Bands - What Is your Band Like?

[mangorockfish]

I hear people talk about how they play congas and other hand percussion in bands and when you finally see them, they don't have a clue what they are doing. So are you playing in a band and what all do you get to do? Do you get to play with "toys" or are you strictly there to play congas? My band is a roots rock, Americana type group that does 90% original music. http://www.lookbackmarys.com. I don't play congas out, just once in a while when we have an acoustic practice.
Was just wondering about the rest of you.
Mango'

[ABAKUA]

I am currently working with 4 bands on a frequent basis.

My main band consists of 2 seperate bands. (muso's added or changed depending on band)

One band ("Armandito y Su Mecanica") play's original Cuban Timba as arranged by our band leader Armandito Garcia from Santiago de Cuba, formerly from Sonora de la Calle and also 'Lady Salsa', international showcase.
I play a 3 tumbadoras set up in this 8 -10 piece band (members pend on gig budget)

In the other band (same line up as Armandito y Su Mecanica but with extra musicians (13 in total) play original tunes which vary in genre from Timba/Funk/Hip Hop/Reggae etc.
In this band ("Son Veneno") I play 2 tumbadoras set up, tambourine, shakers, chekere, bells, bata, cajon and other assorted intruments pending on what is required in each tune.

Another ensemble (20+ musicians) I work with plays a fusion of traditional Andean music, Mexican, and Cuban popular music. With this group (SONIDO), depending on what is required in the tune, I play 4-5 tumbadoras set up, bongo, bata, shakers, rainsticks, bells, cajon, bombo etc.

Another group I work with is a 5 piece Latin Jazz group ("Latin Jazz Baby") here I play 3-4 tumbadoras set up.

Other than that i freelance with other salsa/latin groups, funk, reggae, acid jazz ensembles where I will mainly play tumbadoras/bongo and other assorted hand percussion instruments.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1109723929

[CongaTick]

Band I play in now is The Blank Trio.

http://www.blanktrio.com/

Originals blues/folk/poprock, etc. (Everybody seems to have their own way of classifying music these days!) Lead guitar/vocals, electric bass, and I play 3 tumbadora setup, plus bongos, guiro, shakers, clave, maracas as called for in our 40 plus song set list.

I would love to hook up with a group grounded more in latin jazz/funk, or even more traditional Latin, but very hard to find though I may explore opportunities in Philly in the near future.

[Juzzi]

Hello.
I play percussion in the group called Carlos D'l Puerto & NGANGA (http://www.ngangamusic.com). We play LatinJazz. Mostly I play congas but chekere, timbales, guiro, footbells etc. I also use a lot.

My second group is Eduardo & his Brazilian Aeroplane (http://www.brazilianaeroplane.com). This group plays Brazilian music, samba, bossa, forro, mpb etc. Mostly I play pandeiro, cuica, tamborim, timbau etc.

There are also other groups I play with but these are my main bands.

-J

[ALKEBULAN]

My band Cosmosaic is a Soulful Jazz-funk band that is mixed with rhythms from the african diaspora. I mainly play congas, bongo, djembe, cuica, triangle, bell, whistles, etc. A fun gig...except that my rig is huge...and heavy...

[ABAKUA]

I play percussion in the group called Carlos D'l Puerto & NGANGA



-J

Carlos Del Puerto as in former bassist for Irakere?

If so, respect. He is amongst my all time favourite bass players.

Would be interested in hearing some of your stuff.

[zaragemca]

It is him Carlos del Puerto,I know him and his mother which were living in Cayo Hueso,I was living in San Miguel, which was the street he have to take to go to his house, plus I did some jamming at the Rio Club.I think his last gig was playing in a jazz trio in Cuba.his son Carlos del puerto Jr. is also playing with its own band.

[Juzzi]

Hello.
You guys are right. Carlos is one of the founders of Irakere. He is for sure one of the greatest bassplayers out there. ABAKUA, I will send you some videoclips/music when I have the chance. Give me your e-mail. We just did a tv gig and I hope we'll get some material out of that.

-J