More Ilu Aye

One of my favorite, most energetic group of drummers which are masters over several Caribbean styles of drumming...here is a few videos I found on YOUTUBE. It's been a while.

 

Video Credit on all videos: Cartagena Santini (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN12_d4H0Klm76bGTpyWMQg)

Rumba en Camaradas, with Caja Dura

(Video Credit: JUNES05)



(Video Credit: JUNES05)

Ta Ta - Caja Dura

More youtube clips courtesy of ARGpercussion:

Jose Rivera on guagua
Pete Conga on tumba
Nicky Laboy on tres dos
Apache on quinto
Abi Holiday on chekere
Max Valdez, coro
Barry Cox, coro
Papote, lead vocals

More Caja Dura...

(Caja Dura: Maximo Valdez-Lead Vocals, Barry & Papote-coro, Pete Conga-tres dos, Niko Laboy-tumbador, Abi Holliday-quinto, ?-guagua, Video Credit: RobetoSuave)

CAJA DURA

(Caja Dura - Abi Holliday, Jose "Apache" Rivera, Papote Jimenez, Max Valdez, Barry Cox, Photo Credit: Caja Dura)

Rumba is spontaneity, it is not planned, it is not over analyzed and formalized, if it happens it happens, and if it doesn't, well you know...If the right people show up, and the mood is right then you can have a great rumba. So this is the constant ebb and flow in which the rumba exists, and if you love the art form you will have attended your share of bad rumbas, and good rumbas, such is life.

Every once in a while a group of rumberos get together and formally organize into a group with the purpose of playing together and learning from each other, a la "Ilu Aye", "Los Afortunados", "Quinto Mayor", "Los Inolvidables", "Los Rumbero All Stars, etc... If the group is composed of the right players than there is no question as to whether the rumba will be good, because you know it will.

It looks like "Caja Dura" is going to be no exception. They have been holding court at Camaradas as part of a cigar/rumba night on Tuesday's. Let's meet the members shall we?

(Abidoaye Holliday, Photo Credit: Caja Dura)

Son of the late great Ted Holliday Sr, and brother to Teddy Holliday Jr, Abi has been playing bata and percussion for quite some time now. He is considered by some as one of the best cajeros in all of the States, and has played with numerous groups such as "Los Afortunados", Totico's Anya crew, I believe he has also played with Coyude among others.

(Apache, Photo Credit: Caja Dura)

Jose "Apache" Rivera is known as one of the best craftsman of cajones and shekeres around. Those in the know, know that you can't beat an Apache cajon, and if you've heard Apache play one of his famous cajones at a bembe, than you know that the man is not only original but downright nasty at what he does. I've asked around as to how his alias came about, but no one has been able to tell me, maybe one day we'll find out.

(Nicholas "Niko" Laboy, Photo Credit: Caja Dura)

What else can I say about Nicky? You gotta ask, "what doesn't he play?". As if it wasn't enough to play various percussion instruments and styles, but how about playing them the way they were meant to be played. Well that's where Nicky comes in. Few play with as much ibiono as our man Nicky.

(Papote Jimenez, Maximo Valdez, Barry Cox, Photo Credit: Caja Dura)

Papote Jimenez is probably one of the most talented singers in NYC. He has sung with "Zon del Barrio", "Cachimba Inolvidable", among others. Papote, a son of the Loisaida has a tendency to magnetize when he is at the helm.

Maximo Valdez and Barry Cox, are two distinct people, but they have sung together for so long that it almost an injustice to speak of them separately. Following in the great tradition of duos such as Saldiguera and Virulilla, El Negro Triana and Lazaro Rizo and countless others. When it comes to harmony and downright knowledge of song, Max and Barry got it covered.

(Pete Conga Jr, Photo Credit: Caja Dura)

I met Pete, when I went to NY last year at one of Ilu Aye's gigs. He didn't sit in, but he was definitely a guy in the know. A couple of months back I put up some videos taken for Pete Sr's birthday that Nicky had on his site. I hope to hear more from him in the future.

If you are in the NYC area and have a chance to see them, don't miss out.

