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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:24 am

What an awesome last few days its been....

Wednesday by absolute sheer coincidence or destiny, we bump into the following Van Van members Manolo (conguero) and Edmundo (trombone) walking in the city! My bro Carlos (rapper, percussionist and sonero) and myself hooked up with the rest of Van Van back at the hotel and did the whole tourist thang round Sydney, later that night, we jump in the Van Van guagua (tour bus) and head down to dinner at a local Restaurant/bar and nightclub..
The guys rock, international superstars, ambassadors to Cuba and such friendlyness and humility.
There was a jam at the club after dinner, needless to say the stage was on fire! Local musicians and Los Van all together up on stage.
Spent most the time with Mayito (lead singer) Manolo (conguero) Samuel Formell (co leader and drumer/timbalero) Edmundo (trombone) Julio (guiro) Boris (piano) and Irving and Pedro (violins)
Also spent time with Juan Formell in lengthy discussions as well as the rest of the band, both at the hotel, dinners, backstage and at the VIP after party.

What a band, impressively tight. Samuel performed a killer solo on timbal/drumkit during the song "Somos Cubanos" went for something liek a million bars! I have it all recorded on my camera, watched the whole concert from the stage, as back stage passes etc were given to me by their manager and promoters.

Manolo used my Palladiums, he absolutely loved them! Julio and the rest of Van Van were all blown away with my guiro's!
After a day with them, it felt as though we were life long friends, in total, I was fortunate enough to spend 3 days with the members of Van Van, many laughs were had, jams, stories told and shared, and life long frineds I feel have been made. A truly wonderful experience. Details were exchanged and we will keep in touch.
I have many many photos, I would like to share some of them on here with all the members of Congaplace.

Here they come... many more on their way... (takes a while to post them all...)

Dinner with Los Van Van

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:25 am

Other side of the table... Van Van dinner....

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:29 am

Samuel Formell (co director, timbal/drums) and myself after dinner.

Mayito (lead vocalist) myself and Edmundo (trombone) during dinner.

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:32 am

The jamming begins with Mayito jumping up to sing with my former bandleader and great friend Armandito Garcia (of Santiago de Cuba, Lady Salsa, Sonora La Calle and Armandito Y Su Mecanica)

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:34 am

Samuel Formell takes a bongo solo...

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:37 am

Roberton (vocals) jumps on tumbadoras, Samuel on bongo, Pavel (Juan Formell's double) on bass, more jamming...

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:38 am

more jamming.

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:39 am

Samuel takes another bongo solo, using cowbell beater sticks!
Was expecting them skins to tear open any second! Killer solo. :cool:

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:40 am

Roberton (lead vocals/mean ass conguero!) and myself after the jam.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CN3671.JPG

by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:42 am

back at the hotel before the gig...
Manolo (conguero) and myself

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:43 am

A picture tells a thousand words.

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:47 am

Outside the theatre..

Percussion prodigy student Dom and myself..

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by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:49 am

backstage, my girfriend (lead singer of a lcoal timba/salsa band and pop/RnB singer) with Mayito Rivera.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CN3674.JPG

by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:52 am

Juan Formell (Founder, Director, Bass and Vocalist) and myself side of stage during soundcheck

Julio Noroña (guiro) and myself.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CN3679.JPG

by **ABAKUA** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:54 am

Hugo Morejon (trombone, synthesizer and organ) and myself during sound check..

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CN3681.JPG

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LOS VAN VAN rock Sydney. My pics - 3 days with Los Van Van

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