| Dates or Sequence |
Narrative including Bands & Personnel
and Musical Influences |
| 1991/02/14 |
On a trip to Las Vegas, I found
Ted Rivera again after some 20+ years. Ted managed to get me Maria’s
phone number through Augie Dones (see below) through Mary’s cousin
Paulie on the pretext that Augie wanted to buy some pastelles! I called
Mary and arranged to meet her while I was on business in the Bay Area, the
old "magic" was still there. We have been together ever since
and we were married in 1997. My interest in Latin music was reactivated
(it had only been asleep, it had not died!). |
| 1991/00/02 |
While on visits to the Bay Area
to see Maria, I managed to find many of my old musician friends including
Carlos Federico, Harold Martin, Willie Vargas, and others.
Anecdote: I also found an old friend (Scott Gilbert) who
had been previously married to the woman who had bought my original Tom
Wofford congas but who did not sell them back as she had agreed! I asked
about my old congas and he said they had been sitting in his living room
since his ex-wife had left them with him when she moved to Africa. I asked
if I could buy them back and he said no because they belonged to her. I
said OK and let it go. The next day he called and said that if they really
belonged to anyone, they belonged to me. I arranged to buy them back and
sent the money to his ex-wife in Africa. WOW! 20+ years and I got my
original Tom Wofford congas back!
Anecdote: On a visit to see Carlos, I took him a copy of
the 1962 cassette. He was thrilled to get a copy, he had not heard it for
almost 30 years and he said that he did not remember ever playing his tune
"Chevere" so fast. He asked me if I was still playing and when I
said no, he said he could not believe it because I had been one of the
best conga players in the Bay Area! What a complement coming from one of
the best. I asked why he had never corrected my conga playing during my
early days and he said that although I might not play exactly traditional
rhythms, whatever I did play always fit the music. I also asked him to
identify what rhythm I was playing on a particular tune (Preparen Candela)
and after some listening, he said it sounded like a precursor to the
Mozambique (which most of us on the West Coast were not familiar with!).
This is when I also made contact with Harold Martin again and took him a
copy of the tape. |
| 1992/00/00 |
I met a great local San Diego
percussionist, Roy Gonzales. With his instigation and encouragement and
his recommendations to the leaders of Endangered Species and Cana Dulce, I
began to play congas and bongos again with several local Latin and
non-Latin groups. About this time, I took a couple of folklorico lessons
(my first!) where I really realized that I was an old-style band player.
And I also discovered the new HTSTHTOO LLRLLLRR tumbao and the new
players including Giovanni Hidalgo and others who play using the new
technique. I still use the HTSTHTOO LRLRLRR as my basic tumbao but I am
much freer and able to use my left hand quite freely on a third conga. |
| 1993/00/01 |
All the band members of
Endangered Species had charts except the congas. Sometimes I peeked at the
drum charts to get an idea of what was going to happen.
Endangered Species (a big jazz band:15-20 pieces): Ollie
Mitchell, leader, trumpet, arranger, composer; Ollie had played with Perez
Prado on some 50’s or 60’s LPs.
+++1995/03/05 Tape of last Endangered Species
performance and going away party for Ollie. Horns, piano, and bass were
miked but percussion was not miked! Roy Gonzales, congas; yours truly,
bongos & bell, tambourine; horn players played misc. percussion. Roy
was at the back of the band and I was to the side next to the drummer.
After the Latin jazz tune below, I got a lot of complements from the band
and other musicians in the audience, they had never heard anyone play
bongos so loud and clearly without a mike: Sesame_Street
and unknown_Latin_jazz. |
| 1994/05/27 |
Mary finally moved to San Diego
and we began our life together (again)! |
| 1996/00/00 |
My friend Roy Gonzales started
playing timbales with Hector Valle's group, Caña Dulce, and when Hector
asked if he could recommend a bongo player, Roy recommended me and I got
the job (my first job as a bongocero!). Caña Dulce had lots of
rehearsals, few jobs, and a few percussion charts!
