Afro Blue

[studio7conga]

Anyone have any advice/notation/etc on playing Mongo's rhythm from Afro Blue? Notably how all of the heel-toe motions fit together with the open tones... Hoping to get it eventually. Maybe you can help.

[KidCuba]

Maybe this might help...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC-V-lKAAkg

[davidpenalosa]

Maybe this might help...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC-V-lKAAkg

This guy is from the branch of the "old skool" which doesn't have the facts quite right. It was excusable back in the day, but no more. In North America, ñanigo was used as a generic term for 6/8 rhythms. Nanigo is actually a derogatory Afro-Cuban term for abakuá. The Abakuá are descended from the Efik people of southern Nigeria and northern Cameroon. Abakuá are not descended from the Yoruba.

The first rhythm he shows looks like a 1960s NYC adaptation of a Haitian yanvalu part, and the second part is the Cuban bembé cachimbo part.

For "Afro Blue" you can basically play any 6/8 rhythm that emphasizes the six beats across clave. In the original version by Mongo, several abakuá parts are used, and Francisco Aguabella solos using abakuá bonkó phrases. In subsequent Mongo recordings, the rhythm resembled bembé.
-David

Original version of "Afro Blue":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbE7jf_Hp5w

[JohnnyConga]

This first video is one version that Mongo played his pattern....and the second version of how Mongo also played it and Im playing along with Mongo...

http://youtu.be/MiZjlq8t9_0

http://youtu.be/Jf5tRCG-7x4

[KidCuba]

Sorry, it was not my intent to be Insultive or distribute incorrect information. Thanks for the response.

[davidpenalosa]

Sorry, it was not my intent to be Insultive or distribute incorrect information. Thanks for the response.

Hey, no worries. I hope I didn't come off too pedantic or scolding.
-David

[KidCuba]

Hey, no worries. I hope I didn't come off too pedantic or scolding.
-David

Not at all, we are all looking for solid information, it is good to get a correction before one continues to pass of erroneous information.

[Hawker]

Points well made and thanks for the solid info. However, the guy's teaching style is infectious.

[Tone]

I am sure someone must have asked this before but...
what's with the gloves JC?

[niallgregory]

I am sure someone must have asked this before but...
what's with the gloves JC?

He gets cold in the winter Hes getting old !

[JohnnyConga]

Hi Tone..just so u know gloves have been worn while playing in different ways...Anga used gloves on congas for a recording session, going for a much softer quieter sound...My reason is my hands stay cold and when i did the videos it was done in my attic where it was cold...Kalani is now marketing "conga gloves' for kids now .....playing with gloves also cuts down on the sound for practicing...I can get a slap with gloves on as well...can you?.... ...hahaha...

[Tone]

I bet you get a nice muff!!
In the old days if you slapped someone with a glove, it would be a dare to a duel...and that wouldn't be with congas

[davidpenalosa]

. . . the guy's teaching style is infectious.

Agreed. Can't help but like the guy.

[studio7conga]

. . . the guy's teaching style is infectious.

Agreed. Can't help but like the guy.

Looks like he's a professor at Dartmouth. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~music/faculty/shabazz.html

[Joseph]

Congaplace's CongaBook has notation and two variations for AfroBlue.
From the index menu, go to Rhythms > Cuba > AfroBlue.
Also has an audio file to hear the notated rhythm.