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PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2004 2:16 am
by Johnny Conga
There were NO Charts..Just a conductor telling me what to expect from the pieces I played along with, ,while I had to watch his "hand ques" and he told me what he wanted to hear from the congas or jimbe or toys,etc. basically holding down the groove and changing rhythms with the arrangments on the spot, total improv, then they asked me to play alone without music to show my skills. I played on congas bongos timbales and jimbe . Toys too. It lasted about 45 minutes . they even had me walk across the stage 2 times just to se me walk. They video taped the whole audition. Very strange indeed, but hey it's the Cirque Du Soleil, and that''s strange enough. So they at this time told me they would use me in their "special events division", for "openings" etc...so I have to send them a copy of my passport and then wait for the phone to ring and tell me the next step to take. Anybody can apply to the Cirque at....Casting@CirqueDuSoleil.com they hire 24/7 365- You would need a LONG performance history and a 15 minute performance video of what you play in different performances on video. That is what got me "the call", for the audition. They are looking for all kinds of musicians-ALL kinds, there was even a percussionist who has a fire act in his setup, at the audition yesterday. So you never know what to expect from the Cirque. They look at skills and anything else you may bring to the table as an individual. I could have done a lot more but I have to admit I was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect and it's been awhile since I worked with a conductor. I've been my own for quite some time now, but hey I PASSED it!....Next.....JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :D

PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2004 2:17 am
by Johnny Conga
PS ...the music was "world fusion", a combination of styles lumped together in pieces......JC JOHNNY CONGA...

PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2004 9:01 pm
by Tonio
Congratulations JC!!! I didn't know you where hiding this info on this thread.
Mui Bueno !!

T

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2004 3:18 pm
by Johnny Conga
Thank you Tonio....I wasn't actually trying to hide it. I just put it in this category. Thanks again.....JC JOHNNY CONGA...

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2004 4:27 pm
by Tonio
JC, I was just kidding. Sorry for the dry humor.

BTW, I will be sending out the dinero order to you tonight for your CD.

Thanks

T

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2004 8:29 pm
by Johnny Conga
Tonio...email me privetly about the CD @ [email]johnnyconga@hotmail.com.....Thanks[/email] Bro...JC JOHNNY CONGA... :;):

PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:33 pm
by Johnny Conga
It is with a sad heart that another of my close friends has passed away. Sunday July 18th, Ritchie Puente (Tito's Oldest), passed away in his sleep after being in a coma for the past 4 years. I replaced Ritchie at the Miami City Ballet as a "dance musician", when he had a motorcycle accident,that caused him going into that coma. He is Best known for his "Gold Record" work he did with the band "FOXY", back in the 80's. Ritchie I will miss you and Thank you for letting me "hang and bang" with you. Be at Peace , my Drum Brother.......JC JOHNNY CONGA......

PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:11 pm
by JohnnyConga
For those interested my NEW Radio show "A Lado Latino-On the Latin Side" with "JC" Johnny Conga Debuts this saturday August 14th at 6pm Pacific coast time. on KBCS91.3FM. Online. I will be featuring music from my own "vynil" collection and CD's of Latin Jazz, Afro Cuban Jazz, Mambo Jazz, Latin Rock ,Latin Soul, Musica Cubana,"Ol Skool" Salsa and Afro Caribbean rhythms. Hope you can tune and give me some feed back on it...Mil Gracias...JC JOHNNY CONGA... :;):

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:19 am
by mjw
Good luck with the show Johnny!

Pity I can't receive it here in the UK......would the radio station consider putting streaming audio files on the internet for all to hear?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 5:58 pm
by JohnnyConga
I believe u can get it at www.http://KBCS91.3FM.org/com...try that and see what u get....JC JOHNNY CONGA....let me know ok?

PostPosted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 6:09 pm
by JohnnyConga
Reminder...my NEW radio program "Al Lado Latino-On the Latin Side" is on http://www.kbcs.fm, ONLINE every saturday from 6pm to 8pm Pacific coast time. ..Hope you ALL can tune in, and check my flow!....C U "On the Latin Side".....JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :D

Re:

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:28 am
by Ernesto Pediangco
Bongo Boy wrote:That is fantastic news! I can't think of any way to get to Seattle 'cause Nor Cal is my beat, but If I can figure it out I'll be looking for you. Very happy to see you're keeping busy (to say the least).

Dont forget to bring us Seattlites some fresh fruit from No. Cal ! :)

Re:

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:33 am
by Ernesto Pediangco
Johnny Conga wrote:There were NO Charts..Just a conductor telling me what to expect from the pieces I played along with, ,while I had to watch his "hand ques" and he told me what he wanted to hear from the congas or jimbe or toys,etc. basically holding down the groove and changing rhythms with the arrangments on the spot, total improv, then they asked me to play alone without music to show my skills. I played on congas bongos timbales and jimbe . Toys too. It lasted about 45 minutes . they even had me walk across the stage 2 times just to se me walk. They video taped the whole audition. Very strange indeed, but hey it's the Cirque Du Soleil, and that''s strange enough. So they at this time told me they would use me in their "special events division", for "openings" etc...so I have to send them a copy of my passport and then wait for the phone to ring and tell me the next step to take. Anybody can apply to the Cirque at....Casting@CirqueDuSoleil.com they hire 24/7 365- You would need a LONG performance history and a 15 minute performance video of what you play in different performances on video. That is what got me "the call", for the audition. They are looking for all kinds of musicians-ALL kinds, there was even a percussionist who has a fire act in his setup, at the audition yesterday. So you never know what to expect from the Cirque. They look at skills and anything else you may bring to the table as an individual. I could have done a lot more but I have to admit I was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect and it's been awhile since I worked with a conductor. I've been my own for quite some time now, but hey I PASSED it!....Next.....JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :D

I feel ya JC. those impromtu create as you go Gigs can be fun or miserible ! I remember doing a shwow w/ comedian " Andy Kaufman" & Gil Scott Heron at U of W in late 70's. What a gas to play back up to Andy Kaufman as he sang his Alien Jibberish ( sounded Lituanian ? ) But we were a big HIT, Andy played my Congas to & danced awkward as some crackers do lol so so so funny !