Caña Dulce: Hector Valle (PR), leader, guitar/quattro/bass,
vocal; Roy Gonzales, timbales; Anibal ?, bass; Robert Felcher, congas,
Louis?, vocals; Califa, bongos and bell. I started out on bongos and bell
and later added tambora and/or quiro for the merengues, cumbias, etc.; I
played a job with Hector on drums with no other percussion and several
jobs on congas.
Anecdote: After a few rehearsals, Caña Dulce had a one
hour freebie showcase job and, although we had only rehearsed it a few
times, Hector called out the first tune, "Tres Lindas Cubanas"
(for those who do not know the tune, it can have a somewhat tricky
introduction!). He just started playing the tune with no count and when
the rest of us started to play, the band was not together (it seemed that
everyone was playing a different one beat). I did not know where one was
but I was doing licks off the quattro and doing OK (still looking for the
beat!) and all of a sudden, Hector looks at me and says "take a
solo". We had not rehearsed with a bongo solo at the beginning of
this tune. But I took the solo (sweating the whole time because I still
did not know where the one was). The solo was probably three to four
minutes long and, at the end of my solo, the audience applauded greatly,
the band came together and we continued and finished the tune as
rehearsed. After the tune, the whole band complemented me for my solo! To
this day, I don’t think the band knew that I had no idea where the one
was during my entire solo!
|
Caña Dulce flyer for first performance.
|
Caña Dulce at a Salsa Contest (eating salsa not
dancing salsa) in National City, Ca.
L-R: Robert Felcher, Juan Dupres, Hector Valle,
Califa (great legs!). |
+++rehearsal tapes? |
| 1996/00/01 |
The Paul Miles Express was pure
jam session! This is one of the most interesting groups with which I have
played, guitar, sax, and congas! I even enjoyed the mandatory conga/bongo
solos, "solo" meaning by myself; I have never particularly
enjoyed playing solo congas or bongos, I have always preferred to work off
of and be inspired by the piano or guitar lines!
Paul Miles Express: Paul Miles, leader, vocals, guitar;
Greg Modugno, sax; Califa, congas, bongos, foot bell. I have also played
drums on a couple jobs with Paul when he enlarged the band and Eddie
Jordan (see below) played bass.
Anecdote: I first played with Paul on a Friday night as
a substitute for Robert Felcher (see Caña Dulce). Paul was playing the
next night and Robert had setup another conguero to play but Paul said he
liked my playing and I ended up playing Saturday also. I played for about
a year or so with Paul and we even did a video but I have never received a
copy of the video!
On 1995/10/16, we recorded "It’s A Good Day For
The Bad Guys (Remembering Nicole)",an original tune relating to the
death of Nicole and Ron Goldman; lyrics by Kit Goldman (related to Ron
Goldman of O.J. Simpson case?) with music and vocal by Paul Miles. We had
performed this tune several times live and when we got to the studio, we
did it in one take for the music! Paul added the vocal later.
Its_a_Good_Day_for_the_Bad_Guys
+++live job recordings |
| 1997/01/02 |
Mary and I were married! Thirty years late! But better
late than never! |
| 1997/02/01 |
Interesting note: after 25+
years with no contact, while I was attending a Pete Escovedo Concert
(1997) here in San Diego, a younger friend of mine and I were allowed to
go back stage and Pete recognized me immediately and treated me as an old
friend with a big hug, asked if I was still playing, and we discussed
mutual old musician friends, all of this sure impressed my friend who was
not sure that I had really played the kind of jobs and with the caliber of
people I had described when relating my musical history. |
| 1997/02/02 |
Salsabrosa had one rehearsal and
then we played the first hour at a San Juan Day gathering with many
hundreds of people. We rehearsed many times after that but never did play
another job and the band just faded away! Rehearsals but no percussion
charts.
