Search Results for: World Salsa
Learn to play the percussion with Giovanni “Meñenguito” Hidalgo
A video tutorial by musicians for musicians
Virtuous percussionist, Giovanni “Meñenguito” Hidalgo, proves his talent in the video tutorial entitled Conga Virtuoso. In this masterclass, you will learn about rhythm, technique and improvisation to develop your percussive talents.
Throughout this video, you will observe the legendary Maestro Hidalgo accompanied by Changuito, Ignacio Berroa, Ray Romero, Eric Figueroa, John Benitez, Danilo Perez and David Sanchez issuing instructions in both languages (English and Spanish).
Also, you will be able to recognize the Tumbadora as a non-handed percussion instrument, that is to say, you will learn to play the tumbadora like a right-handed musician even as a lefty and the Maestro Hidalgo with more than three decades of experience teaches you that.
The legendary and multi-talented Puerto Rican musician, Giovanni Hidalgo, a outstanding percussionist, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 22, 1963.
Today he is known as one of the best congueros of his generation in the world.
And quite possibly one of the fastest of all known congueros. Through International Salsa Magazine, I introduce a tutorial method where Maestro Hidalgo gives a master class on rhythms, technique and improvisation; Method that, by the way, you can get in full on the YouTube channel entitled: “Conga Virtuoso”; which is bilingual in English and Spanish and is distributed by Warner Bros. Publications; it is notable that, in the tutorial, Giovanni Hidalgo is left-handed and the examples are written for people who use the right hand.
The tumbadoras as protagonists
Examples of three tumbadoras, including the position of the drums can be played the same way, even if one is right-handed.
Evolution of the tumbao: Around 1940, the bandleader Arsenio Rodriguez began to incorporate a tumbadora (conga), a bongo, a bell, two trumpets, a piano, and a tres (derived from Spanish guitar, but with three double strings and triple voices three).
In the late 1940s, Frank “Machito” Grillo also added the tumbadora to the Afro Cubanos Orchestra, thus achieving the percussion section composed of bongos, tumbadora, and timbales. At that time, the “conguero” performed with a single drum.
Different sounds were produced by dry beats, muffled beats (mute), open tones and deep tone (created with the palm of your hand).
Giovanni Hidalgo explains all these sounds in this YouTube video “Conga Virtuoso”. As Giovanni says, the traditional way of playing only with a tumbadora comes from 40s.
Although he begins almost all examples in lifting (with upbeats) on beat 4, the beginner should know that he starts on beat 1 in most musical situations, without lifting.
Another factor to remember is to use an open tone at the beginning of the first bar, as Giovanni demonstrated by Giovanni.
This initial open tone helps to “anchor” and synchronize the rhythm section in the first measure.
This initial open tone helps to “anchor” and synchronize the rhythm section in the first bar.
It is eliminated by repeating the pattern and replaced by a left clap (P). Caption: O = open tone. P = with the palm of your hand, which is similar to the bass sound. B = deep sound (with the palm of your hand). S = dry. T = with the tip of your fingers. M = “muffled” note. It is accomplished by pressing the leather down with the same hand (cover). Two tumbadoras: the first step in the evolution of the tumbao was to perform with a drum.
The second phase incorporated the use of two tumbadoras. It was during this stage that the art of playing the tumbadora upgraded to a higher level.
Some of pioneers of the style with two tumbadoras are: Carlos “Patato” Valdez, Mongo Santamaría, Cándido Camero, Tata Güines, Francisco Aguabella, Armando Peraza, and Ray Romero. In the examples, Giovanni plays a “seca´´ (term to refer to a dry sound) in the later half of the third beat of the first bar.
This is a light “seca´´ as opposed to the most pronounced. By adding the bass: This is a modern approach to how you play the basic tumbao with two tumbadoras.
