Repertoire

[Tonio]

So how and what do you try to enlist for a repertoire?

Also how does genre and or band involved change this for you?

I realize that what you are currently giggin etc does make the that important.

How do you deal with different versions of a specific tune.


Lets hear it !!


T

[Sakuntu]

Are you referring to a practice repetoire?

[onile]

Alafia Abue Tonio!
I certainly hope that you are well my brother!

Hopefully I understood your question and this may help:

I work quite a bit with different groups without knowing their repitoire (?sp), and let me say that it couldn't be more of a blast! I work with trio groups at the local resorts out here and they pretty much all play similar styles (bossa-nova, cha cha, samba, calypso, soca, etc). In most cases they have a preprogrammed drum machine which serves to make up for the absent instruments.

The answer is in the above paragraph as to how I do it. I learned the basic rhythms named above, and when they (the groups I work with) change up the time signature I rely on my arsenal of rhythms (guaguanco, mozambique, bomba, plena, etc). Usually following the bass-line that is pre-programmed is a safe way of just walking in and laying down the groove!

As I said, it's a blast, lots of fun, besides on these types of gigs it's usually "background" music, so it is kept pretty simple.

When I get called for "group" gigs (bands of 4 or more), I lock in with the piano, bass, and drums (if a latin group, Timbales). You can pretty much follow the various numbers that are being performed by counting and following this simple, but significantly important rule of thumb for the breaks......."when in doubt, lay out!"

Again, it's the challenge of walking in and laying down the groove. And in most cases, budget permitting, I get called back again and again!

Suerte!

Onile!



Edited By onile on 1184279518

[Tonio]

Thanks for sharing your method Onile.

But I am speaking in more about "tunes" that you know, or at least the format of known tunes for gigs. I suppose you could say cover tunes.
Genre being more in Latin jazz, or Salsa. Many bands (at least the horn section) work off of charts. And maybe put in some of their own feel what have you.

So basically, how do you go about building up knowledge of songs for gigging? I don't carry around a fake/real book, but when the band leader calls out " Ran Kan Kan-Tito P. ". I may be able to pull it off. But if he calls out say Cameleon-Rubin B. - I don't think I remember all the breaks.

I suppose, if you have a list of what might transpire , its workable. But if you get calls to fill in, and sub without much information it could be hard.
For light stuff, like pop, and smooth jazz kinda stuff, its easily imporv really. But Latin/Salsa you need more of a knowledgable repertoire of tunes in a moments call. I wouldn't want to loose the call, based on a lack of knowledge, but there are alot tunes to cover. In the past I have stuck it out by the seat of my pants and played at known SAlsa/latin houses in town. But the band(s) was more improvisational, so the format was not really followed, more like they followed the chord progression.
My feeling is that in Latin/Salsa the breaks makes the tune, not to mention when the claves switches,or going to the mambo section etc.
And I' m talking about no rehearsals.

I have studied many out of the Latin Real Book tunes. But some songs are obscure, and or have many variations of the tune that I am not aware of.
e.g. Afro Blue, how many versions have you heard -usually in 3/4 because John coltrane recorded it once . I have to correct bands that Mongo wrote the freakin tune in 6/8 well its really a Nanigo adopted from bata, but 6/8 nontheless

How could I deal with this? Just learn all the tunes?? that would be impossible.
As being congueros, we are aware that we are often looked at as a additional
performer in a band, but latin/Salsa-it is more in the forefront.


Just thinking ahead.


T



Edited By Tonio on 1184292578

[Sakuntu]

Salsa tunes are just so complex in their arrangements its hard to just fit in without rehearsals. Whats helped me is just listening to tunes on my own for the sheer enjoyment of it. Buy lots of well known albums (or not so well known albums by well known artists) and just listen to them...constantly. in the house, in the car, on the computor. Sing them...that will help it stick in. practice with them....that also helps engrain a tune...If its a tune that I don't know....just get in good with the bass player before the gig and ask him to give you clues...(hopefully he's rehearse a couple times :laugh: or watch the maestro for cues and directions....I liked Oniles "when in doubt drop out"...its saved my butt a few times....In the end it all comes down to your EAR! anticipating a bridge or cierre and just making a confident musical step of faith!!! Good luck!

