There can be no doubt of Armando Costales' passion and deep abiding love for La Rumba. This passion went past the playing of the music into construction of some of it's instrumentation. Armando was nothing if not generous with his knowledge and friendship towards those who embraced the rumba as did he. His "Rumbacera" as he called it lasted in the same location for just over 20 years. During that time such notables as Jorge Tapia, Eloi Marti, Eugenio "Totico" Arango, Daniel Ponce and Los Munequitos made their way to 182nd St. and Amsterdam Ave. to participate in Armando's rumbas. In the winter Armando made his home available so that the flow would continue on a weekly basis. Armando died about 5 years ago at the age of 55. La Rumbacera never did recover from his absence and soon after become part of the city's folkloric history. I knew Armando for most of those 20 years and my life was enriched by the relationship. I was able to catch Armando with some free time one evening and let him tell some of his story. Also present was Victor Montanez Jr., son of the famous Plenero featured on the Grupo Folklorico Y Experimental Nuyorquino's first album. As was his nature, Armando shares with us some of his techniques and tricks in making instruments and what got him into it in the first place.
3 comments:
Was nice to hear my grandfather, Jorge Tapia, talked about so highly for a few minutes :)
No problem, that would be thanks to Willie Everich for posting...
Hi, this is my father. My name is Julian Costales, his first born son, and i was curious if there was any way to get anymore videos of him ?was was blowen away cuz for most of my life he tried to drill this stuff into my thick skull to find out that the stuff never left my mind so if you please can i would love if you wrote back please and thank you you can reach me at ehladik@yahoo.com, and from there we can have further contact.
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