Rumba - Any in North/West London???

[Diceman]

Hi all the congueros from the Smoke,

Anyone know of any Rumba sessions going in North (West) London? Lookin to join in.

Suave
Diceman

[congastu]

hi diceman

apart from the obvious [snowboy and robin jones] i dont know what the situation is with congueros/ rumba sessions in london. Maybe you can try Rav at OneVoiceMusic, he had planned to do some conga courses late last year with Dudu Tucci in london but unfortunately dudu had to cancel. Hes probably got some good contacts, though.

In the north, andy boothman runs rumba workshops and trips to cuba from leeds [www.musicaventura] and christian weaver does the same in manchester [www.latimbala]. Its a bit of a distance to travel , though!

BTW, christians next trip to cuba will probably be in november- for those who are interested it'll be two weeks studying rumba/ bata drums and dance with some rather well known local musicians. check out latimbala for contact details.

sorry i dont know about anything more local,
stu

PS You probably know anyway, but angas playing stuff from "echu mingua" this saturday at the Barbican, I think theres tickets left, best album ive heard for time...cant wait!!!

[ABAKUA]

How is Snowboy doing?

When you see Anga, tell him Marcelo from Sydney Australia says hello, and try to get his email as I have lost it.

Anga while he was on tour with Omar Sosa Trio in February and myself below:

[Charangaman]

Hey Diceman,

I've been away due to a family bereavment.. What happened with the sessions with Tone? I'm still into hooking up with anything that goes down..

Anyways I'll be at the Anga gig if you fancy a pint..

[Diceman]

Congastu and Charangaman,

Thanks for interest and leads, I am more interested in jammin'.
However I am also at the Barbican gig up in the balcony row A and am already meeting Tone for a drink. Which level are you on - PM me?

Abakua,
Snowboy is still gigging and DJing at the Jazz Cafe and continues to spread the gospel. The Barbican is nearly as big as the Sydney Opera House, but if I do get to see him, I will pass on your best. As I said before you where one lucky brother to get to see him at a small gig.

Roll on Saturday

Diceman

[congastu]

hi diceman

gonna be at the front, row E with my girlfriend. In london for a few days for a romantic holiday, but there was an alterior motive in the choice of destination!!

abakua, dicemans right, i dont think well be able to meet the guys at all. Luckily, Enrique the singer for one band imin is mates with some of omars crew [not anga or omar, though!] and might be able to get that address. will PM if i find out!

BTW, Enriques just got back from cuba, he had an operation over there and is recuperating, but is hoping to continue soon. as well as being a great singer/dancer, he plays the MEANEST maracas ive ever seen. He used to be a boxer in cuba, and has developed a style around that, jumping into the audience and doing solos whilst jabbbing and weaving inches from peoples faces- youve got to see it to believe it!

Enrique actually went and saw omar play in leeds a while ago and came back telling me about this player with five congas and a mad percussion set up and could i try doing something similar, keep the numbers needed down and all that. At first i thought i was danger of getting the boot cos hed found some prodigy locally, then after a few weeks realised he meant anga! Hopefully, unless anga takes a liking to fish n chips and constant rain, that jobs safe for a little bit!

[Charangaman]

Hey Congastu I think I saw a gig of yours down by the river last summer, or maybe it was another Liverpudlian Conguero?

[mjw]

So - is there anything going on in London?

Out here in S.E. Essex there's naff-all. Even my own gigs are miles away (Leeds, Southampton, Gainsborough....)

[congastu]

hi charangaman

i dont think it was me. the last time i played in london was for peckham carnival in 2004, but i will probably know the guy- theres quite a lot of percussionists in liverpool nowadays, but its a happy community for the most part, everybody talks and shares the work around [big up to the first generation- roger morris from the Real Thing, now running liverpool samba school, and junior who played like a scouse tata guines before he got "ill"]
what was the band?
BTW really enjoyed the anga gig. the singer was something else! loved the freedom on stage, like they were treating us to a private jam, they all looked like theyve been leading the good life! Not so sure about the support....

[Diceman]

Hi y'all,

I had the privilege to see Anga at the Barbican, as you say Congastu, it was like being invited to a fantastic jam, I loved the improv elements and looseness of the whole affair, and the fact that Anga didnt take over but just empowered the rest of the band.
I am pleased that the sound was improved for them, as the first band didnt stand a chance, with what I can only guess was the soundman's new apprentice on the mixer. However, they LOOKED as though they were doing interesting stuff.

Charangaman, sorry we didnt meet up, but with the Barbican not being full (can you believe that) and moving everyone to the stalls to new seats, we had no chance. Hopefully meet up soon for a jam, now that we have all been inspired.

Abacua, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, they could have put him in a smaller club and then I could have got his email address for you, and as you said he comes across as a very warm and humble person.

Now, back to my tubs!!
Diceman

[Charangaman]

Hello chaps,

I haven't the superlatives to describe what we were blessed enough to witness that night. The whole band are just Fire!

Alfonso X.. They were dogged by poor, poor sound and really their music was completley out of context.. Relentless break beats and a lot of shouting...