mozambique - history and tunes

[Tone]

What is the history behind the mozambique ?
I heard it was heavily influenced by some bata or abakua rhythms...and that is where El Afrocan got his inspiration from and then taking it into a whole new direction.
Also what are the great versions available on CD?

thanks

[davidpenalosa]

Hey Tone,
Pello's mozambique is basically his invention; an adaptation of conga de comparsa, the carnaval street rhythm. One of the parts involves two congas and replicates a bata rhythm used for Obatala and the last movement of the rhythm Osain, as played in the oru igbodu. The bombo parts use a common rhythmic motif that comes from the folkloric iyesa, makuta and to some extent guaguanco. Pello played mozambique in both comparsa and band formats. Mozambique was the first Cuban popular rhythm to use rumba clave. Eddie Palmieri's mozambique is loosely based on Pello's original version.

-David

[JohnnyConga]

I have a video of Pello teaching his Mozambique parts to a friend of mine who was visiting. It's the last video of him. He also was playing with stick on drum, instead of his hands, even though he could still use his hands, a very African approach-"stick on drum"....his son is also in the video teaching, a new variation of Mozambique.....I also have his first Recording of his Orchestra in France, playing Mozambique ,and on the back of the album shows the steps of how to "dance" the Mozambique....."JC" Johnny Conga...

[davidpenalosa]

That's cool Johnny. I friend who met him in 1985 shot video of mozambique dance done in 1962 in India. It was an old video which Pello played on his home TV. The footage I saw was taken by having the camera pointed at the TV screen. It was low-tech but great just the same. The dance l saw looked liek a cross between rumba and 60's gogo dancing. Very cool.

-David

[zaragemca]

Greeting David,I would have to disagrre with you in some respect,the idea of the Mozambique come from the 'Batamu' show of Dr. Obdulio Morales,which was the first putting together a multi-percussion-structure like that,(even with originals Batas),I already said that in my articles,also in the show,'Las Mulatas de Fuego',in the 40's and 50's,there was a pattern related to it,(not necessarily called Mozambique).The Rumba Clave was used in the Guaracha,(which is a popular rhythms), before the Mozambique. To JC, the one which started using sticks to play the drums in the Mozambique was an outstanding percussionist,'Nico' which was Pello's lead congero.And of course I observed the Mozambique before it became a fame beat around the world.Dr.Zaragemca



Edited By zaragemca on 1119301433