This pattern uses the bass sound in the fourth bar. Giovanni lifts the tumbao minimally with his legs while playing the bass sound in the fourth bat. He lifts the drum and lets the sound out of its lower part. He also adds the timbales and bongos: This section demonstrates how the tumbadoras, the timbales and the bongos work together in a section.
The pattern for the tumbadoras is the tumbao with variations combining both ancient and modern styles, as Giovanni mentioned. The rhythm of timbales is based on a shell pattern played on the cáscara (the sides of the timbales).
The bongo drum plays the basic pattern called “martillo” with improvised phrases called “chime”
The bongo drum plays the basic pattern called “martillo” (the most important bongo pattern in Afro-Cuban music, which means “hammer” in English) with improvised phrases called “chime”.
When repeated, the first open tone is replaced by a left clap (P). Example of bongos: “Little” Ray Romero starts chiming immediately.
These phrases must also comply with the clave. The first example is the basic “martillo”, which is the basic function of the bongo drum in a section. The second example is a transcript of the chimes played by Ray Romero. Basic Martillo: T = fingertip. TH = thumb side. O = open tone on the bass drum (female).
Pattern for timbales: the changuito plays a shell pattern on paila (sides of the timbales) in a 2-3 clave.
In addition, he has a bass drum to which is added a pattern as would a drummer. The fingers from the left hand play the “Ghosts” notes while the right hand plays the bass drum. He also plays an open tone with the third finger from the left hand on the bass drum (female) in the first bar. This creates a melody line between the bass drum and the “hembra”. Also, Giovanni Hidalgo explains the rhythms from Puerto Rico, such as: jíbara, quás, plena, bomba, yubá and Dutch music. To conclude, we invite you to watch the videos “Conga Virtuoso” by Maestro Giovanni Hidalgo in full, which will be very useful for both beginners and advancing musicians.
Video: Conga Virtuoso Giovanni Hidalgo
The owner of the Soneo’s solo career Cano Estremera
Cano Estremera’s career as a solo singer was characterized by ups and downs.
Maybe it was not successful or prolific in terms of recording, but he maintained a presence on the show business thanks to his talent as a clever improviser.
His first solo album El Niño de Oro (1986) follows the line of traditional salsa with songs such as “Viernes social”, “Nací y así soy” and including two boleros, among them, “Emborráchame de amor” recorded before by Héctor Lavoe.
Then he produced the album Salvaje ’88 (1988), “El Toro”, the covers of “Ámame en cámara lenta”, “Te amaré”, and a merengue version of the Brazilian song “Pleno verano”.
In the next two discographic works, Estremera dabbled in romantic or sensual salsa. Phonograms Dueño del Soneo Vol. 1 (1989) and Dueño del Soneo Vol. 2 (1990) did not have sufficient impact on the salsa community.
After the hit “El Toro”, his public expected a hardcore salsa record in line with the title used for both productions. However, the self-proclaimed “Dueño del Soneo” could not prove it in those recordings, but in his live performances.
In 1990, Cano made the world record for consecutive soneos without repeating verses. His exploit begins in the town of Guánica with 105 soneos without repeating any rhyme. Weeks after, he improved the record to 128 in Yabucoa and finally reegistered 130 in Juana Díaz in front of five thousand spectators.
Staring in the 90’s, the musical career of Cano Estremera has stalled by several factors. After years of never recording, he resumed his career with the album Cambio de Sentido (1994).
In this production, Cano could find the balance between romantic and traditional salsa, but with an identity of its own. Novelty songs such as “Pobre diablo” and “Profesor de décimo grado” stand out, where he added some mischief in the soneos.
The record includes the salsa ballads “Por ti me casaré” (Eros Ramazzotti) and “Alguien” (Camilo Sesto). We also find songs that tell urban stories in “Con ojos de dólar” and “Compañera de trabajo”. Thanks to this production, Cano Estremera returned to the stage in force.
