Sweet set of Sonoc Bongo from Cuba for sale

La Pena 5.08 Sandy, Michael, Carlito

Fat time at La Pena on sunday! Most of the crew showed after a slow start. Flaco, Pili, Javier, Michael, Yaya, Orlando, Sandy, Carlito, Enrique, among others.

We had a really nice Rumba. At one point, the whole house was dancing!

Its very nice to see the Rumba thrive, sometimes it seems like we are the only people in the world who know how cool this all is...

After the Rumba at La Pena, some of the cats went to Tony D's to play. He is redoing his huge studio and turning it into a night club (dont know how he's going to get the permits)

Pili, Hector, Javier and Yaya were headed over there.

I knew Anna Ponce had a little party going on, and Sandy and Michael were heading over for some food.

Anna is the most incredible cook! She completely rocks.

So, Rick, Daniel, Michael, Sandy and I hit Anna's.

For a bit, i was thinking we made the wrong choice, as everyone was slow to get to playing, but when it got going.... my oh my...

I decided then and their, in the future, im always going where Sandy goes. Getting to play with him for any amount of time is worth missing any other hit, without a doubt. Even if it doesnt happen from time to time, i just have to stay on his coat tails. What an incredible cat.

At one point in the night, just Sandy and I played the tubs, while Michael sang. It was incredible. Simply unbelievable that , at this point in my life, i find myself right in the thick of the best situation i could ask for!! so fortunate...

I didnt film anything at Anna's, as the video camera is bugging some of the Cuban cats... they just want to play, not be 'on stage'. So once in a while the sessions will go unfilmed, but i will try to get as much footage as possible, for us all.




Man Michael La Brada has one of the best sounding voices ive heard.

The best Rumba singer in this area is a cat named Alexis Zayas Rosabal, but Michael is a close second, for me. Fito Reinoso, Yaya, Orlando, Jose Luis... we have some serious singers here in the bay... I'm planning on studying with Yaya.

Pic is of Yaya, Jose Luis, and Fito at La Pena a few years back - pic by Flaco.

I've arranged for Irish Rick to pick up Michael on the way to the rumbas, so he'll be back in the scene! We are so so lucky to have him around.

From Flaco's site Flaco.net about Alexis, the top singer of rumba in the bay area.

'Alexis Zayas Rosabal is the son of famed Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba singer Cándido Zayas Díaz, and has himself a distinguished career as a singer, with groups such as Raíces Profundas, Danza Nacional De Cuba,la Escuela Nacional De Arte (La ENA/El LISA),and El Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba. For many years he has also been the akpwón for Regino Jiménez, with el tambor de Jesús Pérez.'

Pic of Alexis by Flaco.



Tony

Gary King Jr. Tribute meeting - Its On!! 3/22 53 & MLK 2pm

Gary King Jr. Tribute and Celebration
Saturday March 22nd 1:00 om - 6:00 pm
53rd and Martin Luther King Blvd. Oakland
congadr@gmail.com

Man, what have i done to deserve such loyalty from such powerful people... I am literally shivering over the conversation I just had with Tito Garcia... I have to slow down...

ok, too much coffee, i guess...

Yesterday, our guiding sister Maria de Colombia and I had a very heavy meeting with Gary King Sr. - one very strong, kind, educated and responsible African father in the hood of Oakland.

There is a low level war in Oakland... for years now... the national media seems to be more interested in Britney Spears.

He watched his son die, bleeding in the street, while the police held him back... right down the street from their house... not too long ago. Sitting with this cat was HEAVY... whooossssh....

We are turning this tragedy into an opportunity.

We are organizing an event to remember his son, and get some of the bad mojo off of everyone in the community, as its been a very big deal for the locals in that section of town.

I called on Tito Garcia to do me a favor. he in turn asked David Fraiser to do him a favor and come to play an Oru Ogun... a set of sacred rhythms for Gary... man i cant tell you how honored and proud, ... am i lucky to be able to do this for these wonderful people in such distress... i cant tell you how much this means to me...

I asked Yagbe to come play with Wade Djembe and Djun Djun West African prayers... he said he would be there.



Now i need to call on C. K. Ladzekpo, the master Ewe drummer to see if he can bring his troupe of cats to play the Ewe prayers.. man if i can pull this off....

And next year.... Ashe! Productions is going to step it up to a big time festival for violence awareness... this is going to be fun. It will be very good experience for me as a producer, for sure. Very good experience for a very good cause.

I hope we change just one persons life over this.

Some cat who decides to get out of a gang, who joins the cops to change the force from within - to protect and serve the community they police.

Yea.... Obatala willing, this will be huge and will save lives.

details to come...

additional note: Just talked to C.K. and he will be there. Talked to Trevino Leon and he will be there as well! YES! YES! YES!

This is one solid and amazing community, and i cant believe im so solidly a part of it.

Tony

Back to the Rumbas at La Pena i didnt report on, as of yet

In January there was this really heavy rumba at La Pena, i think i talked about the after party in previous posts... playing with Sandy Perez and friends till late...

anyway, this la Pena rumba was packed with heavies, Flaco, Yagbe, Sandy, Santos.. to name a few. It was ripping... see below...



sorry about the quality... its kind on purpose.... Everyone is worried, these days, that their art will be picked up on the web and used without their permission to make money, or to remix into something it shouldn't be.

This camera, just a little digital camera, for pictures, mostly, will work just fine for this use. Just to see what when on.

I hope to pick up a high end camera soon to do some really nice footage, one of these days.

Tony