I haven’t been to Madrid in Spain yet, but it looks like it’s a good place to enjoy Cuban music.
Not long ago, we featured Chicas de Habana who are based there.
Here’s another young Cuban group in Madrid having fun with Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga, the classic Frank Emilio composition.
“Having fun” is a lesson some North American musicians could learn from their Cuban brothers and sisters.
Enough with the long faces. Music can be profound and fun at the same time.
Personnel:
Luis Guerra, piano
Yuvisney Aguilar, timbales
Reinier “El Negrón”, contrabajo
Juan Viera, congas
Michael Olivera, bongó
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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New Orleans drum master Zigaboo Modeliste explains how he built the iconic drum riff to the funk classic “Hey Pocky A-Way” from the clave.
First the tune..
Now the explanation
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
Released by the Cuban National Film Institute in 1964
There’s a myth in some people’s mind that Cuban jazz began with musicians like Chucho Valdes and Arturo Sandoval.
With all due respect to those gentlemen, no.
The show starts at the 00:35 point after a brief piano prelude and then a second group comes on at 5:30. This music is from the early 1960s
The tune is “Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” written by Frank Emillio.
Personnel
Frank Emilio, piano
Guillermo Barreto, drums
Tata Güines, congas
Orlando “Papito” Hernández, bass
Gustavo Tamayo, güiro
Hot enough for you?
The group is described as “Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna.”
The film segues into another piece that features the dancer Ana Glorioa and Milacho Rivero’s percussion group
Released in 1964 by the Cuban National Film Institute which was formed in 1959.
I’ve been told, and I have no reason to doubt it, that the Cuban government frowned on jazz in the 60s and 70s. If that’s true, how do we explain this film which clearly celebrates jazz?
Here are many of the same gentlemen – about 20 years later – playing under the name “Los Amigos”
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
Contrary to popular misconception, the ability to improvise is not a spontaneous skill that arises out of nowhere.
It’s the result of listening, practice, study – and courage.
It’s not easy standing up in front of a room full of strangers and creating something “good” on the spot.
For over fifty years, Indiana-born Jamey Aebersold has been at the helm of a publishing enterprise that has smoothed this process for literally millions of people all over the world.
One of his innovations is the Play-A-Long, recordings that allow musicians to practice their improvisation skills without the need for a live rhythm section.
Everyone from beginners to well known pros uses them to keep up their chops up and advance their art.
Music credit: The Jazz on the Tube podcast theme song is “Mambo Inferno” performed by The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Bobby Sanabria from the CD ¡Que Viva Harlem!