Salsabroso (a big band): Orlando Andersen (Panamanian),
leader, bass, vocal; Tony Sawyer, congas (see below); Califa, bongos and
tambora; several horns, keyboard, and vocalists. |
| 1997/07/00 |
Ted Rivera and I, together again, after 20+ years! |
| 1998/00/00 |
As of 1998, I have been playing
drums with Craig Lloyd's group, "Twist Of Fate" for a couple of
years. All tunes are Craig's originals and sometimes I use unusual
rhythms/styles/feels, e.g., (Calypso shuffle, an almost 8/8 shuffle,
semi-funk, various 12/8, shuffle, jazz, my version of Cajun, etc.). Lots
of rehearsals but no charts! I keep trying and will eventually succeed in
getting the group, at least, the bass and drums, to play a solid Latin
rhythm!
I played congas for a while with Craig on guitar and
soon Craig found a bass player (Eddie Jordon) and we then decided we
needed a drummer. Jason was added on lead guitar. The band tried out
several drummers and did a recording session with a young drummer (the
mixdown was so bad that the congas cannot be heard). But, we were not able
to find a drummer who could really understand the feeling and style of
Craig’s music. So one day, I sat in on the drums he had in his garage
"studio" and "the rest is history" (or should that be
"hysterical"?), Eddie and I worked so well together that one day
he said that he would quit if I did not continue on drums. I have been
playing drums with Craig since then. Craig and Eddie had a falling out and
Jason took over on bass. When we record again, I will probably do some
conga, bongo, and other percussion over-dubs.
Twist of Fate: Craig Lloyd, leader, vocals, guitar;
Jason Weiss, bass; Dennis Reed, drums.
Craig is self-taught and very unconventional but
extremely creative, i.e., several new tunes every week or so, and creates
many beautiful original tunes including some that could become jazz
standards if promoted approprately! Jason is a college student with little
professional music experience but with formal music training and the
ability to set the training aside and listen to Craig, Jason came into the
group as a lead guitar and when Eddie left, he took over bass; we all
discuss and recommend rhythms, changes, bass lines, etc., with each other;
it is the first drum job where there is little preconception as to what is
required by the drums and my concepts and suggestions usually prevail.
Anecdote: How I met Craig in 1996? is interesting, at
least to me: I was in a music store and, as usual, when I see congas, I
try out their tuning and sounds by playing a few patterns. When I left the
store about half an hour later, there was this "hippy" looking
guy with his son waiting for me outside the store. He said he liked what
he had heard me doing and asked if I would be interested in rehearsing and
recording with him. I said I would give it a try.
Anecdote: Eddie Jordon was trying to figure out the
changes for one of Craig’s tunes, "Blue", which has a blues
feeling. Eddie was having a hard time with it until we figured out that
although it seemed to be a blues, it was missing one change! I suggested
that we call the tune "Blu" (pronounced without a "U"
sound, more like "bluh") and the name stuck!
2003/10/10: in a few weeks Craig will be moving to
Sacramento, CA to rekindle a relationship with a woman from some 20-30
years ago. I will really miss the Sat/Sun rehearsals/jams and the guys.
This group allowed me the most freedom and authority to make suggestions
of all the bands I have ever worked with. +++rehearsal tapes! |
| 1998/00/01 |
I have played with a
couple local bands as a substitute for their regular percussionists.
I have played all these jobs "cold".
Bands include:
A Gypsy rumba band (I can’t recall the name).
Kicks: a "popular" group playing "oldies
but goodies", old and new rock, show tunes, etc. This group puts on a
very professional show with the singers/dancers and good musicians.
Note: I now usually play 3 and sometimes 4 congas now
instead of the two I started out with years ago! I also usually use stands
for the congas when playing with big bands. Depending on the job I also
sometimes use bongos on a stand along with the congas. |
| 1998/05/24 |
Last weekend, Mary and I stayed
at Ted’s new home. Ted and I talked to Mike Hermosillo, who lives in
Connecticut, and maybe we will be able to get together for an old-timers
jam session with many of the San Jose musicians from the old days this
summer. (1998/07/19: did not work out this summer, maybe next summer) |
| 1998/05/25 |
I have been investigating
timbalitos and how to play them in the bongo-style like Papaito of Sonora
Matancera and recently, Larry Harlow put me in contact with Pablo Rosario
in PR to get some timbalitos tips.
