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There are some congueros that excel at paying a very rich and tasty tumbao. It is my opinion that everything in conga playing must follow a proper tumbao. "El Panga" is a Cuban conguero that plays a very rich ,fat and tasty tumbao. Eddie Montalvo, Mr Marcha, plays an excellent tumbao, so does Papo Pepin. Mongo was the creator of the "strong tumbao", Ray Barretto was excellent as well and so was Tommy Lopez.

When JC, Faustino (Cuco) and others mention proper tumbao, this is what they are referring to. I think in conga playing a proper tumbao leads and everything else follows. Enjoy "El Panga" from Havana, "El Señor del Sabroso Tumbao".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz4gQHyS ... re=related

Agreed about the importance of a proper tumbao. I would add Tata Guines to the top of your list. I have not heard a tastier tumbao played by anyone else. You can play almost any recording with Tata on tumbadoras and know who is playing just from the tumbao.

In addition, Guido Sarria (Aragon) had one of the tastiest tumbaos I have heard. One drum, no fireworks, but you just want to dance. Manuel Labarrera (Van Van) and Juan Claro Bravo (Ritmo Oriental) have, in my opinion, played some of the best tumbaos of the Cubans in Cuba, each with their own variations but still what I would call tumbao. Anga and Giovanni, in spite of taking the rhythms to alot of other places, could play killer tumbao when the music called for it. An important part of the tumbao, after timing, is the sound you get out of the drum, and Mongo, Anga and Giovanni all excelled in that aspect. There are many more.

Panga has a great tumbao, that is a very nice video visually but the sound is horrible. Why can't people shooting videos learn a little bit about acoustics and audio first? I guess video cameras have become so easy to use, anyone can try to use one, and you don't hear how it sounds until it is too late. The echo in that room makes the sound almost impossible to listen to. You were right to call it "Visual".

A friend of mine told me when he started playing congas, he spent a year playing nothing but tumbao until he got it perfect. After that he began playing rumba and latin jazz. Within a few years, he became tumbador for Machito. Now, over 30 years later, he still has a killer tumbao (plays nice quinto too).

+1
To me Papo just stands out, his marcha is just unmistakable.

T

agree with jorge, to much echo chamber sound from the block walls, other than that excellent teaching..

He is such a monster player! As for the sound most home's in the Caribe are cement and that 2 inch thick tile floor's can make for a loud and ringee.

Look at how flat his hands are.. Almost inverted. And the completely relaxed shoulders with arms down at the sides,, not held up!

I'd call that PERFECT FORM.