

[Congadelica]

JC love the pic man . Them threads are back in fashion here in the uk , Get them on Ebay Uk :p
as regards the toe rags who broke into your flat and took your gear thats just plain bad , especially smoking another guys weed without permision wrong very wrong . :angry:

[109-1176549166]

Hola JC,

Thankfully, I've never had to wear pink outfit in all my life. (BTW, who's idea was that? Gloria Gaynor's?)

I still very much remember those tight-fitting pants with bell bottoms, though. It brought me to nostalgically recall Eric Clapton's song, "Bell Bottom Blues". Those were the days, indeed!

I wore those bell bottoms in high school with my rock & roll band. I played guitar then, not percussion, and sang lead vocals (and still do). But, I did have some drumming experience during grade school (as well as trumpet and piano). That's why it was relatively easy for me to pick up playing percussion later in life and greatly appreciate the value of trying to make my drums "sing".

Also, BTW, I know you played with Sergio Mendes & his band. His Brazil '66 band was very popular for a very long time in my native country, the Philippines, during the early 70s. In fact, I watched them live in Manila (capital city of the Philippines). (I came to the U.S. in 1982.)

Did you travel with them to the Philippines? I can only remember Sergio Mendes, his very lovely singers (one of whom--forgot her name--I had a childhood crush on, especially when she sang "Waters of March") and the flashy Paulinho Da Costa, one of my favorite percussionists. What a character!

BTW, to me, you're one of the most, if not the most, experienced and traveled percussionists on our CongaBoard forum and anywhere. I just want you to know that I sincerely appreciate and highly value your technical inputs, as well as your sharing stories with the legends of percussion with whom you've had the great fortune of "rubbing elbows" with.

I consider it, therefore, a great honor to be chatting with you here.

All the best, Maestro!



Edited By mjtuazon on 1181933362

[JohnnyConga]

Congadelica and Mjtuazon.....THANK YOU BOTH!..I appreciate your comments....Actually I was in Brasil 77, I took Paulinho's place......(no can do, but I gave it my best shot)...Mjtuazon, u may be thinking of either Gracinha Leporace or Marietta Araiza on the vocals, Marietta and I had a "thing" when I was in the band , which was for 2 1/2 years, until Sergio "fired" the whole band without notice our last night at the old Alladin hotel in Vegas...`1978...."JC" Johnny Conga.... ...PS..I have never played in the Phillapines....got a contact???...

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... o_100_.jpg

[109-1176549166]

JC,

Is she the blond in the picture? She's very cute! You lucky dawg!

She kinda looks like my crush (also a blond), but I'm not sure. Marietta probably joined Sergio after Brasil '66.

I'm assuming that the blond one is the one you had a thing with 'cause I think Gracinha is the one with dark hair. And I know that she married Sergio.

I have this information 'cause I have Sergio's latest CD, entitled "Timeless", which shows a more contemporary Sergio Mendes sound in colloboration with Stevie Wonder, John Legend and some of the new Hip-Hop artists like Will.I.Am & the "Black Eyed Peas", etc.

It seems a lot of "older" folks are all collaborating these days: Santana, (the late) Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, etc. I guess it's their way to insure longevity in this very fickle field called "the music industry".

I don't know what the real reason is, but on the surface that was kinda crappy of Sergio to fire all of you without notice? I hope that it's not because he was just being a coldly shrewd businessman about it.



Edited By mjtuazon on 1181942483

[109-1176549166]

JC,

I got some contacts in the Philippines. The youngest brother of the current President, Gloria Arroyo, was my college classmate and a good friend. He used to be a former member of the Cabinet, but prefer to lay low nowadays.

The President herself was my brother-in-law's wife's college professor in Economics. Additionally, I've got several well-placed friends and former classmates/schoolmates both in the government and private sectors (including entertainment) over there.

It's kinda like a boys club over there like in many of the Central and South American countries we have over here.

But, frankly, you've got to be playing with a group that's already very popular over there before any producer will be interested in importing any foreign talent.

If you think you're playing with this kind of group, don't hesitate to let me know and I'll give it a shot.



Edited By mjtuazon on 1181944672

[JohnnyConga]

Well at this time I am not with anybody famous, in the Phillapines...I have my own Salsa/Latin Jazz band...looking for a trip and a gig.....I Thank you for your help...."JC" Johnny Conga...

[ozrivera]

Saludos Hermanos
Man JC those pics look like classic 70's album covers, love the pics, they made you look kinda sexy too. hahahaha
estoy jodiendo contigo
even though i lived in those times i was still a kid. but i remember my dad with similar outfits. i wish i was an adult at that time. you can honestly say that you lived during a historical era in our music and culture, and thanks for your contributions then and today for helping others out and keeping the music alive.


God Bless

OZ

[JohnnyConga]

Well that 'sexy' look got me quite a few "one night stands"... Yes I have always felt that the 60's and 7o's were the best of times for music and that anything today is just a mere "imitation" of days gone by...No "real" Artists anymore to me, more like "pre-fabricated' or Artists that have "bought" their way into the industry....believe it or not....BTW Your Welcome!...."JC" Johnny Conga...

[rumbaman]

Great post tone .i saw giovani many years ago here in miami at the guitar center and it was about the same experience . All show playing a little on everything .
Last week he was here in miami again i did not go because i figured i was'nt going to miss anything i had'nt seen before . i would rather spend my evening seeing tomas cruz and his latin jazz ensamble . This being fresh music with swing.

thanks rumbaman