congaplace.com

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:21 am**

Some of you may have seen this. If not check it out. I think you might enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPid2ZZibqA

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:15 pm**

I know somebody is going to get onto to you for posting here rather than in the video section,,, but to me it stands out enough to warrant the open forum!!!
:angry:

I love it!! Great song, dance, and drum!!

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:51 pm**

TUMBATIMBA,

VERY, VERY NICE VIDEO POSTING! THANK YOU,

WOW!

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:08 pm**

That is a fantastic video, it is the group Afrekete with Pancho Kinto, Marta Galarraga singing and the kid playing is the one they call Lukumi. Afrekete came out with an excellent CD called Iyabacua recorded a couple of years after this, highly recommended. They like to mix rhythms like bata and abakua, or chachalokuafun with quinto on 5 drums like this video. They know the original rhythms so well that they can make it work.
Lukumi is one of those child prodigy Cuban drummers, amazingly talented and learned from the best. I heard a rumor that now, 12 years after that video, he is not playing professionally but is selling auto parts or something like that. I hope that is not true. Anyone heard anything from him recently?

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:44 pm**

jorge wrote:I heard a rumor that now, 12 years after that video, he is not playing professionally but is selling auto parts or something like that. I hope that is not true. Anyone heard anything from him recently?

Thats 'Lucumi' as he is known in La Habana, sadly yes, Lucu is selling plumbing supplies, trying to make a buck to stay afloat, he wasnt playing much at the time, I hope things have picked up for him since I last heard.

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:25 pm**

ABAKUA wrote:
jorge wrote:I heard a rumor that now, 12 years after that video, he is not playing professionally but is selling auto parts or something like that. I hope that is not true. Anyone heard anything from him recently?

Thats 'Lucumi' as he is known in La Habana, sadly yes, Lucu is selling plumbing supplies, trying to make a buck to stay afloat, he wasnt playing much at the time, I hope things have picked up for him since I last heard.

Sorry for posting the video here . I couldn't stop watching it. The audio sounded great. I wonder how they mike'd it ? With all the great bands in Cuba. I would think a drummer that talented should be performing. What's going on down there ? Jorge where could I buy the CD you mentioned

Edited By Tumbatimba on 1197149257

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:38 pm**

My answer to that is "it;s Cuba!"...land of a thousand drummers!. . .I've seen them as young as nine from Cuba playing with the "rumberos"...and unfortuantly their is a 'system" of "grading" there, as a musician or an artist and it's like baseball u have a Triple A Double B Single C. .musicians .. .now only if u make it to say Triple A as a musician,, then you will be in one of the best bands, that actually get paid and tour around the world too....a B band gets to work on the island itself and makes little money......so as good as he may be on congas at that age it might not be an "aspiration" for him, when your hungry and surviving. . .i have seen many many great drummers in my 59 years, and not all wanted to be musicians either, they went for the security instead and became a doctor lawyer accountant, etc. . . Johnny Conga . . . . sigue la tradicion!

Posted: **Sat Dec 08, 2007 11:43 pm**

I think the Afrekete CD is out of print, but should still be available from some internet sites. Try this website, I think they have it in stock at a reasonable price. It is about 3/4 way down that page, item #2078.

http://www.arhoolie.com/catalog/pan.shtml

If not, try googling "Afrekete Iyabakua" it is on the Pan label, and you should be able to find a reasonable price, although you might have to buy it internationally through Canada or another country. As far as I know they only did one CD.

Edited By jorge on 1197157635

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:18 am**

Tumbatimba wrote:
ABAKUA wrote:
jorge wrote:I heard a rumor that now, 12 years after that video, he is not playing professionally but is selling auto parts or something like that. I hope that is not true. Anyone heard anything from him recently?

Thats 'Lucumi' as he is known in La Habana, sadly yes, Lucu is selling plumbing supplies, trying to make a buck to stay afloat, he wasnt playing much at the time, I hope things have picked up for him since I last heard.

Sorry for posting the video here . I couldn't stop watching it. The audio sounded great. I wonder how they mike'd it ? With all the great bands in Cuba. I would think a drummer that talented should be performing. What's going on down there

That kid is/was a great player. The reality of life in Cuba is that most musicians (like a lot of musicians all over the world) have to do something else to make a living.

Even one of the Cuban legends, the great Chavalonga (R.I.P.) who I met and studied with in Havana was having to sell bars of soap on the street during the day to help make ends meet.

Edited By pavloconga on 1197170311

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2007 5:04 am**

The life of a starving artist. I have even heard stories of famous percussionists in NY having to drive cabs to make ends meet. Makes me wonder how the lives of those great cuban artists might change for the better. If not for the embargo.

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:07 am**

While i was growing up in NYC I had a day job and worked fri-sat and sunday at music. Eddie Montalvo worked for Con Edison Electric co of NY for 3o years and is retired. but he is one of the less than one percent that was able to have "2 careers". We had to work during the day and it is still the same way in NYC. and most everyplace else around the U S of A. . .Johnny Conga..

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:31 pm**

Johnny...Is there as much work for latin percussionists today as compared to when you were in NYC ?

Edited By Tumbatimba on 1197207136

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:49 pm**

Kind of an interesting thread development here... Aside from JC and Abakua and the other solidly booked playing pros on the forum, what do the rest of you guys do to make a living? I and my wife have our own video communications company (for the past 20 years) and write, produce, direct. corporate and commercial film and video. And occasionally, I'm a sub teach-assistant at a county school specializing in students with emotional/autistic/learning disability problems.

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:14 pm**

I work full time Mon - Fri from 8am - 4.30pm as a sales executive for an engineering company.
They are very understanding with my music etc. But that is what pays my bills, not music. Gig money and students are my 'extra' money.
I used to be full time musician, but years ago I realised I was never going to get anywhere financially by just relying on my gigs, students etc..

Edited By ABAKUA on 1197209883

Posted: **Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:42 pm**

Very interesting-- and of course, how true. Gig fees, etc. can only be relied upon as pocket money. Anybody else?

congaplace.com

Must see Afro Cuban Video - Kid on 5 drums ...Awesome