Daniel Ponce

[afrocubarico]

Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone could share any info about conguero, Daniel Ponce? I read in the in the April 2003 issue of Latin Beat magazine in tribute to Mongo Santamaria that Daniel Ponce is rated one of the best quinto players in the world. This inspired me to collect his very limited CDs, Aware and Chango Te Llama.

I would like to learn more about Daniel Ponce. If anyone could share any stories or history on Daniel, I'm all ears.

Gracias,
Roberto

[ABAKUA]

Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone could share any info about conguero, Daniel Ponce? I read in the in the April 2003 issue of Latin Beat magazine in tribute to Mongo Santamaria that Daniel Ponce is rated one of the best quinto players in the world. This inspired me to collect his very limited CDs, Aware and Chango Te Llama.

I would like to learn more about Daniel Ponce. If anyone could share any stories or history on Daniel, I'm all ears.

Gracias,
Roberto

Welcome Roberto,

Daniel Ponce is one of my favourites also, his recordings had a huge influence on my playing when I first stumbled onto them many years ago.

CHANGO TE LLAMA, ARAWE (not Aware ??? ) and NEW YORK NOW are his 3 own recordings.

He has worked on several compilation albums and also worked independantly with other artists as a session musician.
Born in Cuba 1953, his impact on the New York scene was felt instantly upon his arrival in 1980.

One of the first in NY to play very well with 5 congas. He was THE man, before Gio made it big.

Though his early works included Orlando Rios "Puntilla", Ponce and Puntilla had a big falling out in later years which led to Ponce basically not being wanted anymore in New York, to say it nicely, things got rather heavy and nasty.
He now lives in Miami.

Daniel has had his problems over those years,musically and business wise. Eddie Palmieri walked off stage during a performance in NY with Ponce playing, because he couldn't play with the band (over playing, clave issues). He is not a "schooled" musician, he is a very typical cuban rumbero, "de la calle"...Known as being very ego filled and short tempered back in the day, he has mellowed out and is very personable now from what I have been informed. I believe JC Johnny Conga had jammed with him while JC was living in Miami, JC also saw him live back in 1980 when he first hit the scene with 5 congas, Isaac from here also had rumba lessons with him many many years ago...

With Mario Bauza











Regards,

Marcelo



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[OLSONGO]

Abakua, yes Daniel Ponce ; is funny because when he hit the scene in N.Y. he stayed with Jerry Gonzales and Jerry can tell you the whole scoop. about Daniel In NY . Anyways when "NEW YORK NOW" hit the streets in the USA that was the shit, but for those who had not been to the island. Because at the same time there was a kid with some chops I am talking about "El Nino" from Irakere.
PS:By the way any body has a copy of New York Now ? it was a good record anyway.

Amor , Paz Y Mapale.

OLSONGO



Edited By OLSONGO on 1149612059

[tamboricua]

He also appears on a video called "Cuban Descarga in Miami" or something like that along with Cachao, Orestes Vilato, Chocolate, Jose Fajardo, and others.

Saludos,

Jorge Ginorio

[ABAKUA]

Abakua, yes Daniel Ponce ; is funny because when he hit the scene in N.Y. he stayed with Jerry Gonzales and Jerry can tell you the whole scoop. about Daniel In NY . Anyways when "NEW YORK NOW" hit the streets in the USA that was the shit, but for those who had not been to the island. Because at the same time there was a kid with some chops I am talking about "El Nino" from Irakere.
PS:By the way any body has a copy of New York Now ? it was a good record anyway.

Amor , Paz Y Mapale.

OLSONGO

Hey brother,

I have all 3 of them including New York Now.

As for Jorge Alfonso aka 'El Niño', yes, Im well familiar with him.
Tremendo sabor. Ive studied many of the recordings he appears on, as well as some old footage I found of Varadero festival.
Jorge Alfonso's style had a huge influence on my playing.
While spending time with Anga, I had lengthy discussions about El Niño.

As for Jerry, Ive never met him. So sadly, I wont be able to get the low down from him. Last I heard he was in Spain...