I am also still trying to get tambora sticking
information. Wish me luck! 1999/12/?? |
| 1998/05/31 |
I was just asked to play
drums/timbales in a band being organized by Tony Sawyer, a very solid
conga player who I met playing with Salsabrosa. Tony has heard me play
congas and bongos but not drums or timbales. He said his decision is based
upon my "ear"! |
| 1998/06/20 |
I just spoke to Rudi and he gave
the the phone numbers of Cesar and Casto Ascarrunz. Guy Hoffmann was
visiting from Peru and staying at Cesar’s and we plan to keep in touch.
Guy and Casto gave me some corrected and information for this document.
Cesar owned Cesar’s Palace, in the Mission district in S.F., for many
years but he recently sold it. |
| 1998/07/04 |
Twist of Fate played its first
public appearance at a street party in Santee. The crowd who was down the
street from the band area thought someone had put on a CD. The band was
very well received. |
| 1998/07/21 |
I just spoke to Mike Hermosillo
and he is going to send me the original reel-to-reel tapes of Sonora
Marianao and some other early recordings! |
| 1998/09/12 |
Mary and I attended the salsa
venue of the San Diego Street Scene. We met and talked to the headliner,
Willie Colón. Willie is a real gentleman and a great person.
|
Mary, Willie, and Califa after performance.
|
Willie Colón at the 1998 San Diego Street Scene.
L-R: ? Papine, ?, ?, Willie, ?, Jimmy Bosch, ?. |
|
| 1999/02/03 |
Just received a phone call from
Armando Peraza! We talked on his dime for about 15 or 20 minutes. He
called to thank me for sending him a cassette of "More Drums on
Fire" LP which he recorded in 1959 but which he did not have a copy.
We talked about drumming and especially about he always (and I to the best
of my abilities) make the congas or bongos fit the music being played
rather than trying to make the music conform to the drums. This was
triggered by my comment that Carlos Federico said whatever I played, even
if not traditional, always fit the music and my question regarding "Preparen
Candela", i.e., does it appear to be a precursor to the mozambique?
He commented also that the best players have a sound of their own which
fits the music while the other 99% of players all sound alike! He also
commented that he and Mongo were the first to add the bongo bell in the
U.S. and that people were initially freaked out with the bell! He said he
is looking forward to visiting with me and his other friends including
Jack Costanzo when he comes to San Diego or when I get back up to San
Francisco. |
| 1999/02/00 |
Talked to Cesar Ascarrunz in San
Francisco on the phone, he might send me more old pictures and maybe some
tapes. Also talked to Guy Hoffman in Peru (after 30+ years, I found out
that his name is Tito!) in Peru and maybe he will some pictures too. |
| 19990304 |
I just got Mike Pacheco's phone
number from Dr. Trevor Salloum from the RMAL NG. I called Mike and talked
to him for about 20 minutes. He sort of remembered me and we talked about
the old days. I plan to see him as soon as possible. |
| 19990525 |
With fellow RMALer Clayton
Leander, I went to see another RMALer, Dave Harvey, who makes congas,
bongos, and cow bells. When we arrived, sitting behind a conga was Orestes
Vilató! We talked for about 2 1/2 hours about the history of la musica,
techniques, etc. We shared anecdotes. Orestes said he first saw the change
from LLRRLLRR HTSTHTOO to LLRLLLRR HTSTHTOO played by a charanga conguero,
Alberto Valdes, in 1962 as a charanga pattern (he also said Tommy Lopez
was also using that pattern) and has been adoped by many, if not most,
modern congueros. He also said that the original LLRRLLRR was HTSSHTOO! We
also discussed timbalero Guillermo Barreto at length especially regarding
Barreto's varying of the basic cascara to work with the melodic content. I
also showed him my cheapo bongos and he was impressed with their sound!
