Samuel Torres

[Isaac]

I saw Samuel Torres' group
for the 2nd time this week. Incredible. For those of you that
havn't heard of Samuel yet, He composes and plays
5 congas with incredible speed but with an overall
relaxed and melodic concept that's very cutting edge.
He's also played the whole gamut of Salsa as a teenager
in Colombia working with Alfredo de La Fe and his uncle,
pianist Edy Martinez. He just released his first CD last
month.

http://www.samueltorres.com/live/

ISAAC

[Ivan]

Hey Isaac, long time no talk to... I hope all is well...

Yes, the first time I saw Sammuel and Pedro Martinez for that matter was with JC watching the Thelonious Monk Conga competition that took place in NYC. Sammuel came in second place and Perdro Martinez was the prize winner.

I hope he makes it over my way, or I can afford to go visit you and catch his group in the big city...

I own a copy of LP's compelation "A passion for Music" with various artists including Sammuel Torres and his band. Good Stuff... I agree with you 100%, I bet seeing him live is even better!

Ivan



Edited By Ivan on 1129911388

[TampabayRey]

Thanks for the link. I'm checking it now.

[JohnnyConga]

Sammy is an "accomplished multi-percussionist" he also has a Degree in Music and can play piano/marimba/compose and arrange music. His hands are incredibly fast,which seems the way to go these days.???.....who well be the next congaslinger(gunslinger)?....how fast can u play?.....why?....Why is speed so important all of a sudden in playing? Anybody want to take on these questions for discussion?....When , why and how should speed be used in your playing,versus trying to "outdo" the next guy?...Anybody?..."JC" Johnny Conga.....

Ps My NEW CD "Rompe La Parche" is half done. A total "OL SKOOL" Afro-Caribbean drum CD, also featuring my drum ..ensamble "Origins". Back to the roots!...

[ralph]

how fast can u play?.....why?....Why is speed so important all of a sudden in playing? Anybody want to take on these questions for discussion?....When , why and how should speed be used in your playing,versus trying to "outdo" the next guy?...Anybody?..."JC" Johnny Conga.....

The speed in playing nowadays maybe be more entertaining than anything, just to see who can go the fastest...i think also its a matter of who has the techinque to be able to play fast and clean, not just fast and sloppy...personally speed it just that, "speed" and nothing more...if a conguero is like lightning but he has no balance in his solos or playing than it will sound like a machine gun, now if you can be fast and play a solo like Tata Guines than you are on the right track...Giovanni Hidalgo is a good example of being fast, clean, and very inventive with his solos...so it sounds good..so it should be done tastefully so it doesn't sound all over the place ya know....

[onile]

Sammy is an "accomplished multi-percussionist" he also has a Degree in Music and can play piano/marimba/compose and arrange music. His hands are incredibly fast,which seems the way to go these days.???.....who well be the next congaslinger(gunslinger)?....how fast can u play?.....why?....Why is speed so important all of a sudden in playing? Anybody want to take on these questions for discussion?....When , why and how should speed be used in your playing,versus trying to "outdo" the next guy?...Anybody?..."JC" Johnny Conga.....

Ps My NEW CD "Rompe La Parche" is half done. A total "OL SKOOL" Afro-Caribbean drum CD, also featuring my drum ..ensamble "Origins". Back to the roots!...

Vaya JC!
You are right on with this topic!
In a world where everyone is trying to "out do" one another, it would be appropriate to ask these questions of all of us! I for one feel that it's like the old saying, keeping up with the Joneses.

But there for the sake of evolution go I (whatever the heck that's supposed to mean)

If the drum is to evolve to the next level, it must be done with the best intentions in mind. I have heard Sammuel, and personally, I am totally amazed with his level of expertice. The melodic displacement of tones, coupled with the rapid execution he possess, is definitely a beautiful evolution of the conga drum. The pioneers, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, Candido Camero(sp?), Ray Barretto to name a few, saw the drum as something more than just a time keeping instrument, they began making melodies with it, making it part of the greater whole!

To be the fastest player, what will that accomplish but a blur of sound if one plays too fast. I agree with you Ralph. There are only so many notes distguishable in a bar/phrase, not to mention also, that the human ear can tolerate only so much! If too many notes are placed in it (bar/phrase), what becomes of it?

