by Ernesto Pediangco » Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:32 am
in regards to congas accompaniment to guitars : It does not mean that a particular rhythm or groove from any Latin rhythm be used. It must be a matter of providing the fabric of rhythm that carrys the measuring and tempo and dynamics that are supportive & complimentary to the guitars rhythm structure ! Music fundamentals & good musicianmanship is needed, not an arsenal of Conga grooves. You have to be some what ear trained in how to add congas to a rhythm section first before you have a grip on what to provide as a substitute to drums or instruments that are not in the grouping. I would think as a Rhythm player first, as a Bass player second. Provide basic time keeping and respond to chord changes like a bass player would by using the 2 congas like a 2 toned bass. Any interplay or texture changes would be as a responce to where the guitar is going. Musical experience will help you anticipate the flow of the melodic & chord progressions and the structural form. Every student of Jazz music learns the basic forms and formulas by ear ! I could sit in with any jazz group or song oriented music group and play along as if I had been in rehearsals. Unless the rhythms and music construction were very detailed whith things that are difficult to feel naturaly, it should be a natural flow of accompaniment. The Peruvian Guitarist for example are accompanied by the use of the Peruvian Cajon more than congas, because it is more fundamental & flexible as well as being very natural in tone since it is a wood box and so is an accoustic guitar body. A cajon has a full range of tone & texture which is like a drum sets multiple drums and a snare for the dry sound and a bass tone w/ several tones inbetween ! The cajon has all this ! I would break out a cajon for playing w/ a solo guitar or a guitar oriented band ( unless its a Loud assed Rock band etc ) Its all a matter of application of rhythm groove and a supportive role of the drummer. Theres nothing as lame as a conga player playing a straight 8 th note Mambo or Cha Cha rhythm over a Jazz Swing feel ! A drummer must be a musician as well, apply his instrument to all concievable music styles. Even as a Latin drummer / percussionist, I play solid swing, salsa, blues, shuffle, rock, rhythm & blues ( soul music ), disco, calypso, reggae, Cuban / Puerto Rican, Brazilian, Peruvian Criolla & Afro Peruvian and any thing I am introduced to that I have a passion for. I am a percussionist who happens to call Congas & Bongos & Cajons & Timbales....his toys of choice . All drummers need to broaden thier musical horizons and apply themselves in different music than what is easily available from pop culture media. This is what prepares you to accompany a solo guitar with authority & confidence and in good taste.