Clayton and Dave wrote the he seemed impressed with my bass tone and slap
while testing Dave's congas. I must practice and get my chops back up to
par. |
| 19990527 |
Met with RMALer Stan Ginn and
shared anecdotes, techniques, and rhythms. Stan showed me a basic rumba
pattern (see 19990602 below). |
| 19990529 |
Played with a few San Jose
musicians with whom I played during the 60s and 70s for Ted Rivera's
daughter's wedding reception. It was great to see these guys after more
than 30 years! |
| 19990602 |
Got out a Bobby Sanábria video
and started to study rumba and bembé patterns (at last!). |
| 19990716 |
Still working on rumba with lots
of help from various RMAL participants including recommended CDs and drum
notations for rumba patterns. |
| 19990717 |
Went to 4th & B
to see Larry Harlow and the Latin Legends Band; great show; finally met
Pablo Rosario and when he introduced me to Harlow, Harlow said,
"Califa!" and gave me a big hug like a long lost friend;
everyone I met in the band was extremely friendly (Mary said not one had
their nose in the air). I posted the following to RMAL (except for putting
thumbnail photos in tables):
| Subject: Larry Harlow and the Latin Legends in
S.D.
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 02:38:28 -0700
From: "Dennis M. Reed
\"Califa\"" dmreed@home.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.afro-latin
We just got back from seeing Harlow. What a show!
Great musicians (don't know all the names but Harlow, Pablo Rosario
(bongos), Yomo Toro (cuatro), Adalberto Santiago (vocal)) but I
will get most of the names tomorrow when the band comes to our house
for a PR dinner! I will post photos and more details later. When
Pablo introduced me to Larry, Larry said "Califa!" and
gave me a big hug like long lost friends. Every one in the band I
talked to was extremely friendly and down home (like Mary said,
"Not one nose up in the air!").
I have never liked bongos played with sticks but
Pablo was terrific!
The timbale player did something I had not seen
before: he kept a bell pattern (1,2,3,4 very steady) and soloed with
his left hand and a very tasty solo it was! Several times he would
be playing a bell pattern with his right hand and then he would drop
his right arm to his side and play the same pattern with his left
hand!
Yomo Toro was terrific as to be expected and after
the show he and Mary talked for about 10 minutes (very fast like PRs
frequently do) like long lost friends. Mary told me that when she
said she was preparing gandule rice, Yomo said "aaah!",
then she said, "PR roast beef", "aaaaaah!",
pasteles, "AAAAAH!", tostones, "AAAAAAAAH!",
arroz con dulce, "AAAAAAAAAAAAH!". I think he likes food
:>)
The band did one rumba (semi folklorico) which
moved me to dance (and that is rare)! I actually danced 7 tunes and
that is about 3 more than usual (and my feet hurt)!
See this show if you can!
Later, gotta get some sleep to get up early to
take Pablo to Tiajuana (maybe we can find a bombo leguera in TJ). |
|
| 19990718 |
I posted the following to RMAL
(except for putting thumbnail photos in tables):
| Subject: They made it! Larry Harlow and the Latin
Legends
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 10:18:42 GMT
From: "Dennis M. Reed
\"Califa\"" dmreed@home.com
Organization: @Home Network
Newsgroups: rec.music.afro-latin
I picked up Pablo Rosario Sun morning at 10 am and
took him to Tiajuana. We talked about his beginnings as a musician
and all about musical experiences, concepts, techniques, etc. He
found his bombo leguera (maybe the only one in town)!
The band made it for dinner (according to Pablo,
Yomo does not usually go with the band to such parties) minus two
horn players who had to fly back the NY and the conguero and
timbalero who had a previous engagement with family.