The best part of Carlos E. Estremera’s musical work is found in the last three productions. His voice in full maturity, a pre-defined style and a reputation of being an irreverent sonero helped him to make three masterpieces. In the album Punto y Aparte (1996), song lyrics perfectly fit his character.
The personality of the singer is portrayed in songs like “Amigo de qué”, “Se busca”, “Un loco como yo” and “Llorando me dormí”, the latter was recorded before by Ismael Rivera.
Years later, he reappeared with the recording entitled Diferente (1999) where he solidified his place as a salsa legend.
All the numbers are excellent from start to finish, especially “Agüita pura” and “La salsa está buena”.
By the first decade of the new century, Estremera produced his greatest work Ópera Ecuajey (2008) in tribute to El Sonero Mayor Ismael Rivera.
This was an unprecedented concept album in his professional career. Cano Estremera always sought to evolve and diversify as an artist.
In his personal shows, he performed classic boleros and salsa songs which were hits in other singers.
Estremera delights us with the classics “Periquito Pin Pin”, “Boranda” “La esencia del guaguancó” and many more with arrangements adapted to his tone.
Furthermore, he also reinterpreted the hits that he recorded with Bobby Valentín with new arrangements that not resemble the originals at all.
Estremera’s last recordings were the singles: Bello amanecer, Uno se Cura, Después de Todo, La Profecía with José Lugo Guasabara (2012), La Dieta, (2014), and Los Cobrones (2016).
Cano Estremera was a complete artist in the improvisation on stage
Pulmonary fibrosis fulfilled by the very fact of being an albino impacted on the health of the renowned salsa singer.
Carlos Enrique Estremera Colón, simply “Cano Estremera” for the Caribbean crowd who knew him and applauded him with the title of “Dueño del Soneo”, passed away in his native Puerto Rico around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
He was born on September 2, 1958 in Santurce, San Juan, where he also passed away.
Source:
Saúl López García © 2020 and Augusto Felibertt © 2021
ISM June 2021
In this edition we bring you the most relevant news about the world of salsa in the different regions of the world.
The Macropana Hector Castillo with its Latin and Caribbean Essence are
El Macropana contributed considerably to the development of radio in Venezuela from the 70’s until his death with his particular and original self-taught style of communication to the public.
Héctor Castillo, one of the main diffusers of Afro-Caribbean music in Venezuela, died on June 5, 2012.
He was especially remembered for the conduction of the radio program “Caribe Son”, he also worked as a producer of musical shows and TV programs specialized in salsa, becoming a pioneer in this type of TV programs.
He was in Radio Nacional de Venezuela in the production of diverse musical programs in several frequencies, as well as in many other radio stations that allowed him to become one of the most important and great connoisseurs of the Salsa broadcasting in our country together with Lil Rodríguez, Henrique Bolívar Navas, and Phidias Danilo Escalona, among others.
More than 30 years ago, when the salsa genre was at its peak, a kind of “boom” emerged in Venezuelan radio that led some radio broadcasters to take the risk of transmitting the genre that Phidias Danilo Escalona had baptized “salsa”.
Thus, a radio station located in La Florida, Radio Aeropuerto, took the first step. Spaces like Bachata, directed by César Miguel Rondón were born and the programming went from soft music to hard salsa, with the appearance of Rafael Rivas “El Tigre” and Luis Calzadilla “El Villano”.
The above mentioned combination had a very particular way of addressing the audience. Calzadilla emigrated and a young bisoño was hired who had another conception in the way of dialoguing with the public. A passionate of the rumba, but respectful of the public to which he was addressing. Over the years, he became an obligatory reference when talking about salsa on the radio, his name: Hector Castillo.
Hector Castillo, “El macropana”, died on June 5, 2012 at 10:00 pm. The salseros of the mata dawned with the sad news of his death, already expected because his illness was known. Hector himself said goodbye to his friends a month before with this message sent from his cell phone:
“Greetings little brothers, tomorrow I will have my third operation and I am very delicate, I love you”.
