Here is a clip of Pedro Martinez and Mauricio Herrera playing the longest break in clave that I have ever heard. Pedro keeps the clave all the way through with his foot, so it is undeniable that they are in clave. The break starts at 4:20 in the clip and lasts over 2 minutes. They play in unison for the whole time, so you can't argue that they don't know what they are playing. These guys are so good, and the break is so complex, I can't even pretend that I can follow the clave all the way through, but the clave is there and it doesn't move. At one point they play a clave cruzada (on purpose and in unison) against the clave Pedro is keeping. Pedro is widely recognized as having the best internal "clock" among the top bata players in NYC, and I have seen him sing Akpwon while playing itotele with all the calls, and at other times sing Akpwon while playing Iya with all the calls and floreos. This is not that uncommon in Cuba, but rare outside of Cuba. Also, I am pretty sure Mauricio is right handed, and his drums are set up mirror image to Pedro's.
Can anyone follow the whole break and hear how everything fits with the clave all the way through?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oC-j8wX ... re=related