who is the best giovanni or Anga? - who is the best Giovanni or Anga Diaz ?

[tocandorumba]

Having seen both of these masters live, watched their videos and listened to their recordings- I can't say who is "best."

Giovanni is very advanced with his technique and clarity- and provides wonderful hints and exercises. When he speaks, I can relate to him completely as someone who loves the tradition.

Anga is my favorite, because he had all of those qualities and never in my experience let his playing outshine the music.

My favorite songs that feature Giovanni are on Issac Delgado's "En Primera Plana." Tracks #4- a Cha-Cha featuring Cachao as well, and #10- a Changui. Maybe it's the slower rhythms that really make Giovanni's tremendous technique sound so good.

Personally, everything Anga did was gold except for "Echu Mingua." I was expecting the congas to be so much more present in the mix.

As it was done, it was like you are hearing the musical dream of Anga, like Rahsaan Roland Kirk's, "The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color," or some of Omar Sosa's recordings. Maybe it was Omar's influence, and I do love the musical ideas and melodies- but I wanted something of the impact of his playing with Cachaito. Some fire! A flame for his memory.

Respect to these great masters and to the memory of Anga.

[Quinto Governor II]

I'm sure technically theirs stuff out there ( not much ) equal or better than this, but every time I watch this video I feel I'm watching the greater solo ever on congas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lkG8q9UX6w&feature=related

As to who is better? I guess the question should be who do you like better? Of the little that I've seen and heard of their work Anga's has touched me the most. I have to admit, I'm a little biased toward Cuban music and musicians anyway. The difference to me between a lot of Cuban musicians and non-cubans, is like the difference between Havana and Matanzas playing. Both are great but, Matanzas just has that extra spiciness, that separates the two.

[pavloconga]

Pavlo,
Being creative is one thing... but putting in what really fits is another thing.
Playing what fits is based on knowing the rhythm and how it relates with the other instruments . Also the most important thing is how it swings.Olsongo

QG
thanks for the vid link.

Olsongo, check the vid out of Anga playing with Irakere.

Anga's playing, his solos within the song are absolutely brilliant. His extended solo is incredibly creative, flowing and masterful.

THAT is what I meant in my previous post when I was talking about the creativity of players of this calibre (few as they are).


-----------------------------------------------------
There's been a fair bit of talk in other threads on CB about what is a Master Percussionist.
Anga was one of a select few in the world who could truly lay claim to and actually deserve such a title.

peace



Edited By pavloconga on 1199661148

[akdom]

Gio or Anga?

It is hard to say if one is better than the other..... and why would we?

They come from different background. Gio has the most amazing technique but Anga is a monster.
I do not want to compare and say who is best..... there is no competition here.

And as mentionned JC, some congueros are even better than the masters, but they play locally...

B

[traumtyp]

..... but every time I watch this video I feel I'm watching the greater solo ever on congas......
....... Anga's has touched me the most.......

Estoy de acuerdo contigo Quinto Governor II, ese video demuestra mucha de la maestría de Angá, así como en sus videos de Angamanía.

Yo voto por Angá en primer lugar.



Edited By traumtyp on 1199658496

[Jongo]

I prefer Anga, there is just something about his playing that really gets me. No dis to Gio, he is great, but Anga is my guy along with Pedrito Martinez.

[Omelenko]

They have both taken the conga drum to another level. I'm Cuban born, so the logical response would be to favor my "compatriota", but from what I've witness in person, Giovanni is miles away from everyone else in technique and Iviano (heart). May Miguelito "Anga" rest in peace, he was phenomenal, but in my opinion, Gio is not from this earth.
Saludos y respeto, Dario.

[pcastag]

Agreed about Gios technique, however technique does not entirely define a player. For my money the guy who I'm diggin the most these days is Paoli Mejias. great technique, but I love the guys sound, and I can relate to what he's saying, very musical and powerful.
PC

[umannyt]

I haven't seen either Giovanni Hidalgo or Miguel Anga play live. But, I have almost all of Hidalgo's videos and Anga's one video and have watched them.

I'd agree with some of the opinions that have already been expressed: For technical prowess, my hat's off to Hidalgo; but, for musical artistry (for the ability to translate technical proficiency to melodious music), I'd give my vote to Anga.

Btw, while reviewing past articles on the Special Forum on "Bongo" here on CongaBoard, I came across this very interesting interview in "CongaMania: Q&A: A Conversation with Armando Peraza" by Luis "Chi-Chi" Ernesto. The article doesn't seem to indicate when this interview took place. But, evidently, it's fairly recent. Some of you may have already come across this article. The weblink is:

http://www.salsaweb.com/music/articles/peraza_cm.htm

Anyhow, it directly coincides with my opinion on Hidalgo and indirectly on Anga, particularly re: creativity.

Towards the end of the interview, Peraza was asked:

Q: Who is the best player of today, in your opinion?

AP: I hate having to pick just one, but it has to be Giovanni Hidalgo. He is a natural, can play anything, and is a really nice human being. He is of the new generation who has used the foundation that was laid by my generation and has taken it to another level. We all play different, but right now Giovanni is the most musical. It is very difficult to imitate him, and I have to laugh whenever I see anyone try. Other incredible players are Miguel Anga Diaz and Changuito from Cuba. But I'll tell you, the young Cubans that have been touring the States recently are something also. There was one young man fourteen years old who was the conguero in a band led by Maraca who plays better than I do! It was beautiful. The musicianship coming out of Cuba today is incredible.

Q: What is the difference between the Cuban conguero and the Puerto Rican?

AP: It is very difficult, my brother, because of both being from the Caribbean, we feel the same thing. But, with all due respect, the creativity came from the Cubans.



Edited By umannyt on 1199999494

[OLSONGO]

Previously I said that I would prefer he who would bring more to the table, but after paying closer attention to R.I.P. Anga, I prefer him....why ? because he gives me more of a gut feeling, his sincopation has more swing and the silent space seem to be very well calculated in his phrasing . Gio knows his rudiments and has the speed, and if you start that young you better , but there is something about the phrasing that doesn't touch me.

Paz,
Olsongo

[Congadelica]

For me Also Anga.
I love his style and he gives me great pleasure to watch and listen too . I feel his spirit when I practice all respect ofcourse RIP Anga .

Marco

[zumbi]

peace & blessings!
we should be grateful for both these masters and all the others...as each one brings something different to the table.
personally i feel anga closer in his musical vision and free spirited musical explorations.
on a strictly technical side i would say gio has the total mastery oif the instrumentof an art tatum or bud powel if he was a piano player while anga' seems to posses the elusive sense of timing and space of monk (who's one of anga's favorite artists, not by chance.,..)
at the end of the day anga' touches deeper into my soul.

[ozrivera]

Saludos Hermanos

they were both students of the great Jose Luis Quintana "changuito".
there is a Video on you tube of anga in which he expresses his influences and he does mention among several, tata and gio. he also goes to say that he and "gio do similar things as far as technique but sound different. and thats the whole idea"
the foundation "changuito"
gio and anga have paved the way for the modern and future percussionist. just like changuito and others did for anga and gio.
to think that in the future there will be clones of these guys that are going to have the best of both and raise the bar even higher. thats something that is even hard to just imagine. but eventually some super conguero will pick up that torch. evolucion

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nbm4cEC6yzk

p.s
the vid is in spanish
suave

oz

[Gallichio]

They are and were true masters of rhythm.

[yambu321]

OZRIVERA,

VERY WELL SAID! :;):


CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO



Edited By yambu321 on 1201003995