Bossa Nova - How to play it on bongos?

[davidpenalosa]

I am still not sure how to accompany bossa nova with bongos. Maybe someone could explain what the drummers usually play?

So I guess now some audio examples would be perfect.

Salseroberlinense,
Did my previous response make any sense? There is no "bossa nova bongo part" per sé because bossa nova is Brazilian and bongos are Cuban. Do you know the basic bongo martillo part? That part can work quite well. The thing to remember is that bossa nova is not a particularly dynamic rhythm. Bossa nova is a slightly syncopated rhythm functioning in a secondary role to melodies that are often balads. If you play bongos too busy or with too much cross-rhythmic tension, you will detract from the desired bossa nova aesthetic.

Perhaps Berimbau can site some CDs where Rubens Bassini plays bongos in bossa novas?

The repenique is the lead drum of batucada (street samba) and does not relate to bossa nova.
-David

[Salseroberlinense]

Hej,
For sure it makes sense what you wrote, David, it just is not direct help what I could do. I do know martillo but I do not think it fits to bossa. If you look up, Berimbua already suggested some CDs by Bassini and I already ordered one but I will have to wait for two weeks Maybe someone could upload audio examples?

[davidpenalosa]

I do know martillo but I do not think it fits to bossa.

Fair enough.
-David

[Diceman]

Berimbau, David,

I agree bongo is not a traditional Brasilian instrument, and you cant emulate the jingles or the sounds of a pandeiro, but the ritmo of the thumb and slaps can be transferred quite nicely to a bongo and adds colour to a bossa nova provided it isnt over played and done tastfully.
There are no rules on what instruments are played, unless you are a traditionalist anorak, but I agree that the rhythm and elements of it are important to keep to the bossa feel.

But hey, sometimes rule breakers come up trumps!!

Diceman

[zaragemca]

Greeting,hold on brother DavidPenalosa.....when I said something I have a reason for It.....It is true that Congas and Bongos aren't Brazilian instruments,but do you know that, Samba,and Bossa Nouva have been part of the music which is played in Cuba since the mid 50's,(during the Combo/Era)..Felipe Dulzides Group,Frank Emilio's Group, Sergio Vitier's Group,Los Zafiros Quartet,Senen Suarez Group,etc., are groups which played a lot of Bossa Nouva and Samba in Cuba,I did play Bossa Nouva when I have been playing with show/bands,(both in Cuba and here in Houston)..Also Brazilian Music is part of my Clinics and performing with the Percussion Ensemble,(I don't just play AfroCuban Music with my Ensemble,I go around the Globe).Dr. Zaragemca



Edited By zaragemca on 1146600031

[Berimbau]

It seems that many folks here are unaware that Afro-Cuban music has been VERY popular in Brasil since at least the early 1950's, and likely well before that. Although the Bossa Nova genre originated in Brasil, it also has international roots. Most posters here are aware of the strong influence of U.S. cool Jazz and the softer vocal stylings of Chet Baker and Julie London on Bossa, but what of Cuban "Filin" singers? These Cuban Filin (from the English word, feelings) vocalists had already begun synthesizing complex jazz harmonies with local Latin forms such as the Son and Bolero in the 1940's. Along with many other forms of Cuban music, the mass media exported these sounds to Brasil where they were apparently well recieved.
As to such Cuban instruments as congas, bongos, maracas, and quijada, Nana Vasconcelos informed me that these were the first percussion instruments he learned to play in Recife, well before he ever discovered the berimbau! Now whenever I'm in Brasil young drummers bug the living #### out of me to learn two things, ANY song in a Bantu language and ANYTHING associated with playing rumba!!!
Brasilian bongosero Rubens Bassini can be heard on many of Joao Gilberto's original Bossa Nova recordings from the late 1950's. Bassini's hero? None other than Mongo Santamaria. Despite this, it was Jobim's original intention to rid "Brasilian music of all those tambourines." He never succeeded, and nearly all of his recordings also featured an auxilliary percussionist in addition to a trap drummer. Brasilians Dom Um Romao and Airto, and Puerto Rican Ray Armando, all filled that chair at some point. As Brasilian as Bossa Nova may be, and it IS, the debt to US Jazz and Afro-Cuban is also quite evident. With our beautiful Bossa Nova songs and lush harmonies, this is one debt that Brasil has long paid off!!


Saludos,


Berimbau

[Salseroberlinense]

I think the page Isaac suggested has some very interesting videos. I especially like this one and guess that a good player could use parts of it for bongos as well.

[Charangaman]

I know Trevor Salloums bossa transcription but personally I find it too busy, when I do hear bongo in bossas or sambas it's usually a modified martillo which I think fits well..

[zaragemca]

Ok I give you a cookie, ,beside the Repenique and Son patterns,there are several Bells and Pandeiros patterns which could be incorporated in the Bongos,when playing Bossa Nouva,(there is a whole world of stuff which could be done)...I wish you could hear what I did in my Percussion Ensemble,the Brazilian which came here,(Samba/Bateria), told me that I was crazy.As I said before they took a lot of pictures and a video.Dr. Zaragemca



Edited By zaragemca on 1146704707