by Simon B » Mon Jan 06, 2003 4:18 pm
To add to the Snowboy discussion, yeah he is THE figure on the UK Latin scene because as well as a prolific player he is still a regular DJ, as said, and also a journalist for at least one magazine. He recently released a new album 'Para Puente' - a tribute to Tito, though all the tracks are original and in Snowboy's own take on the heavy mambo sound. He was taught by a guy called Robin Jones who is probably the most senior conguero and percussionist in the UK.
The problem in the UK is that Snowboy and other top percussionists and teachers (many of whom are settlers from Brazil, Cuba, America) are nearly all based in London, with a smattering in only a few other cities. I am in Sheffield, about the fifth biggest city in the UK and there is no-one in this city to really teach me and the two or three other properly active conga players here. My 'lessons' usually involve talking and playing with my friend and conguero Marcello Bravo, an Argentinian who has travelled the world and befriended Latin musicians in various different places, who collars them when they tour here (Tata Guines was here a few weeks ago and invited him to Cuba) for techniques and tips! These he then passes on to me!
Simon B