1. L-R: Pablo Rosario, my Mary,
Larry Harlow, Tommy Rosas, Adalberto Santiago.
|
2. L-R: Adalberto Santiago, Emo ?, Vincent
Velez Jr., Eddie "Guagua" Rivera, Yomo Toro.
|
3. Front: Califa Next L-R: Pablo, Mary Next
L-R: Vincent, Tommy, Yomo Next L-R: Guagua, Emo, Adalberto,
Larry, Carlos Morgan. |
Same as photo 3.
|
Same as photo 3.
|
Front L-R: Pablo, Mildred(?)
(Carlos' mother), Maritza Morgan (Carlos' wife), Mary, Yomo
Rear L-R: Guagua, Emo, Vincent. |
|
More photos (courtesy of Carlos Morgan):
They all looked at my LP, CD, and video collection and
Vincent said, "he has even more than I do!". I then showed them
Mary's collection and they just could not believe it (Mary and I have
substantially different collections with few duplications). Larry then put
on an Aragon video recorded at Lincoln Center earlier this year (I was
able to make a copy).
During the video, I showed Pablo the chekeres Mary had
made (we grew the gourds ourselves) and he was impressed (I showed Guagua
the collection later) then Mary and I gave one to Pablo.
We then served dinner: a 22 pound PR roast beef,
pasteles, tamales, PR chicken, gandule rice, habechuelas, and salad. They
all ate until they could barely get up! I have never met such a friendly
group of professional musicians, all of them!
I got out my 40 year old Goya G-10 guitar to show it to
Yomo Toro, his eyes got wide and he smiled from ear to ear, he started to
check it out and, even though I have not had it out of its case for two or
more years, it was in tune (he made one minor tweak later). Then I pulled
out my 35 year old Silvertone guitar and the two horn players and Eddie
"Guagua" Rivera really lit up! I told them that when I sent it
to a shop to have it made into a bass, the repair man called me and said
he would not do it but that he would restore it to its original condition
for $100 so I still have a guitar!
Can you imagine having Yomo Toro sitting in your living
room playing songs for your wife! And Adalberto Santiago singing and Pablo
playing timbales along on several tunes! It really happened and they all
signed a birthday card for Mary's next birthday. Photos will appear on my web
site as soon as we get them developed (may be a while). Everyone seemed to
have a good time and they just loved Mary and her food (there are never
ending perks to having a PR wife who can cook up a storm!).
I got to talk more with Pablo and, just before the band
left about 10pm, I started to talk with Guagua in Mary's music room about
musical experiences, etc., as I had with Pablo earlier. Just as he started
to play a cassette of three tunes from his new CD (in the background I
could hear Yomo, Pablo, and Adalberto doing a couple of tunes (mentioned
above) and I was tempted to go play bongos but Guagua and I were in the
middle of a serious discussion. Then Larry said they had to get back to
the hotel. Outside Yomo lifted his arms to the sky and said he was in
heaven and told me we must come to NY and he would take us all around!
So they all left except Pablo. Pablo stayed behind to
show me a couple of timbalito techniques and to check out my congas,
bongos, timbales, and timbalitos, bongos, etc. About five minutes later
Guagua showed up at the front door (he had gotten out of the van and
walked a block back to the house). Pablo really like my timbales and said
I should definitely keep them. Guagua played tumbao on one of my 40 year
old TW congas while Pablo showed me the couple of things on timbalitos
which he had failed to tell me when we talked about 6 months ago on the
phone. Interestingly, Pablo uses the LLRRLLRR on congas for all but slower
tunes on which he uses LLRLLLRR! I am not alone :>)
Then Pablo went to the dining room and talked to Mary
while Guagua and I picked up where we had left off and listened to the
cassette. We talked a little about computers, he is connected to the
internet and asked for my Email address and site so he can send me a copy
of the cassette or the CD when it comes out (not really Latin but some
extremely beautiful tunes) and said I could put the on my web site. He and
I then went to my computer room (Mary had forbade that because of the
mess) where I played parts of a couple of tunes from 1962 with Carlos
Federico. When I played La Bola, we listened to the intro and then I
forwarded it to my conga solo and after a few licks I started to stop it
and he said no, let it go. He seemed to like what he had heard. About an
hour and a half later, I took Pablo and Guagua back to the hotel.
