congaplace.com

Hi everybody,

what rhythm do you play in Bomba part in Timba style ?

ZunZun

The Tomas Cruz books say "you should play a strong steady marcha with open tones which complement the toms and bass slides". I don't think there is a specific pattern but you can imitate the Iya from bata rhythms, pieces of the actual Puerto Rican bomba rhythm, or anything with a lot of open tones that works with the arrangement. This part has a lot of energy so I guess the playing should reflect it. I would listen to live recordings because thats were they really let loose. I think theres a few on you tube that show it. Peace.

The 'Bomba' section or 'Mazacote' or 'breakdown' in Timba can be played numerous ways depending on the arrangement.
By 'Bomba' it is not the actual "bomba" folkloric pattern of Puerto Rico, in Cuban Salsa/Timba context it refers to the modern style of Cuban Timba/Salsa breakdown moment with the going of the ride cymbal/broken beat pattern of the cencerro and use of the kick drum with the sliding notes of the bass with the displaced montuno's of the piano typically with looped short horn section 'mambo' or short horn riffs looped, followed in with heavier type chorus etc...
If no formal instruction can be found close to you, listen to the congueros in modern Cuban Timba bands the likes of Charanga Habanera/Charanga Forever, Manolito y Su Trabuco, Bamboleo, Aces de la Timba, Klimax, Azucar Negra, Chispa Y Sus Acomplises, Manolin (Medico de la Salsa ) - but his Timba recordings not the pop stuff.

Its hard to explain over internet, here is a little short clip of young Dominic (friend and casual student of mine) jamming over a recording of Cuban Timba band 'Bamboleo', you can see and here him play variations of this "bomba" / "mazacote" / "breakdown" section on Tumbadoras/Congas. It is derived from Songo/Changui and modern cuban style marcha/tumbao.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QYteuQOjohU

And here Dom again but on Cuban Timba style Timbal/Drumkit set up playing a timba/breakdown groove:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m2KOgHbsSms
and
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5uSVLsxdZZE




More on this style can be seen here, with my bro Steve here on drums/timbal:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mVp_y6l81eI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gPlekAZ_MsM

And here Jimmy Branly (formerly NG La Banda) http://youtube.com/watch?v=F_34oDF6ZIs



Hope this has helped.

Thank you but I know what is the bomba part in the timba. I just wanted to know what the members of congaplace played.

ah cool. Keep your vids coming! I always enjoy them.
Your technique is quite similar to mine. Always good work Laurent.

laurent what's the timbales and conga part ?

gilbert wrote:laurent what's the timbales and conga part ?

I put the rhythm of timbale long ago in the timbal book whith audio file. Do you see it sometimes ?

There is no only one rhythm on congas but I play some variations of yesa... Some conga drummers play the same pattern of the timbal but I d'on't like it !

And you, what do you play ?

Hi all

I al interested in knowing what to play here too.

Would the Tomas Cruz' Iyesa fit?

My problem is that it is supposed to be played on a 2/3 rumba clave and not a son clave...

Any help?


Thanks


B

One of my ways to play : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfW9yxwagg0

Thanks Laurent.

I saw this video already. It's great! Do you have it written down? I like the "groovy" atmosphere in it. But it seems to be a bit far from Iyesa? Is it a variation of Iyesa or something totally different?

Cheers


B

Thanks for posting all of these.
Laurent: I really like the timba pattern you posted. A good one for me to learn
Abakua: thanks for the links to Chubs, young Dominic (great feel on drums for such a young guy) and Jimmy Branly esp. - fantastic stuff!
ciao
Pavlo