congaplace.com

No doubt, although I only played at the fountain for a few years before we got kicked out and moved over to the benches by the bridge or the small fountain up top. I hope we get to play again someday, NYC or Seattle. And my wife was always a Gloria Gaynor fan even though I never liked going to disco clubs and made her go to the Corso. Meanwhile, I enjoy a lot of the stuff you keep posting, keep doin it. Ache pa ti.

Back to LA, I hope you all keep that rumba happening in LA. My sister and my mother live there and even though I gave up on Griffith Park rumbas about 15 years ago, I would love to go to a real rumba next time I get out to LA.

jorge wrote:Back to LA, I hope you all keep that rumba happening in LA. My sister and my mother live there and even though I gave up on Griffith Park rumbas about 15 years ago, I would love to go to a real rumba next time I get out to LA.

I hope we can keep it going as well. While they Griffith Park Rumbas were always hit or miss, depending on who should up, there were some key Cubans who arrived from "El Mariel" who were able to police it and make them legit rumbas. Unfortunately, public rumbas disappeared here in Los Angeles during the last few years. There are many workshops and classes, but few actual opportunities for students to grind their axes.

Some of Troy Parker's students also are getting together at Hollenbeck Park in East Los Angeles on Sunday afternoons to play, in attempt to further develop the scene here in L.A.

Wow an interesting story.
thanks

jorge wrote:...taught us how the songs went with the coro on the right side of clave and the tres dos on the 2 side...."

Jorge, the 'right side' meaning the 3 side? Is the coro supposed to always come on the 3 side?

thanks

No, right meaning "correct", ie so the coro fits with the drums and clave. There is no formula, but there is right and wrong, which you might be able to learn after years of playing and singing with Cubans who sing it right. Some people never learn.

When I arrived in L.A. in 1976...I became friends with three Rumberos..Hector Serrano, "Indio" and my Bro Hector "Bucky" Andrade RIP...we used to jam at Griffin park and Balboa park(in the Valley) and have some serious Rumba then, up until about 1985... it used to be me Kevin Ricard (Tonight show percussionist), sometimes Louie Conte, Hector Serrano, Virgilio Figueroa, Indio, and some others...Kevin Ricard and I created Roots of Rhythm a 5 piece folkloric ensemble(my ol roomate and homey,Skip Burne was also a member at one time) that played around L.A. and Orange county for 5 years in the schools and for festivals...here we are at the old "Comback Inn" in Venice...
Kevin Hector and Me...1981...

Some video footage from Rincon Rumbero (May 5th, 2012)...

http://youtu.be/76wbt92AHTw

Hollenbeck Park Rumba, April, 2012 (Boyle Heights, Los Angeles)

Jesus "Cusito" Penalevar of Rumberos de Cuba singing at Rincon Rumbero on June 2, 2012.

Videos of the same rumba here: http://youtu.be/zhcY7_NNGro

Another nice afternoon of rumba in Los Angeles. I hope some of the L.A. board members can come out on August 4th for Rincon Rumbero...

Some video footage from Rincon Rumbero....

http://youtu.be/1H_86U3LY3w

Rincon Rumbero - July 7, 2012

Video montage of photos from Rincon Rumbero on July 7, 2012...

http://www.larumbero.com/post/28866142368/a-montage-of-photographs-taken-by-mr-richard

Some pictures from Rincon Rumbero on Saturday, August 4th, 2012

Awesome stuff brother, great to see Rumba alive and well in LA.

We are trying to keep the tradition alive, and I can only hope some of our L.A. board members join us soon...