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There are many rhythms that can be played on the congas and of course some rhythms, mainly folkloric have more than one part, guaguanco for example. What rhythms or rhythm parts are your favorite?

My favorite folkloric rhythm is bembe! I love playing the high drum/cachimbo part for Matanzas style bembe, I really like playing bembe alll three drums by myself, but my favorite is playing bembe lead, low drum/caja with a stick. As for "popular rhythms" I love this version of pilon attributed to Anga included in this book I have from the Banff Afrocubanismo gathering. I love working that rhythm in with jazz tunes. I know I don't play pilon music, and I am not totally sure what pilon even is, but I love that rhythm.

Esto es pilon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWG2TUSykgY

PC

Yep definitely not playing that

ha ha,why not?

I love pilon , its a beautiful rhythm to play . Swinging

Nothing can beat a good old straight tumbao in my opinion,
with all the other interlocking rhythms of a Latin Jazz band, for example
Yet the guaganco is the rhythm that keeps me going, this rhythm will continue
to swing forever.

More than anything, I like the little breakthroughs that occur when you're obsessed with learning a new rhythm. I like it when the timing becomes internalized, the confidence sores, and you gain adeptness for a part or pattern where you can riff with finesse.

Yeah, Bembe is still a big favorite for me too! I especially like moving from the downbeat on the caja and playing the bombo with and without stick. I like playing a double drum with a smaller one to the side with the big drum bombo and smaller on ponche. Really cool when the kachimbo plays Matanzan and the Mula plays one note in front of the regular ponche doubles.

Also, after spending a year focusing on the quinto "lock" ala David Peñalosa lessons and book, I've got a new love affair with playing quinto in rumbas.

And the heads on my newly re-headed bata are nicely broken-in and sounding great!! Just what I was hoping for! So, last night I played a bunch of Itotole on Llongo! Whoof! It was really fun! Absolutely in love with working out cool responses to the Iya phrasing, and getting good left hand timing and slap crackage!

Oh!!! And segundo on Columbia!!!! as well as the box on the one, and left hand spoon on the upbeats!

ghostdrummer wrote:ha ha,why not?

niallgregory wrote:I love pilon , its a beautiful rhythm to play . Swinging

I love playing the pilon rhythm on congas, but I'm not playing with anyone that plays pilon songs or tunes. When I'm playing pilon on congas I'm usually finding a way to work it into a swinging jazz tune and to get a different feel than a straight tumbao.

I have been spending a lot of time on Bembe lately, both playing individual parts on Bembe taught by Michael Spiro on CongaMasterClass, as well as a two-drum version I have developed.

Now, I am trying to sing some of the Bembe songs while I play - which is challenging, but when I make progress its exhilarating.

As for a "popular" rhythm, I really enjoy Mozambique.

All the amazing variations of SONGO,by el maestro, José Luís Quintana

I started to try and learn a marcha from Tomasito Cruz's 3rd books, identified marcha Iyesa, and its kicking my butt.

yes me too I love that patern is just great and the tomasito metod works really well!!

KidCuba wrote:I started to try and learn a marcha from Tomasito Cruz's 3rd books, identified marcha Iyesa, and its kicking my butt.

Yup, a nice one that grooves.

Mike wrote:Nothing can beat a good old straight tumbao in my opinion,
with all the other interlocking rhythms of a Latin Jazz band, for example
Yet the guaganco is the rhythm that keeps me going, this rhythm will continue
to swing forever.

^ and this of course!

The "Conga Comparsa' has always been my favorite rhythm of them all...

http://youtu.be/iAo0IHhynwM