I'm ol'school, and for me, for instance, on Eddie Palmieri's recording "Un Dia Bonito" the solo played by the great Eladio Perez, incredibly tasty, spacey chops, thought out placement of notes, weaving in and out of clave y la melodia! Ol'school wasn't about "rapidity", but more so about taste and feel..... SENTIDO!

Okay, I won't go on, but hey......it's a start, someone else chime in now!

Con respeto a los mayores!

Much love and respect to all of you!

Onile!



Edited By onile on 1129922593

[JohnnyConga]

NOW YA TALKIN!!!...MY South Bronx Rumba in the basement buddy...ELADIO PEREZ...when he lived just 2 buildings down from me in the South Bronx... smokin player ,great quinto,,tiene "afinque" de verdad!....simplicity is key!..."JC" Johnny Conga.....

[GuruPimpi]

Hello!

I always felt, when playing with other musicians as a percussionist, that i get the appreciation by the groove and tasty rhythmic leaps. Percussionist usually get along well, cause they feel and know the importance of each individual in a drum circle, even if he's or she is playing just a shaker and dancing. It all builds up into a wonderful rhythm who is joining us in harmony. I don't like competitions in music, cause to me music cannot be competitive. It's not possible to measure music by the bars or tones. Many times I mention groove, cause to me it's the only measure of music, it speaks of the harmony and sincerity of each musician and band together. It's very human to be competitive, but music it's something which I consciensly try not to compete with anyone, but me, my ego.
But hey, we all need accomplishment and getting the respect from others and the competition is the easiest way to get it, momentarily - it always brings Crazy Newcomers, joy and many times disappointments. Finding a self-respect in Music as it is played on the street, rehearsals, gigs, studio recordings, when you're down or up, that's a Frenzy for me...

Fast, speedy gonzales solos on the loose, machine guns, we all love it sometimes, cause then you ride the spirits.
if it speaks sincerely... Enjoy yourself, and enjoy others when riding the sky...

Keep the Groove healthy - My Groove Your Groove!

Primoz

[Colacao]

Lo importante son los accentos, y la melodia because he play on 6 durms. Between los occentos (slap,open, bass, flam etc...)
If you play nothing, it's often harder than if you 1000 notes...my two centimos de Euro.

[RayBoogie]

Buenas, mis Hermanos,

I agree with all your statement. My problem with this is that every bandleader wants a "Giovanni Hidalgo" in there group, but are not willing to pay that person what he's worth.

A gentlemen asked me to sit in with his band recently, but the brother didn't want to pay me. I told him "no way, I'm coming from a different borough and you want me to use my money to get to the gig and not get paid, your crazy". Get this, his response to me was "we do it for the love of music, not to get rich". Yeah, mind you, he getting his cut from the venue and I'm suppose do this for the love of music? B.S...!

I know I went on a rant, but I needed to get this out to my brothers that would understand what I'm talking about!

Back to the topic. I'm for one like speed in a conguero, but to a certain extent. I heard Samuel Torres and Richie Flores and they're great congueros, but the only conguero with speed and is a technician with the congas is Giovanni. Give me an old school conguero that hold the band together with subtle accents. A good example of a conguero that is old school is Chembo Corniel. This man is a monster on congas. Just my two cents!

[GuruPimpi]

RayBoogie!

I dig your situation with paid or notpaid gigs. Many musician are stressed with a thing that I call ''Good Karma Musician''; it means that they generalise playing music for money is bad, not frank and poisonous for individual and band.
It's a schizzofrenic situation, cause, all musicians like to be on the stage, get the approval... be successful, get the proper money for that, so that you can live with a certain amount of feeling secure (food, drink, taking care of kids, house, girlfriend, wife, congas...). Earning money with music is to them:,, Being sold, without soul, egoistic, shallow...''

Geeez, i get my hairs on (and they are really long!). We tend to be and are professional, good and even better, responsible to ourselves and people we love and care for, we don't live on AIR, we don't play on AIR (although that's a challenge ), we have made some serious investments in our musical journey (money, energy, time) to get our musical language groovin' - we deserve the last penny and more we get. ... I mean if someone is well with playing for free - OK 4 me, but don't expect that from all others in band.

wwwoooooouuuuuuuuuuu.... i'm pissed with a musicians like that.

