Monday, June 8, 2009

Angel R Rodriguez



(Angel R Rodriguez, Photo Credit: Dennis Flores)

One cannot expand enough on the way that drummers, singers, dancers like Quique Dreke, Totico, Patato, Virgilio and Eloy Marti, Frankie Malabe, Tommy Lopez, Julito Collazo, affected a whole generation of NY drummers. If I be allowed to further dissect the influence that these drummers and the like had on future generation, we could construct a sort of "Family Tree" that shows how each generation influenced the next. We won't go so far though.

I would have to discuss the topic a little further with Willie, but Angel Rodriguez probably fits in right after the Golden Years of the drummers, singers and dancers that hit NY, and happens to be one of the few that has managed to continue to play at a high level of technical proficiency throughout the years.

Here we see a small glimpse of what Angel has been doing lately.



(Angel @ Hunts Point, Video Credit: Dennis Flores)



(Angel Rodrigez on tumbas, Video Credit: Dennis Flores)



(Angel Rodriguze on chekere, Video Credit: Dennis Flores)

The last video shows him playing a beautiful chekere with a great bottom end. I wonder who made said gourd?

6 comments:

Bongos not bombs said...

Thats one funky shekere! I like it. Great post.

Sentimiento Manana said...

Geordie,

Angel is playing a very nice gourd indeed maybe he'll share with us exactly who made it, or repainted it...

Unknown said...

Thanks for the comments. I had been working for Sam Ash on 48 st. (drum sales)also percussionist for the world famous Apollo Theater house band with Milton Harris and The Apollo Rockers which Willie Everich would sub when I couldn't do the gig. It was a saturday afternoon when Donald Eaton who was playing with George Micheal (singer) came in with the gourd and said he had picked it up just for me. I am forever in debt to Mr. Eaton for this generous gift. I painted the gourd and strung it really quick one crazy night at 2:00AM I thought about Oya and that is why it has it's colors and beads. This particular gourd is called Agbe.

Sentimiento Manana said...

Angel....good to hear from you. The agbe is definitely one of the best sounding gourds I have heard and the paint and beading is excellent. That must've been one crazy night...

Angel, is the flyer current? Are you holding private sessions and so forth? If so I want to put it down on the main site page more permanently.

Anonymous said...

I am not ready for this flyer to go out. Need to make a change.

Sentimiento Manana said...

No problem Angel, I took off the flyer, whenever you make the necessary changes let me know and I'll gladly put it back up.