In addition to being a researcher and scriptwriter, after Radio Aeropuerto, Castillo maintained the program Esencia Latina on VTV. Héctor was a producer on Tves and also had his own space as an independent national producer. His program Caribe Son, was broadcast, among other stations, by RNV.
Radio in Venezuela
Radio broadcasting in Venezuela began in 1926, during the government of General Juan Vicente Gómez, thanks to the technical knowledge of Luis Roberto Scholtz and Alfredo Moller, and the political influence of Colonel Arturo Santana, aide to General José Vicente Gómez, son of the President of the Republic.
Under the name of AYRE, they obtained official permission on September 25, 1925, which not only granted them exclusive rights to the transmissions, but also to sell the receivers. In May 1926 the transmissions began with a Western Electric of 1 kw and an antenna supported by towers of 65 m in height. Luis Roberto Sholtz was the managing director of the radio station and Alfredo Moller was the official announcer.
The plant was installed on the land now occupied by the New Circus and the passenger terminal, and the studios in a house on the corner of El Tejar. They transmitted news from the newspapers and variety shows, within an area of 3,200 km. When the political events of 1928 took place, the AYRE radio station was officially closed.
Two years later, on December 9, 1930, Broadcasting Caracas was inaugurated, founded by William H. Phelps, owner of the American store, a business specialized in the import and sale of electric devices. Edgar J. Anzola and Ricardo Espina were Phelps’ immediate collaborators. And in the technical management of the station, Alberto López. Within the International Broadcasting Agreement, Venezuela had been given the YV code. That is why in the acronym of the new plant the identification YVIBC appears in long wave and YV2BC in short wave.
The BC corresponds to the nominal syntagma Broadcasting Caracas, which from 1935, after the death of General Gómez, will simply become Radio Caracas. The initial equipment of 1BC was RCA brand with a power of only 100 watts. The radiating antenna worked on 2 old windmills. This was the first time it went on the air, on the occasion of the remote transmission from Henry Clay Square, about the inauguration of a statue of the famous American politician.
That same year of 1930, on December 17, from the Campo de Carabobo, Broadcasting Caracas also broadcasts the inauguration of an allegorical monument of the Battle of Carabobo, to commemorate the first centenary of the death of the Liberator Simon Bolivar.
A whole elite of figures from the world of communication, music and the Venezuelan intelligentsia is beginning to form around Radio Caracas.
And its programming goes from the news to the official speech, from popular music to cultured music and from the funny sketch to the radio melodrama. “El Diario Hablado”, founded by Mario García Arocha, was for many years an informative tribune of national and international events. And the presence of musicians like Carlos Bonet and Eduardo Serrano, as conductors, anticipated the participation of artists like Fedora Aleman, Angel Sauce, Pedro Antonio Rios Reyna and Antonio Estevez. After the creation of 1BC (Radio Caracas), the voices of Radiodifusora deVenezuela (29.5.1932), La Voz de Carabobo (6.7.1934), La Voz del Táchira (4.7.1935), Emisoras Unidas (16.2.1935), Ondas Populares (10.2. 1935), Ecos del Zulia (1.4.1936), Ondas del Lago (12.10.1936), Radio Popular (15.10.1936), La Voz de la Esfera (27.4.1937), Ecos del Orinoco (6.6.1938), Emisora Vargas (6.8.1938), Radio Puerto Cabello (20.9.1938) and La Voz de la Fe (15.9.1940).
The boom of radio broadcasting, after the death of General Gómez and during the governments of Eleazar López Contreras and Isaías Medina Angarita, gave rise to legislation on the use of radio electric media. This is how the Law of Telecommunications appeared, approved by the National Congress on July 12, 1940, repealing the previous law of July 27, 1936; and the Regulations of Radio Communication, promulgated on February 7, 1941.
With these legal instruments, the State governs radio communication, with a more modern sense of equity and justice. As a means of communication, radio has had a singular importance in the country’s political history.
