Rumbas & Drum Circles

[mangorockfish]

This may be asilly question, but would like an answer none-the-less. Are these the same or basicly the same? Do some people call rumbas drum circles and drum circles rumbas?
Mango'

[JohnnyConga]

2 completely different scenarios and completly different forms of playing.....Rumba derived on the platforms of the train stations in Matanzas and on the sugar plantations and in the back streets of Havana......Drum Circles are where a group of people who mostly dont know each other play jimbes(mostly), and do not necessarily know "how to" play, and may be instructed in "what to" play, by a Drum facilitator.....That would never happen in a Rumba.....que va!....."JC" Johnny Conga... ...

[82-1089072427]

Yes..very true, Rumba and a drum circle R 2 different thing's..Here in Hawaii I call it the "Drunk Circle".. Sounds so bad, that the Animals at the Honolulu Zoo are begging to go back where they came from....No Respect at that circle...So if any of you ever happen to stumble into "The Drunk Circle" keep stumblin by......your wasting your time. :angry:
"LeSS iS MoRE"



Edited By RumBa808 on 1147427722

[mangorockfish]

Just wondering as I went to a drum circle a couple of weeks ago and really knew better. I had gone to this particular group once or twice before, but was told by an adult that frequents it that there was SOME organization about it now. Well, needless to say it was terrible. Three or four conga players, a couple of djembe players, a bongo player and a guy playing something that I had never seen before. E-gadds man, I had to find a way to just get out of there. No one was drinking, but that might not have been a bad idea. HAHA
I sure didn't think that that was what you guys referred to a s a rumba.

[bdrbongo]

I agree Mangorockfish, drum circles have little to no groove. I spent a lot of time travelling to see the Grateful Dead and played in MANY drum circles on the lots. It was fun...then, and I learned much from other players, even a few rhythms. I have also been fortunate enough to witness a few Rumbas in my travels and they are far more "organized" and groovin'. I am still drawn to the sound of the drums when I hear them, but after a few minutes of LISTENING, it becomes clear that it's not...happening ??? . But hey, if it works for them....

[zaragemca]

It really depend in the knowledge of the lead/percussionist,I remember when I cameback to Houston in 1997,there were several Drum/Circles where people would have a good time but would not improve the technique,or the knowledge of rhythms..Then I set up mine and didn't want to call it Rumba becouse I wanted to be more open to others genres, so when we performs we would cater to different kind of music,(and the approach proved to be successful since we could cover two hours of shows),whithout playing the same percutive structure and I was doing things unique to what we were playing and everybody like it.Also some of my students were musicians and I was preparing them to play any king of music not only Afrocuban.Dr. Zaragemca



Edited By zaragemca on 1147798392

[Jongo]

Normally I don't really go for drum circles for pretty much the reasons that everybody has said. However, I went to one the other day that a friend of mine is facilitating and it was very good. He did some instruction for new people and then when we got down to playing he would introduce a rhythm and we would play it. We took turns playing little leads, and solos and it was cool. I think the main thing was that these guys knew how to play. With a big group that don't know what they are doing it's chaos