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Posted:
Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:55 pmby Johnny Conga
Here is a smalll list of "split hand players"---Candido(at times)-Big Black-Lil Ray Romero-Patato(sometimes) and another Great player, George "Sabu" Caldwell(who recorded with Dizzy Gillespie and personally knew Chano Pozo and learned from him when he could)From my record collection I have one record that George is on with even a photo of him with the orchestra. It is called "One Night in Washington with THEE Orchestra"-featuring the "Afro Suite" on Electra/Musician Jazz Masters Edition. It is the only photo I know that exists of George. George also was in Olatunji's drummers and Dancers and toured the world with Katherine Dunham in the 50's with Julito Collazo-Fransisco Aguabella and Patato. It was these 3 plus George that were her drummers. I miss George a lot I don't know whatever became of him once my life got going we lost touch, but the man was very instrumental in teaching me how to play for dancers in all styles and rhythms and gave me theory. He also played classical guitar and flute. He played with all the heavy Jazz cats in NYC in the 50's including Charlie Parker. I still have George's card from the late 60's as a collectible for me along with "Pablo's" postcard flyer on what he taught and what drums he made. The Dizzy album previously mentioned was recorded "live" in March 12 1955. Long live "George "Sabu" Caldwell the 3rd.....He was a bad maaama jamma........JC JOHNNY CONGA.... :;):
Posted:
Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:43 pmby Simon B
What's a 'split-hand player' Johnny?
Simon B
Posted:
Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:47 pmby Simon B
Hey I now know - I've read the other post! All appreciation for 'Sabu' Caldwell!
Simon B
Posted:
Sun Mar 21, 2004 2:41 amby Johnny Conga
Split hand style is when you play one pattern in your right hand on the tumba(bass) drum and another pattern on the segundo(conga). Or playing 3 congas with your right hand,bongos between your legs and your left hand playing them. Good example of that type of player was "Master" Henry Gibson(Curtis Mayfield) and Percy James Jr.(Quartet Tres Bien). Giovanni does quite a bit of "split-hand" playing. It's the same as a tabla player, the way they play with hands apart rather together on one. Got it now?....now go practice....JC JOHNNY CONGA..... :;):
Posted:
Sun Mar 21, 2004 4:51 pmby RitmoBoricua
Johnny Conga wrote:Split hand style is when you play one pattern in your right hand on the tumba(bass) drum and another pattern on the segundo(conga). Or playing 3 congas with your right hand,bongos between your legs and your left hand playing them. Good example of that type of player was "Master" Henry Gibson(Curtis Mayfield) and Percy James Jr.(Quartet Tres Bien). Giovanni does quite a bit of "split-hand" playing. It's the same as a tabla player, the way they play with hands apart rather together on one. Got it now?....now go practice....JC JOHNNY CONGA..... :;):
In 1989 I saw Daniel Ponce played this "split hand" technique at the Village Gate, He was playing "Tumbadoras and Bongos" simultaneously. Also I remember in one particular presentation of the Tito Puente Big band in Puerto Rico like in 1980 I saw Patato play "tumbadoras and bata" simultaneously. It's a great thing! 
Posted:
Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:13 pmby zaragemca
In percussion terms is called polyrhythms,or double patterns.
Posted:
Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:21 pmby Johnny Conga
In "ol skool" terms it's still split hand style. 
JC JOHNNY CONGA....
Posted:
Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:29 pmby zaragemca
I do not disagree with you JC,but also the technique is used in others instruments,Drum-Set,Piano,Vibraphono,Timbales,etc.,so that way people would know what it is in all terms.
Edited By zaragemca on 1079980276
Posted:
Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:45 pmby James M
Does a split hand player use tabla-esque techniques as in using individual fingures to play rolls and patterns? Is that what Yonatan is doing in his mp3s on his member's webpage?
http://congaplace.com/musician/yoni/index.php
Posted:
Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:00 pmby zaragemca
The polyrhythms,or split-hand involved the same foundation of coordinating differents patterns, but there is some variation in relation of the specific percussion instruments which is played.
Edited By zaragemca on 1080587039
Posted:
Tue Mar 30, 2004 12:48 amby James M
Because of the physical similarites between tabla and bongos, i can see that some tabla techniques could be transfered to the bongos, and from reading Yonatan's bio, I believe he may be doing that. You can definately here the influence in his playing. I was wandering if he might be imploying tabla techniques on the congas as well.
Posted:
Tue Mar 30, 2004 12:56 amby zaragemca
The situation is that the surface of the Tabla is different than the Bongos and Congas,the tabla is a more delicate(sensitive) isntrument,there are some techniques used to play the tabla which are not transferable,and the structure of Arabic Music is different than the Afro-Cuban-Caribbean.I did some years ago a presentation in a Buddhist Templo with Tabla,Doumbeck and Djembe,with another musician from India.
Edited By zaragemca on 1080608769
Posted:
Tue Mar 30, 2004 1:45 amby congastu
How about tabla on to congas? I dont know if there is a proper name for the "wooo" sound you can get on tumbadoras, but it certainly relates to the low tabla. I know Giovanni has done research into that, but Ive never seen him use this technique. Could be interesting.....
Posted:
Tue Mar 30, 2004 6:52 pmby zaragemca
The squising of the congas technique was developed by Tata-Guines since the 60's,there is more difference from Conga to Tabla than from Bongos to Tabla,even when I have to recognize that mic. in the Congas have taken away with the congeros having to kill the congas in order to be heard in the Conjuntos and Bands.
Edited By zaragemca on 1080672871
Posted:
Tue Mar 30, 2004 7:17 pmby Johnny Conga
Giovanni has been applying "tabla" techniques to congas since studying tabla with Zakir Hussain, when they were in Planet Drum together. So it is highly possible to apply this "tabla" style to congas, for sure. Gio is constantly expanding the barriers of conga drumming. With him there is no end in sight...JC JOHNNY CONGA....