(Looks like the other Jose Rivera on shekere, and Tito Sandoval dancing, Photo Credit: Caja Dura)



(Caja Dura @ Camaradas, Video Credit: RobetoSuave)



(Caja Dura @ Camaradas - Flaco Navaja, Video Credit: RobetoSuave)



(Caja Dura @ Camaradas, Video Credit: RobetoSuave)

Cajon

I was doing some youtubin' and came across a video, which while unfortunately has pretty bad sound quality you get to see the ever elusive Jose "Apache" Rivera in action at a Cajon ceremony (on caja). Nicky Laboy is on cajon as well (mula). I am not familiar with the other players, maybe someone can kindly drop that information. Abi Holiday goes from the cachimbo to get on guataca a couple of minutes into the song and takes the lead singing as gallo.

(We previously had a clip of the video embedded on the page, but opted to remove said clip out of respect to those in attendance at the ceremony).

If you still want to see the clip you can catch it here

Rumba at Pete's Crib

More clips from the rumba, with Nicky on tumbas and Abi on quinto

(Video Credit: twistednyc2)

Si se trata del Gallo...

So apparently it seems that I have come across footage of how it's going down at "Los Gallos Social Club", in El Barrio. From the clip it looks like Nicky is on chekere, it looks like Izzy Davila with his back to the camera, but can anyone name the drummers? The tumbador looks familiar.

(Rumba at Los Gallos, video credit: jaysonmacho)

It looks like someone has provided some names (anonymously)...On quinto is Tony Rosa, on tumbador as I suspected is Abi Holiday, the tres dos player has yet to be identified though. Read the comment section for this post for the anonymous tip.

Nicky Laboy

I wanted to share some videos showcasing the talents of Nicky "Niko" Laboy. A son of "El Barrio", Nicky has been playing for quite some time, and at a relatively young age has reached a pretty high technical proficiency on the drums. Nicky is at the forefront of a young group of drummers which are keeping the traditional alive and well.

In talking to Willie the other day, we were discussing the exuberant video of Anya Ade at the tambor in the BX, and one of the conclusions Willie came up with was that the "drum" was in good hands.

(per Nicky: this video was taken at Pete Congas house for his birthday. Segundo y Cajon - N. Laboy, Tumbador- Pete "El Gordo", Cajon- Abi Holiday, Quinto - Tito Ogbeate, Dancing - Tito Sandoval & Lisa, Video Credit: exquisitemambo)

(Nick "messing around" on a vintage Valje drum that he fixed up, video credit: twistednyc2)

Anya Ade

Check out these videos showcasing the young talents of Anya Ade at a tambor in the BX.

"Perdon" - Anya Ade

Here is a clip that Felix put up on youtube. I believe it took place after his presentacion of his fundamento "Anya Ade", at Julia de Burgos. If you look carefully, Pedrito Martinez is on quinto and singing, Bembesito is standing up to the right, Emilo Barreto is sitting on the left next to Ramin Quintana. It looks like Jonathan may be on tumbador, and Abi Holiday is on tres dos. Abraham Rodriguez is singing duo along with Wilfredo "El Jabao" (ibae). Nicky, Mikel Sotolongo, and Pepe Calabaza (ibae) are around the circle, and it looks like Obanilu is playing guagua. If you notice to your right there is a man and woman dancing, the "man" just happens to be the late Canute Bernard (ibae) and the woman is non other than Ileanna Santamaria (Mongo's daughter). Here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Eya Aranla at Lincoln Center 8/5/01

Ms Marta Moreno Vega and her wonderful organization the Caribbean Cultural Center have staged many great concerts using Lincoln Center as their venue. One such performance included Milton Cardona's EYA ARANLA. The members of the band included Willie Williams on sax, Papo Vasquez on bone, Dave Valentin on flute, Cucho Martinez on bass, Prof. Joe Torres on Piano, Jose Fernandez on Okonkolo, Woochie Holiday on Iya and his brother (Iyawo at the time) Abie Holiday on Itotele. The coro consisted of Sandra Fela Wiles, Yomi Yomi and Carol Robinson. Milton's son Sergio is on clave and maraca. I remember that day because it was over 100 degrees in that plaza. You will even hear me comment about it. Summer in the big city.