by flaco999 » Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:28 am
What up firebrand , It's Ronnie from facebook.
I gotta tell you , I think you are wrong about John Amira's book being 20% inaccurate. John knows his shit, and it comes from an older style in the vein of Jesus Perez. Cats like like Puntilla and Victor Sterling play a little different because like everything else music has an evolved since Jesus's day. Nodody I've heard yet plays as slick as Abbilona , however if anybody is 20% inaccurate it is Abbilona , though I am a huge fan, and believe they along with Pedrito play on a level all their own.
Abbilona are some guy's from Havana who are the creators of guarachapangueo. They are rumberos, and are true improvisors. They stretch out on everything including the orisha stuff and don't adhere to folklore. Good for them!!!
There is a great video I have , I'll try and burn it for you with a guy I play with in a lesson with Ramon Diaz , and I have Carlos Aldama going threw the seco.
Why wouldn't your teacher let you watch video anyway??
If I were you I'd start transcribing what ever you can hear. I have lots of Abbilona transcribed and play in a style that borrows from them as well as from Amira's older transcriptions. Remember , there is no right or wrong way to play this shit. I mean if you think that , just youtube some nigerian bata ensemble, and you will see that everyone in Cuba , P.R and the U.S play "wrong".
I'll let you know about the vids if I can get them copied.
Be well
Ronnie