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

Sabado de Rumba - Sweetie Pie kick off rumba!

Now that was fun.

Being Mothers day weekend, it was fun to actually get a rumba going on the first of many hits at Sweetie Pies and Popies in Oakland.

We are going to be playing there every other Saturday, the second and fourth Sat of the month.

The 24th is not hitting, as there is a birthday party there booked long ago.

It was very nice to see the cats there, Yagbe, Yaya, Rick, Bruce, Enrique, Alaine, Maria and I were the first crew of this new project. many hits to come!

I know, its not the best, but hey... gotta start somewhere.

Build it, and the heavies will come...

Tony

Afro-Cuban Rumba, Cuban Rumba heaven May 08

Well, that was a full day of Rumba! How fun...

Went to La Pena to hang with the fellas and play. It started slowly, but picked up very fast and heavy.

At one point, Flaco, Javier, Hector, Pili, Yaya, Orlando, Rustin, and the new heavy Cuban arrival - Carlito Alveda!

Man, here comes this cat.. young and not very big in stature.. but what a rumbero! Straight from Havana... Carlito Alveda, a serious rumbero.

Im going to help this cat get set up in the north bay, as he lives in Santa Rosa.

So nice to have another seriously heavy player to add the this fat scene!

He's playing at Zone music this Sat. at their Cuba fest show.


Barroso came and danced... the Fred Estare of Rumba.. we talked about trading videos of the Show last year with Sandy... I have so much respect for this incredible dancer... what a talented and gracious cat.

After La Pena, Pili, Javier, Rick, Yaya, Rustin and I went over to Tony D's studio, witch he is completely remodeling. This place is huge. An old warehouse with two stories.. a very big space. Perhaps a nightclub to be.

We played some fat rumba with Tony D. ripping on the traps.. fun and informal ripping... Tony is one incredible trap man... He may perform at the festival this summer.

And then, off to see Sandy Perez and Fito Reinoso, who were hitting at Sandy's cousins, Rositas house. Saw Carlito there as he was leaving.. Toby said they were playing some of the fattest work, while i was dillying at Tony D's.. I should know better.

Sandy, Toby, Fito and I played... Rosita and Maria singing.. what a treat! Its incredible how these cats can do more with much less than any others around.

Its always a treat to eat Rositas cooking... she is the bomb!!!

Tony

Sunny day at Hippy Sams

Relaxing day at Hippy Sams.. drinking cheap Mexican beer out of cans and enjoying the herb garden...

Some of Carlos Aldama's students were there, enjoying the beautiful day.

James, Geordie, Lisa, Richard, Sam, Yaya, Hadley and I. We had fun playing some various forms.. Bembe, Iyesa, Makuta, Conga... with a really nice sounding Columbia with truly tasty singing by Yaya.

Got to play Sams tortured Junior Tirado. It's all hose clamped up, and in sad shape.. still makes a good bajo.

Tony

New Rumba in the east bay!!! - Sweetie Pies

How cool is this...

Yaya and I met with Olivia of Sweetie Pie's soul food restaurant in Oakland about setting up a regular rumba.

She was so receptive to the idea, to the extent that they are building a small stage and buying a house PA!

They even have Anchor steam on tap, and some of the best soul food around! Yea!!!

This is such a cool thing, to bring the rumba to this area.

After meeting Gary King Sr. i realized i must get involved in the solution to the problems Oakland is facing. I so enjoy the area, and the culture it has so generously shares with me. This is a small way we can give back to the community.

So, Every Second and Fourth Saturday of the month, 3-7pm - Sweetie Pies soul food

53rd and MLK - SPREAD THE WORD!!!

It will be a cast of heavies, as usual...

First rumba is May 10th. See you there!

Tony

La Pena rumba - April o8

Wow, sometimes I have to stop and remember how far Ive come..

Over the last three years ive been working at being a Rumbero. I guess this last weekend was a milestone for me in my journey.

I played at La Pena with no less than Sandy Perez, John Santos, Javier Navarette and Yaya Maldonado with a full house singing Coro led by Orlando... and it rocked... dancers gone wild.. etc.

I was on the Cata.. a basic part, but we all know, it drives the rumba.. and if it aint happening, the heavies just dont play...

It was incredible to say the least.

Video is of Sandy on quinto cajon... you cant see him, but who else plays like that!

I cant believe I was able to hang with these cats, frankly... It's been a long road, and I'm making progress.

In a state of Bliss...

Tony

Ashe! Productions is joining forces with Bay World Presents

The legendary Yaya Maldonado and I will be working together to promote and book local latin talent.

Yaya knows everyone in the latin scene and is well respected from coast to coast. He is John Santos' folkloric singer and is one of the very few 'national heavies' as i call them - the cats who get called when the fattest cats roll through. Like Armando Peraza, for example... Here is Fito Reinoso and Yaya (on clave) at the Peraza tribute in SF.

Yaya has a promotional company called Bay World Presents and has been booking acts in the area for many years now.

We are hooking up to do what we do best... promote latin music in the bay area.

Yaya manages the bands, I get the gigs... easy as that.

many details to come -

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