CongaDr+ Tony's Conga Adventures: November 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Conga skins for Edgardo Cambon of Candela

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Friend and fellow Congero Edgardo Cambon, singer and band leader of Candella, dropped by to have me mount a horse skin he brought from Uruguay on his tumba to see how it might sound.

After all was said and done, we both recognized the near trash can sound as perfect for some Comparsa drums from his country. Just so happens, he has just such a drum we are going to skin with this hide, as it's just too ringy for a salsa tumba.

Thin horse is the sweet for the Macho of a bongo, and was the skin of choice back in the day. Akbar, formerly head of Sol Percussion, would skin his bongo with Horse, I believe, which gave them a signature sound. It is really durable, like mule, for the macho, sounds great, and lasts a long time.

In the end, Cow will be a better choice for this drum, and we should have the set of three in good shape here shortly.

Great to have the trust of such great players. I feel proud to be the cat they bring their favorite instruments to.



Check out Edgardo's latest recording.. a truly professional project:

Edardo Cambon and Candela

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Flamenco artist Clara Rodriguez Stanley's 'Somos Tierra' at Fort Mason Theater 11/24

People, if you are anywhere near California, you have to check this performance! This is one extremely talented group of performers, led by a truly spectacular dancer, singer and talented folklorist Clara Rodriguez. AguaClara Flamenco premieres a must see show for all fans of world music: Somos TIERRA: A Flamenco Landscape presented by the Azahar Dance Foundation November 24th, 2012 at 8:00 pm Fort Mason Cowell Theater Tickets: www.fortmason.org 415-345-7575


From Clara's website aguaclaraflamenco.com: Clara Rodriguez has dedicated the last 20 years to the study of flamenco dance and music. She began her dance training in her native Santa Barbara, and continued her studies in Los Angeles and most recently in the Andalucia region of Spain, where she resided for 3 years. While living in Granada she performed regularly at such venues as Tablao Albayzin, Venta el Gallo, Eshavira, and Zoraya de los Jardines alongside such noted artists as Rafalín Habichuela, Emilio Maya, Ana Calí and Juan Angel Tirado amongst others. She has been a featured flamenco soloist in productions throughout the U.S., Spain, Portugal and India.


She has studied flamenco dance with Concha Vargas, Juana Amaya, Andrés Marín, Isabel Bayón, Andres Peña, Úrsula Lopez, Alicia Márquez, Ana Calí, Patricia Guerrero and a host of others. In California her first teachers were Roberto Amaral, Linda Vega, Rita Alaya and Kathy Cota. She has studied cante with legendary singer Inés Bacán of Lebrija.


Upon returning from Spain, Clara relocated to Northern California in 2010 and can be found performing and teaching as both dancer and singer throughout the Bay Area. She has performed with the leading flamenco companies of the Bay Area, including Yaelisa’s Caminos Flamencos 2011 season, with La Tania Baile Flamenco, and with Theatre Flamenco at the Exploratorium. She performs regularly at popular local venues such as Thirsty Bear, Peña Pachamama, Disco Volante, Picaro, Cafe Bollyhood, and La Lola Tapas. In the larger Bay Area she produced her own show “Dualidad” performed in Willits, along with performances in Fresno, San Jose, Santa Clara, Gilroy, and Sacramento. While residing in Los Angeles, she performed with classical Spanish company “España Clasica” directed by Roberto Amaral, and with “Soniquete Flamenco” headed by guitarist Jose Tanaka, and was a featured soloist in productions at the Kodak Theater, Greek Theater, and Alex Theater. She was a soloist in the Benise "Nights of Fire" PBS Special and 20-city US tour, and in 2011 was invited to perform in India along with the company at the Jaipur Palace. Film work include Iron and Wine "Boy with a Coin" music video, a feature on Dance Channel TV, and trailer for "The Spiritual Tourist". As an instructor she has taught at Zambaleta World Music and Dance School and Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, and has taught workshops in Fresno, Nevada City and Oakland. A classically-trained pianist and instructor, she holds a B.A. from UCLA in Ethnomusicology. Clara also teaches dance @ STUDIO AZUL in Oakland (near Mills College), and here is her schedule as of 11/12 MONDAYS -7:45-9:00 pm-Intermediate technique & choreography TUESDAYS - 7:45-9:00 pm-Intermed/Adv choreography SATURDAYS - 11:00 am-12:15pm-Bulerias por Fiesta

And a video of the show, post script,