[onile]

Alafia Familia!

You know, when I do gigs like what you are talking about (filling in for a conguero), I usually ask the timbal player for the particular breaks in a certain number, or even the horns (in some instances they play the same punches). The Bass player most definitely! There is always a way, afterall the group doesn't want to sound bad to their audience either, it's in their best interest to tell you when you start a number that is a bit complicated.

All the groups I've worked with over the years are good about giving me a heads-up on the tune, sort of a road map. I may miss (lay out) the first break, but I'm counting while it's taking place, and the next time(s) it comes up, BAM! I nail it! Just don't give up Papa!

Great Point Abure Sakuntu! The more music you listen to, the better your ears (musically speaking) become. You familiarize yourself with the many possiblilities of musical breaks within certain time signatures. Not to mention just music in general. I listen to Salsa/Charanga/Jazz/Techno, a full myriad of genres, letting the rhythms soak in and playing breaks to them in my head.

Suave!



Edited By onile on 1184293912

[Tonio]

Thanks guys,
memorising tunes is definately the only way.
I usually ask the timbalero for ques. Never thought about the bajo !! I'll try that. Of course I try to get some kinda of rapport going with someone beforehand .
I understand ques from other band members, some can get funny- how about when their eyes get big and nodding heads. Its hard to nod your head to the notes

Maybe I'm just overthinking things. :laugh: I use the tumbao to lay out sometimes.

T



Edited By Tonio on 1184296743

[JohnnyConga]

As for myself I have a repetoire of over 20,ooo tunes(in most Genres from the 50's to today)...my gift is "music memory"....I can hear a tune and by the 3rd time Ive heard it, I pretty much got it ALL down,without charts...I grew up in NYC where you the conga player are "expected' to know the latest/or classic "Latin Covers" in excess of 200 tunes just to get into a band, not as you learn.....for me I follow the horn lines of a tune, which helps me to traverse the tune, and know when "hit's or breaks" are coming....but for me it's playing along with a CD a few times until i have the whole CD down...u might want to try just "listening" first to a tune like 5 times...by the 5th time of listening to it u should have a good idea of how it works and now u can play along...and u make that a habit with your music in general, and it should get easier as u go along....LISTENING is very very important....teach your ears to listen, not just hear!...."JC" Johnny Conga...

[JohnnyConga]

PS ...AT REHEARSALS TAKE A TAPE RECORDER AND TAPE WHAT YOUR LEARNING.TAKE IT HOME AND PUT IT TO MEMORY, by playing along and listening to yourself and the tune..."JC" Johnny Conga....

[JohnnyConga]

BTW "Music without Memory" is not music!....example ..the Beatles tune Yesterday ..when i hear it it takes me back to the time it was a hit and i can sing every word,and that was due to "repetition" the words, the sound, on radio stations playing it 10 times a day if not more...when we had a "Top 20".....and you knew every tune in that top 20...Today u couldnt tell me what the top 5 hits in America are....the tunes today do not produce a "memory" which is created by the significance of the tune, the artist and the music....at least not what Im hearing on the radio., today...."JC" Johnny Conga....

[Tonio]

JC, thats it. I can remember old tunes on the radio too. Back in the day all I had was top 40 POP stuff, there was no Latin radio. I had to cop from my uncle for the Fania stuff. And that was maybe once in a year at most. Until I could buy my own LP's. These are classis tunes that most Latin bands still play today. Luckily the ol man listened to alot of Henry Belafonte, which got me into more carabean and jazz idioms while I searched for Sanatana and the like.
Radio and music in general today is so diluted, and mix genre. Not that there is anything wrong with it.
Listening is important, especially the structure/form of a tune to memorize it. I strongly agree JC. I am lacking in that regard, just trying to keep up with practice time or whatever. Its hard to take time to do anything these days.
I think I should get more classic tunes and start learing them to keep the
old school thing in my heart and playing abilities. It seems its fading away with the surge of all this new stuff available.
I tend to follow the melody lines to anticipate the structure/form of a tune myself. Or at least know in 8 or 16 bars of when a movement is coming.
Maybe changing my mind set of learning the tune instead of just learing my part is a better approach.
JC, thank you for the reminders. Your points help tremedously.

T