by Raymond » Mon Jun 02, 2003 4:01 pm
I have been to Jose Cali Rivera's shop everytime I have been in New York. He has this very "informal" shop in Ogden Ave in the Bronx. (Close to Yankee Stadium). Is not a store is a "workshop". (All dirty, full of machines, with buckets full of bells, metals, woods, hardware, etc. Very tight space). He gets visits by lots of latin musicians who visit his shop. He takes care of everybody that steps into his shop and takes the time to help you select what you want, recommend things, tell you anecdotes about musicians, etc. Personally, I have spent sometimes 3 hours at his shop, selecting bell, seeing what he is now working on, listening to stores, etc...He's an outstanding individual.
Cowbells is what he sells the most and that's what you are always going to find when you go there. He makes drums ocassionally that he sends to "his distributors" and on demand. (You go overthere and you could see his assistant working on them right there while you are there). I've seen most of it done "on demand." His shop is very small and unless he keeps them somewhere else, which I doubt, he makes the drums and ships them or sells it immediately. He does not have an assembly line. Everthing there is "handmade" and made on the spot.
He makes everything, congas, bongos, agogo bells, timbales, etc. However, most of it is sold on demand. If the store wants the drum, he will ship it to them. (Remember unless you know what JCR is, with some of the US stores, they might not be willing to pay the premium price of some of this drums. Here in Puerto Rico, whenever you find them they go fast....). Recommend you get in contact with him to get any drum that you might want....(See below for more...)
Because of the quality of his instruments and outstanding sound, they go fast. Once in a while you will see something besides cowbells in the shop but is rare. (He has a "demo" timbale next to the "cubicle" that is his office or space that he uses to answer the phone, sit, etc, that everybody wants. The timbale has been through a lot...is all dirty and sometimes you will find thing in top of it. But still won't sell it).
But for the reasons I mentioned above he does not sell a lot of products. (Boutique?) I talked to him and he said that a major instrument maker approached him once but he wants to keep his operation "boutique" and not get big. He is satisfied of the way his business goes. (Over 30 years and going...). He does not want a site in the internet or anything that will increase the volume and compromise the way he does thing.
With drums, the timbale is the only he has maintained the same "drum" through out the years. The bongos, he has changed the style, 5 lugs, 4 lugs, materials, amount of plies, etc, and depending how he feels he will start making some of them. The same with the congas.....I bet that if you ask him for something "custom" he will work with you and prepare what you want. (Of course, for the right price). I know for a fact, a famous timbalero who likes his cowbell with a special thing on the "holder" and he does it for him...).
Give him a call....(718) 293-6589. (If you call information for the Bronx in NY and ask for JCR Percussion, you will get the number). He will tell you what he is up to and he will work with you.....
Saludos!