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Posted: **Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:50 am**

What ever happened to Ramon Lopez of the Stan Kenton Band?

I saw him play 30 years ago and was impressed.
My teacher Dan Gray followed the band around and took lessons from him. He said Ramon learned from Patato.

A habit I got from him is dropping the first toe (or finger tip) of the 'toe heel toe' in the Tumbao, so as to play the rhythm very fast. Is that how Patato really played it?

Posted: **Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:48 am**

I have heard and seen people play the tumbao with a heel-tip in the left hand, and a slap-touch in the right.

It would look like this:

heel-tip-slap-touch-heel-tip-open-open

L L R R L L R R

The touch in the right hand should be played almost like a rebound from the slap.
I personally do not play like this, but I have seen this way being taught to beginners.

Posted: **Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:15 am**

Here's another Patato invention and Changuito's way of making it easier to play a fast Jazz bebop ride from Changuito's 'Evolution of the Tumbadoras' video.
Great video by the way. Worth buying.
regards
Pavlo

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

Posted: **Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:01 pm**

Couldn't find anything on Ramon Lopez...and on the Stan Kenton site he isn't even listed as one time personel, with the Kenton band..I have one album with him and the Kenton band he was a very strong player and also could play in odd time also...other than that couldnt find any info..I do know he was from Chicago I believe...he also would be old by now too...maybe 70?...."JC" Johnny Conga...

Posted: **Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:49 pm**

Bongo sad to say that Ramon Lopez passed away sometime ago I say about 10 years ago. In his later days he instructed
percussion at Paragon Music in Tampa Florida. Played locally with different groups, he also played drum set. a very sweet person and always willing to help and answer any question.
Peace
Olsongo

Posted: **Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:05 pm**

I had the fortune to watch Ramon play
with the Stan Kenton Big Band. It was 1976
at a beautiful club on the outskirts of Minneapolis.
He was one the first Pro players I saw that
inspired me to get into the conga. I also
realized you have to play differently with
a large group than a small group.

~ ISAAC

congaplace.com

Ramon Lopez - Of the Kenton Band