[OLSONGO]

Abakua, te lo cuento en privado. Jerry is in SPAIN he recently came out with a recording if I am not mistaken called "Los Piratas de la Rumba" like that title.Hopefully the brotha cleaned up his act.
it was beggining to show real bad. But besides that he is a estudios and nice bro, invited me to his place in the montains of P.R. Big difference between him and his bro. Abakua how can i get a copy of New York Now, it doesn't matter if is a cassette.
I used to have the vinyl, but got lost in the shuffle.
Gracias OLSONGO

[JohnnyConga]

Well I can chime in here, I guess. Yes Daniel is still in Miami. I had heard he had a stroke a few months back, or possibly last year. He was only playing on a very limited basis....As good as Daniel Ponce is on 5 congas, he had problems playing in a band situation....just cause you can be a Rumbero Mayor doesn't necessarily mean u can play in a band either ,and bandleaders in NYC found that out. It was unfortunate for him, but when he tried to play with "my" band on Miami Beach he had problems, staying in clave. Now I'm not saying this to diss the Brother . I have the utmost respect for him and we are "drum brothers" in arms...this has been part of his history....but put him on 5 congas by himself, y olvidate!....He is a humble cat and plays "his ass off" he is a "Quinto Mayor".....here is a photo of him(on the left) in Miami with "El Sacerdote" and his folkloric group...."JC" Johnny Conga...

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[JohnnyConga]

BTW..."El Nino" was around before Ponce was around, but there noteriety came around about the same time , due to the embargo on Cuban music and goods....I too have all 3 of Ponce's album and the one he did with Puntilla "From Havana to New York!"......"JC" Johnny Conga...

[afrocubarico]

Hey fellas,
Thanks for info on Daniel Ponce. And yes Abakua, my bad on the spelling of Arawe, lol.

I understand Ponce also played in two albums with Hilton Ruiz, Something Grand and Doin' It Right. I'll have to track those down. Speaking of Ruiz, it's sad to hear of brother so talented leaving us so soon. May he continue to play his heart out upstairs with the greats!

As far as Ponce, I've been listening to his sounds and the brother definitely had some chops. I'm diggin his stuff. Whether or not he can play in a band, the dude definitely deserves some props. Any more info on him, please keep it coming.

Baya!
Roberto

[zaragemca]

Looking to his birthdate, his is of my generation like Ignacio Berroa,but I have never heard about him when I was in Cuba,so I don't know when he developed as percussionists.Dr. Zaragemca

[afrocubarico]

BTW, Abakua & JC thanks for the pics on Ponce! Anyone know where I can get my hands on some footage of Daniel Ponce on film?

Tamboricua mentioned something about a video. I'd sure be interested in obtaining this.

Roberto

[ABAKUA]

BTW, Abakua & JC thanks for the pics on Ponce! Anyone know where I can get my hands on some footage of Daniel Ponce on film?

Tamboricua mentioned something about a video. I'd sure be interested in obtaining this.

Roberto

No problem brother, glad I could help you out. I too am a big fan of Ponce's work, like I had previously said, he was a huge influence on my playing amongst others...
A while back i saw some clips online of Ponce in a Rumba Columbia setting...
I think the website was long the lines of rumbaon6 or something like that, from Miami. JC also appears in a later clip playing quinto in a Rumba Guaguanco.


*edit*

Here, I found it for you...


http://www.6gonline.com/guaguanco/html/rumberos.html Daniel Ponce holding Columbia on tumba and tres golpes while other dude plays quinto etc...

http://www.6gonline.com/guaguanco/html/jonhy_conga.html JC Johnny Conga on quinto in this Rumba Guaguanco.

I think there are some other clips of Ponce online, but I cant seem to find them anymore.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1149733150

[JohnnyConga]

On quinto is Louis "Qunto"....Julio in the middle and Ponce...this was at the Little Havana store front that Adalberto had when he started his Friday rumbas , before being told to take it out of Little Havana.....believe it or not the Miami Cubans dont believe in Rumba ...it is Black music to them...and they dont listen to it...I know I lived with them for 17 years there....for those that dont know about me I am Cuban/American....and I LOVE RUMBA!!.....PS...along with me in the band is Miguel Cruz and his wife Dayami....on my short quinto film..."JC" Johnny Conga...

[onile]

Oye JC!
¡Repica eso’cueros Papa!

That looked like tons of fun bro! If only we had full concerts of performances like that to keep the memories and share with others.

Many blessings!

Onile!

[OLSONGO]

JC did you ever run or may be teach a Venezuelan bro , Richard Bravo he seems to be giging out of Miami.And bro you don't happen to have the New York Now. ? Check with Descarga and they don't have it.
Gracias OLSONGO