What music are you listening to at the moment?

[juancho]

Escuchando con mi esposa a Mr. Bolero con Francis Mendez acompañado con los bongos.

[bongosnotbombs]

I wouldnt say Steve Pouchie is the New Cal Tjader...if anyone maybe David Samuels,or the Estrada Bros. is a LOT closer on sound and style to Cal Tjader than Pouchie. I have 85 Cal Tjader albums..there will never be another like him...and Pouchie doesn't come close ..sorry..IMHO...Pouchie is good but he's no Cal Tjader....Im also listening to Tony Martinez and Cuban Power, Estaire Godinez, Blue Mambo, Hamlet, NRG, Ritmo Oriental(one of my favorite Cuban bands)....Johnny Conga....
PS here I am playing my 1960 Orlando Marin Jenco vibes..I am almost finished with my 3rd Cd which I am doing original material with me playing the Vibraphone, I think you all will be surprised. and NO Im no Cal Tjader either, but I try...

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Dang 85 Johnny, thats a lot of albums no matter how you count it. Hey there's only 1 Cal, but theres only one JC! Next album should be good!
The thing about Cal is not only him but all the greats that passed through his band, Mongo, Armando, Bill, Bobo, etc.

And of course Cal is a local boy for me as well!

[windhorse]

Just listening to the final song class with Lazaro Gallaraga and bata accompaniment at this year's Humboldt camp! OOYEAH! I love it!

[JohnnyConga]

Im very glad that my 'homie' Steve Pouchie is doing the music I love the most and he is doing a good job at it no doubt. I grew up with guys like Phil Diaz(who replaced Tommy in the Joe Cuba band on vibes), Johnny Lytle(fastest hands on vibes I ever heard), Pete Terrace, Bernard Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, Andrew Langston, Gary McFarland, Lionel Hampton,Bobby Pauneto(who I thought and still do may be the closet to that Tjader sound and style),Bobby Montez, Oscar Garcia, "Afro" Sayans and ALL these guys were in NY city when I was growing up,(Gary McFarland and Bobby Montez-west coast). So you know I know my vibe players... Johnny Conga

[Anonimo]

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[JohnnyConga]

It doesnt matter if most of these Vibe players are gone, their music lives on!....with me and others....Johnny Conga

[Anonimo]

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[JohnnyConga]

I DISAGREE!!....Johnny Conga

[Mike]

Me too. Leedy, you tend to generalize far too much in my opinion,
especially when it comes to "the" young kids today. Some of "them"
will always be eager to look behind the music of the past, explore it
deeper etc.
Having lived in the fullest sense means that once you are dead, you have
left traces, in this case musical traces, of one sort or another in the people
you played with or taught.
Call me unambitious, but I think this kind of legacy is far more important than fame.

[Anonimo]

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[niallgregory]

Well i for one was very aware of tito puentes contribution to the music and his bringing the timbal to the forefront etc . Most people i know into latin music would be aware of this .I also feel mongos influence is massive and his legacy will live on for a long time .Anyone who plays latin percussion or indeed teaches it will use these 2 men as examples of the music .They can not be ignored or underestimated . However there are some percussionists in cuba who never became household names that seem to have been forgotten . I know this annoys some of the cuban percussionists , there counterparts in the USA get alot more attention ( naturally given the circumstances ) ...

[Anonimo]

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[konkoba98]

Current 50 song playlist includes:

Eleggua, Oggun, Ochosi Album by Abbilona
3 guiro tracks from various Abbilona albums
Oru Secu from Abbilona and Andres Chacon E Ire-Ire
Multiple tracks on Buenavista en Guaguanco by Ecue Tumba
Justicia and La Libertad Logico by Eddie Palmieri
Guiro for Oya by John Santos & Machete
All of the Guaguanco album by Los Munequitos and Los Papines (the original)
A couple other tracks from Los Munequitos on Rumberos de Corazon
Eleggua guiro on Ito Iban Echu by Los Munequitos
5 different guaguanco tracks (folkloric, not band) by Mongo Santamaria
Buscando Guayaba, Pedro Navaja, and Dime from the Siembra album
3 tracks from Yoruba Andabo Cajones Bullangueros
and a couple of my favs: Mi Chiquita Quiere Bemeb by T. Puente and Irma Koi by Africando

4 hours of bliss

[JohnnyConga]

Havana NRG
Tiempo Libre
Tony Martinez & Cuban Power
Conrad Herwig
Steve Pouchie
Estaire Godinez
Susie Hanson
Orch. Charangoa
.........................................Johnny Conga

[JohnnyConga]

Wow! Carlos Pizarro El Rey de Bolero....I worked with him in New York city in the late 60's...one of the hardest gigs to play, Bolero all night opposite a band like Willie Colon...but he paid 80 bucks a gig and back then that was good money for 2 sets...I also came up with at least 6 different ways to play Bolero,,hahahaha...had to be creative..we were falling asleep on our instruments...and I remember that night opposite Willie too and how the guys were goofing on us back then...ah man such good times hahahaha....the good ol days....Johnny Conga