Your favorite Conga player

[soungalo]

Hi everybody .
I'm new here . even though I've been playing for eight years . I'm quite glad to find this site , 'cause I seldom have the opportunity to talk to other percussionists , especially my age (18 ) , as they're so rare in Israel ...
So what I wanted to ask is who's your favorite Conga player ?
I personally have difficulties deciding between Ray Barretto & Giovani Hidalgo . Of course they're both great musicians , but each one is like that in another way .
Giovani's technique is , I think , more inpressive , but I sometimes prefer Ray Barretto's solo's . They are rough in a way & exciting .
What do you think ?

[Juzzi]

Hello.
There are many great players. Giovanni is one of them for sure.
I don't know if you've heard of a good friend of mine, Eliel Lazo?
He is a still in his early 20's but he is great. At the moment he is playing with Cesar Lopez & Habana Ensemble, among others.

[Tamborim]

Hello, and all the best to Israel.

I don't actually have a favourite conguero. There are so many people doing great things. I love all the old guys such as Patato, Mongo, Candido etc. Plus I love the new guys such as Giovanni and Poncho Sanchez. I suppose as far as technique goes Giovanni is recognised as the most advanced. He's kind of like a conga version of Buddy Rich. He really blows me away. I just got his Traveling through time DVD and like his others, it is amazing.

[Isaac]

Shalom Soungalo,
I think you'll be impressed with Migel "ANGA" Diaz.
There's an excellent video of him called "Angamania"
that is a must see. My favorites are still the old school
players like Tata Guines and Mongo Santamaria. In a jazzier vein I love Patato and Candido, and recently I
did a workshop with Francisco Aguabella who's playing
is equal to all the above artists, yet has some subtlety
that is very beautiful. Yet overall, its Barretto and the whole NY Puerto Rican Salsa that I've been exposed to the most, so I shouldn't take that for granted.
Soloing shouldn't be the only criteria for admiring a
particular conguero. Their individual "Feel" while supporting the band is number one. The arrangement itself may not need a solo, and be beautiful on its own. There are many local neighbourhood players that have influenced me, that are not famous. I think learning from everybody and then finding your own unique voice - that is the key.

Isaac Gutwilik
funkytradition@yahoo.com
New Jersey

ps. do you know conga teacher Gerry Garval in Bet
Shemesh? I think he teaches at the Rubin Academy.

[soungalo]

hi
ok ... about the technique issue , I just wanted to say that sometimes thechnique is not such an important thing for a player . Aguabella is a good example of that . I only heard one album of his - Cubacan , and somehow , even I liked it , I was not impresses by his playing . He's got the feel for sure , but his solos weren't that interesting . Buddy Rich is the opposite : He played 99% technique , which made him sometimes lose the feel . In fact , his solos usually sound like an exercise . That's why I like Giovani so much . He combines his marvelous technique with the right feel .
It is a fact which i had noticed long ago , that congueros prefer showing their technique on using interesing patterns and polyrythmics .
About Gerry Garval ... I know him a bit . He used to teach my teacher ( Gadi Seri ) . I heard a lot of funny stories about him . He's a special person , for sure . But nowadays he is not very active . Actually , I haven't heard of him for a couple of years .

[franc]

saungalo, you should here the great mongo santamaria!!!! the best ''solos descargas'' i have ever heard!!!! he is no longer with us. sadly he passed away. there are other conga greats, that to metion them will take some time. giovanny and barreto are also my best among other. my best. your friend, franc:rock:

[ABAKUA]

1/. ANGA
2/. TATA GUINESS
3/. DANIEL PONCE



My personal favourites. Obviously there are many many congueros I enjoy listening to... Including Muñequitos, Papines etc etc Giovanni, Raul Rekow, tumbador from Timbalaye and many many more...



Edited By ABAKUA on 1105407523

[+pablo+]

Speakin' of Anga, check out the 2001 release of "Cachaito", Orlando Cachaito Lopez (bass player, Buena Vista Social Club). The sound is 'stripped' down, at times just being the bass and congas. It is cool 'cause the tumbas are up front in the mix.

[Obi]

Always, There is Mongo!
It goes pretty much without saying our admiration of the Greats
IE: Mongo, Patato, Candido etc.

I do Prefer listening to Barretto over Giovanni.

But there are a few Congueros who often get overlooked that I really enjoy as well.

Fran "Cuco" Martinez (Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca) Check out his solo on "Bilolo".

Nengue Hernandez (Conjunto Cespedez) I've read he's a former student of Mongo.

Also, Jorge Bermudez (Currently touring with Ann Margaret) A session and touring percussionist he also has played with Cheryl Crowe and many others. He released his own CD "Are the Women Dancing?"a couple of years back, not easy to find but there are still some copies out there.


There are a lot of phenomenal players out there who often get overlooked.


Obi

Gahu Productions

[sabrosona]

Candido de candelaaa!!! And Mongo and Patato.. ah... definitely NOT Hidalgo (filthy playing, likes to show off, I wouldn't like to have him for a teacher!)...

So my vote would probably go to Candido Camero for now ... he sure knows how to accumulate his bongo playing on the conga! ... hmm.. tomorrow I might vote for Mongo though lol :laugh:

And one vote for Bobby Sanabria for knowing how to inspire people.

[dannydrumperc]

I like a lot a guy from here. His name is Paoli Mejía. He appears on Alex Acuña Acuarela de Tambores (Drum Watercolors). He has an excelent feel, technique, speed, and most important, authenticity - he doesn't sound like an Hidalgo-wannabe. He has been doing a lot of local TV lately and appears in various CDs.

[Raymond]

If I get one conguero is PAPO PEPIN. He is the guy I will like playing with me and my biggest influence because of his "unusual tumbaos style." Another guy in the same line is "LITTLE JOHNNY RIVERO. Of course, I admire GIOVANNI HIDALGO, RICHIE FLORES, PAOLI MEJIAS, MONGO SANTAMARIA AND RAY BARRETO.

[Laurent Lamy]

Hi everybody,

i have many inspirations but my first three :

1. My master : Orlando Poléo from Venezuela

2. Roberto Vizcaïno

3. Paoli Mejias

ZunZun

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[tamboricua]

Hi Congaplace,

Happy New Year 2005 to all of you!

Many of my favorites already mentioned. One that doesn't seem to get the recognition that he deserves out of Puerto Rico is David "La Mole" Ortíz. Check out the attached image. Un maestro de maestros! Among his former students you find: Giovanni Hidalgo, Anthony Carrillo, and Richito Flores.

Saludos,

Jorge Ginorio



Edited By tamboricua on 1106333419

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[Berimbau]

Favorite Congueros?This is a tough one!!! Really everybody brings something that is unique to themselves to the tumbadoras, and the world is blessed with all their increadible ritmos. In the tradition, I would have to go with Chano, Mongo, Tata Guines, Patato, Armando Peraza, and Julito Collazo. Newer guys like Changuito, Giovanni. and Anga have really raised the bar and make us all practice a lot. But being a pseudo-intellectual multicultural sucker for Indian and World music fusion, I also dig the conga playing of Nana Vasconcelos, Zakir Hussein, and the late Colin Walcott. So many great players!! Saludos to all!

Berimbau