Larry and Guagua both said we would keep in touch via
email and Pablo by phone (definitely could be!).
What an experience, what an evening. To tell the truth I
am a bit overwhelmed by tonight's experience. Sorry to go on and on but I
just had to share our good fortune. The following are a posting I made to
RMAL and an email from Mary's best friend:
| Subject: Last posting Re: They made it! Larry
Harlow and the Latin Legends
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 00:48:46 GMT
From: "Dennis M. Reed
\"Califa\"" dmreed@home.com
Organization: @Home Network
Newsgroups: rec.music.afro-latin
References: 1
This will be the last episode until I make the
pictures available unless I remember something particularly
significant (as least, in my opinion!).
The band members who attended were: Larry Harlow,
Yomo Toro, Adalberto Santiago, Pablo Rosario, Eddie
"Guagua" Rivera, Emilio "Emo" ? (singer),
Vincent Velez, Jr. (baritone sax, flute). Also attending were Tommy
Rosas (a local MC and promoter and a Panamanian couple who sat at
the same table with with us Saturday night (and his mother). (I
can't make out the names with ? from their signatures on Mary's
birthday card, they write as poorly as I do!)
OK, on with the narrative: I met Jack Costanzo
while dancing, we chatted for a few minutes as usual and he said the
band was great. When he went backstage after the show to complement
the band, HE was the celebrity! Many of the Legends had been greatly
influenced by Jack when they were starting (they even talked about
him at the house) including Larry and Pablo!
Guagua and Pablo each told me independently how
they had started professionally with Charlie Palmieri when they were
about 17 years old. He really took them under his wing and tutored
them in la musica!
Several of the guys said that when they had been
asked by admirers what they were going to do on Sunday and the said
they were going to Califa's for dinner, a lot of them replied,
"Oh yes, Califa" or "OK, Califa!" which seemed
funny to me because I have not had much exposure in the Latin music
scene here in San Diego, in fact, I did not know any of the members
of Zona Nueva which played before Harlow. who were these folks and
how do they know me (certainly a big mystery to me!)?
Tommy said we would get comps for the upcoming
Albita concert but I don't know if I will take him up on the offer,
after all, he was a guest in our home and there are no strings
attached with being a guest!
I called Tommy this morning to apologize for not
getting to talk much with him and he understood that I should not
miss the opportunity to spend most of my time with Pablo and Guagua.
The said that while he was driving three of them back to the hotel,
Yomo kept remarking about the hospitality and Adalberto kept saying
how great the food was for the whole trip! And that they all seemed
quite contented and satisfied (thank God for Mary!).
BTW The conguero and timbalero had their family
get together at my friend Roy Gonzales' house! We did not know about
each other's events until Saturday night and we would have liked to combine
them into one event but we decided that it would be too hard to do
since both houses had made preparations for the dinners.
When looking for the bombo leguera with Pablo, I
picked up some Fiberskyn 2 bongo heads (I have been wanting to try
one on the hembra but have been reticent to spend $40 for something
I might not like!) a spare macho head ($10) and an hembra head
($13)! |
The following was sent to us by Flora Agosto who is and
has been a DJ at KKUP 91.5 radio in Cupertino, Ca., and has been Mary's
best friend since the early 80s:
| Subject: Saludos from Nancy Lane:
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 20:37:31 -0700
From: "FLORA AGOSTO"
To: "DENNIS M REED"
<dmreed@home.com>
Hello my friends: I am dropping a few lines after
reading all that "GREAT" stuff that happened in your home,
I am sure that was a great experience for the both of you. Guess
what? We went to see them last night at Yoshi's in Oakland, they
were great!!!! We went up after the show and the first person we
spoke to was "Yomo", after a few words I mentioned
"Califa's" and boy he could not stop talking about the
great and unforgettable hospitality they received in your home and
how great all that food that Mary prepared (and I know she can do it
GOOD too). After a while we spoke with Larry and the same, they were
shocked to find out we (you and Mary) and Tony and I knew each
other, they were very excited. Adalberto was tired and he left
before we could get to chat with him, in fact they were all
exhausted, but we really enjoyed their set and the few words we
exchanged.
