Vintage LP Bongo Sets

[Omelenko1]

A few years ago I went to PR and made it out to Plaza Bayamon. I spent a couple of hours in Timbas Ismael shop, there I met Ismael's widow and Junior, Ismael's son. Junior went to a back room and brought out a vintage early 60's Ismael that just blew me away. He said Monchito Muñoz had brought it to his dad to put new heads on it about 40 yrs. ago. I was on vacation and needed the money I had on me. I offered $500 to Junior, but he declined. He said Monchito owed his dad $40 for the heads, which by then were like 40 yrs. old already, and it will take Monchito only for him to let those bongos go. I think Monchito is still alive. Here is a photo of it and of Ismael's wife and son with yours truly.

Rompe cuero!

Dario

[Anonimo]

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[RitmoBoricua]

That Ismael Timbas bongos in the picture blows me away too. A beauty. Is no way Mochito forgot about it. It probably takes a grand or more for somebody to own it now.

[Anonimo]

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[RitmoBoricua]

Until a couple years ago Mochito was still alive. I think he was at one of those NAMM shows recently and was featured on a show named "Homenaje A Las Leyendas Del Timbal" or something like that couple of years ago in Puerto Rico. That particular presentation is on youtube. I think he played with Tito Rodriguez back in the 50's or early 60's.

[Omelenko1]

According to Junior, Ismael's son, he had taken the bongo to be refurbished and to change the heads around 1965. I think at the time Monchito was the bongocero fro Tito Rodriguez and Papi Pagani was the timbalero. Monchito was also a great timbalero and trap drummer and "lector a primera bista" ( a great reader of music charts). For Puente's album "Dance Mania" 1958 RCA. Ray Barretto had replaced Mongo on congas and Monchito had replaced Willie Bobo on bongo in Puente's band.

Dario

[Anonimo]

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[Anonimo]

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[RitmoBoricua]

Yo tambien me estoy curando. Nice fix.

[Anonimo]

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[RitmoBoricua]

Y dice: “Ya yo me cure, Ya yo me cure”. Right-on. Can’t wait to see those, made by Raul Travieso. Y dice otra vez “La gente pide para bailar tumba y bongo”.

[Omelenko1]

I met Raul in LA in the late 80's (88/89). He was living a very modest life. When I saw him I noticed he had a flower pot in top of a conga in his modest apartment. The conga was painted black including the hardware, when I got close enough I realized it was an old Cuban Vergara, the side plates and crown gave it away. I asked him politely, that if he ever wanted to sell it to let me know, he said "now is the time". I paid him $120 dollars. It was an old 11 3/4" Vergara that Arsenio had brought from Cuba in the mid 50's, had been used in the recording "Palo Congo" by Arsenio, Raul, Lil' Ray and Sabu Martinez. I had to restore it completely, as it had scratches from playing "guagua" on the side of it. After having it for a number of years, I sold it to a friend who eventually sold it with some other Cuban drums to a collector who donated everything to the Smithonian. Raul made bongos, congas and the best campanas (cencerros) ever. He was a very good strong bongocero, played bongo' with Arsenio before Papa Kila, then switched to tumbadora. Raul Travieso, an unsung hero in Latin music, died without being recognized for the talent he was. On thing, if you were a white Cuban or Hispanic and he didn't know you well, he was somewhat skeptical in teaching you "tumbao" and proper "martillo" with contratiempos. Once he felt confortable and got to know you better, he would be easier. He claims his brother Arsenio was the teacher of "Son Montuno" in both Habana and New York, a statement which I consider to be true. Arsenio was THE MAN!

Dario

[RitmoBoricua]

Love all the great information being poured onto this thread. School is in session "Pa' la Escuelita A Aprender".

[Anonimo]

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[RitmoBoricua]

No problem. I am hoping for warmer weather soon. I have some drums that I want to refinish. Hasta jincho y sin color estoy me hace falta el sol caliente". Stay warm and safe.