Why don't we all work for free on our jobs?
Who cares for electricity bill, gas bill, what the hack, i'm meditating and everything is in right place...

Don't spoil your Groove with that ''Karma shit''

MY BUCK on that!

Primozz


p.s. I'm getting myself some Samuel Torres, his music's very GOOD!

[JohnnyConga]

It must be something that "every bandleader wants a Giovanni"....um.....then they dont know anything about conga players...You know what I learned coming up ?...that NOBODY can tell you what to play or how to play , unless they play the drum themselves. In other words we are EXPECTED to know our shit,when we sit down, if you've never been heard or seen before. And playing "for the Love"?...I've been playing for the Love of playing, my WHOLE 40 years of playing, but I've been fortunate to have made a career out of it.....for those who do what they do with that "I play for free/Love"...I tell them to their faces 'TO GET OUT OF MY BUSINESS', cause it "IS MY" business,as a professional musician. Guys like that undermine our capability to get work, because of "playing for the Love" .. I also say to them "u love to play" , then stay at home and play in your living room"!....and don't think I haven't done this with people here in Seattle....so they 'tagged' me aggressive here....like I give a shit....I make my own work for myself with anybody or not...and run 3 bands at this time...So that's my 2 congas.......echando pa'lante y nunca pa'tra!...."JC" Johnny Conga...

[RayBoogie]

Hey Guru and JC you guys are so "right on".

If I was a beginner at playing the congas I might of accepted the gig with no pay, just for the experience. I've been performing for a while now and I feel that I'm a asset to the music and I won't let anyone take advantage of me. Those days are long gone. Performing made me confident with my skills. Of course, their will be those days when a bandleader doesn't want you in his project because he's looking for a particular sound and I'm cool with that, but don't try to "SUCKER" me. I ain't having it!!!

I believe there was a topic earlier about the worth of a percussionist in a band. It might be in the e-group on yahoo, I'm not sure, but I feel percussion is what really brings the music life. Not to say that any other instrument is less important, but if you hear certain genre of music like Salsa, Merengue, Rock, House Music, R&B etc. That beat of the percussion instrument is what makes people dance! I'm also a dancer (not professionally), but when I go to clubs and I hear the beat of the drums I'm drawn to the dance floor automatically. Thanks for the response and Thanks for reading the rant, again! Ache to all!!

[El Boni]

"I heard Samuel Torres and Richie Flores and they're great congueros, but the only conguero with speed and is a technician with the congas is Giovanni."

What about Miguel 'Anga' Diaz?

Para mi dos centavos, one of my all time favourite conga solos is by Pablo Batista on Jimmy Bosch's 'Gaviota' (LP: Soneando Trombon). It's got everything: rhythmic themes, development, melodic invention, and fits the track like a hand in a glove. I loved it so much, I transcribed it so I could learn it! (before you think I'm some kind of freak, I'm not in the habit of transcribing entire solos, but this was a special case).

I think speed and technique are important, but as with any instrument, the most important thing when soloing is to play in a musical way, bringing something to the track you're playing on.

B

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
What's up JC!

You know you're on point with the fact that we have to know our shit before we get out there and start "representin'! Whenever we get called out, it's because we've done just that, represented what it is that we can do! To be out on a gig and have the band leader call out a rythm and you not be able to cover it, then they have reason to pull your Library card. That's why it's important, that when band leaders start saying how they want you to play (with exception to dynamics of course), that you need to step-up to the plate and call him back to home! Represent! or as los mayores say....."Defiende lo tuyo para que te respeten!"

If a band wants a particular style of playing, and you don't have the skill level to provide it, then put yours on the table. If it's Giovanni they want, con respeto, then have them contract him. If it's Giovanni YOU want to be, then start "sheddin" (practice, practice, pratice!). But represent what your skills are, and do them to the best of your ability!

Now as for playing for free, let that be YOUR choice mis hermanos!

¿Ay cariño o no-ay cariño?
Suave!
Onile!



Edited By onile on 1130010437