New Release: "A Tribute to Gonzalo Asencio"

"The compositions of the late "street hero" Tío Tom (Gonzalo Asencio) epitomize the most rooted of Afro-Cuban musics—the rumba. A fusion of African traditions that came together around 1900 in urban Havana and Matanzas province, the rumba is the signature sound of the solar, the creative cauldron of shared space in Afro-Cuban neighborhoods. This singing and all-percussion tribute to Tío Tom boasts the all-star line-up of Conjunto Todo Rumbero, led by renowned drummer Orlando "Puntilla" Ríos. 24-page booklet, 59 minutes."

This is a significant new rumba release, and just an overall great project, inspired by Leo Acosta's article on Tio Tom (read excerpts here.) Besides Puntilla the record also features

Members of Yoruba Andabo
Ernesto Gatell "El Gato"
Maximino Duquesne
Mário Jáuregui
Gregorio Hernández "El Goyo"
Miguel Angel Mesa Cruz

The disc is available for sale here or via download at Smithsonian Global Sound.

Birthday Rumba for Gene Golden

(Photo Credit: JERRY LACAY, from the archives of Chico Alvarez)

As part of their occasional "Afro-Latino Café" series, The Brecht Forum is hosting a rumba to celebrate Gene Golden's 68th birthday. He's inviting a lot of friends, so it's shaping up to be a pretty good party.

From the Brecht Forum's website:

Gene Golden has played a key role in the evolution of New York's Latin music scene for the past four decades. He was one of the first African Americans to study and master Afrocuban religious and popular drumming styles, pushing cultural and musical boundaries. Gene virtually embodies the idea of Afro/Latin fusion. He is devoted to passing these traditions on, and is recognized as a generous, caring and inspiring teacher. Please join us to celebrate one of our elders!

Sunday January 27th (Gene's birthday is actually the 26th, but you know, rumbas always start late...) 5pm-9pm at the Brecht Forum 451 West Street (aka West Side Highway) between Bank and Bethune streets. Also check out the Brecht's site for dates of more rumbas in this series.

UPDATE: The party was a success, everyone had a great time, here is a clip of Gene and Felix Sanabria trading quinto licks:

Cancionero Rumbero now online

It's not perfect but it is the best we can do at the moment, and
hopefully with your help it will get better:

http://cancionerorumbero.blogspot.com/

Add your corrections in "comments."

Send in new lyrics to: guarachon63@gmail.com

Click on "Show Index" for a more-or-less alphabetical listing.

Thanks to Patricio and Philip for their invaluable and tireless help with this project.

Saludos
Barry

Conjunto Folklórico Nacional: El Papalote

Happy New Year all.

Just doing a little house cleaning. I had uploaded this to youtube a while back but never got around to putting it up.

It's a rumba mimetica or ("mime rumba" or rumba de tiempo España) from Conjunto Folklórico. I love the way Candito Zayas sings it. Enjoy.

Solista: ¡Cómo se empina el papalote! (How the kite rises!)
Coro: Dándole vueltas al monigote (Turning the spool)