Mary: Yomo told me to THANK YOU very much for all
the food, pasteles, tamales, las habichuelas, the rice and all he
really enjoyed his visit with both of you.
Well my friends that is all for now; do take care,
my love to the both of you and hugs and kisses for Mary. |
|
| 1999/08/12 |
Albita Concert (posted to RMAL):
The first band was Primo, a new San Diego salsa band.
Good clean sound with several players I have worked with. I hope they
continue for a long time.
The timbalero finally gave me the bongo bell I had paid
him for about a year and a half ago! He said this bell was no longer
available (I forget the name of the manufacturer). Nice sound but I
haven't had a chance to see how this bell compares with the great bell I
got from Dave Harvey last May. 19990821: the bells are both nice with
significantly different sounds (now I have to carry 3 bells with my
bongos!).
Albita! Great show! I enjoyed many of the tunes and she
is a great performer. The band was tight. No timbales or bongos! Just drum
set and congas but many other band members played claves, chekeres,
güiro, etc. Albita's rapport with the audience was great. I especially
liked a trombone, bass, and vocal trio tune (my wife did not care for it
because she thought it was not danceable, in fact, she thought most of the
music was not danceable, I thought it was danceable, it was just not the
ordinary timbale, conga, bass rhythm section, I think the overpowering
drum set was what threw her off but it was not the drummers fault, see
below). They did an interesting version of Manicero, a folklorico tune
(OK, semi folklorico), a medley with Santa Barbara and other similar
familiar tunes, and a comparsa (the keyboard player played a weird bell
pattern (not the comparsa pattern I am familiar with).
BTW what style would you call her music? It kind of
reminds me of songo or timba or something close.
Overall I enjoyed the show but I wish again that the
sound man would listen to Latin recordings to get the correct balance
instead of boosting drum set and especially the bass and bass drum to the
point that on accents you could feel it in your chest! It made it almost
impossible to hear Albita and the rest of the band. Plugging my ears
allowed me to hear all the band in a more suitable way (I will try to
remember ear plugs next time). What is the matter with these sound guys?
Is their hearing gone or something? Why don't bands have their own sound
engineers or at least send a designated band member out to the front to
check the sound levels throughout the concert and have them make the sound
guys adjust appropriately? |
| 1999/09/17 |
Subject: Manny Oquendo and
Libre!
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 09:18:36 GMT
From: "Dennis M. Reed \"Califa\""
<dmreed@home.com>
Organization: @Home Network
Newsgroups: rec.music.afro-latin
Just got back from seeing Manny Oquendo. Great show.
Tito Nieves was sitting just in front of us and he sang one tune with
Manny. The conguero (did not get his name) was very tasty, Andy Gonzales
did some nice bass solos and played very solid tumbao, the horn section (1
trumpet, 4 trombones) was exceptionally tight and tasty, the singers were
very good, solid piano, and Manny played timbales, bongos/bell, and
timbalitos. Manny demonstrated what I have been seeing with the veteran
timbaleros lately, i.e., a minimum of wasted motion and playing just what
is needed!
We took some photos with Manny and one with Tito (I will
put them on my site if they come out OK).
P.S. We discussed having them over for dinner if they
get to San Diego again (so what's new).
P.P.S. I talked with Jack Costanzo and he will be
getting a PC for his birthday (I offered to help him get started with it)
so maybe we might get a visit from him on RMAL, who knows? |
| 1999/99/99 |
That’s it so far! |
|
