Bruckner Rumba

A little snippet from a rumba earlier this year with Angel Rodriguez, Jose "Apache" Rivera, Willie "El Ruso" Everich and Babafemi.

Yambu con Angel, Willie, Apache, Babafemi...

(Bruckner Yambu, Video Credit: Dennis Flores)

Bruckner Rumba

(Willie, Angel, Anthony, Apache, Photo Credit: Ivan Ferrer)

Willie organized a rumba outside of his building which unfortunately I could not make. Dennis Flores took some video which will hopefully make it's way to us soon. Willie told me it was a successful rumba. I wouldn't want to miss the next one.

* I have updated this post with more pics by Ivan Ferrer.

(Angel Rodriguez, Photo Credit: Ivan Ferrer)



(Apache Rivera and Willie El Ruso, Photo Credit: Ivan Ferrer)



(Jose "Apache" Rivera, Photo Credit: Ivan Ferrer)



(Babafemi, Photo Credit: Ivan Ferrer)



(Jose Rivera, Photo Credit: Ivan Ferrer)



(Jose Rivera, Photo Credit: Ivan Ferrer)

A Tribute to Babafemi Akinlana

Babafemi is walking, talking, drum playing history. Al "Babafemi" Humphries has been playing drums for over 56 years. His is the story of the reintroduction of Africanism into American mainstream culture. I am honored to say that this Tata in Palo and priest of Obatala in Ocha is a mentor and friend. I will be writing an extensive biography about Baba for these pages. His story will read like a who's who of percussion as he has played with such world renown figures as Katherine Dunham and Olatunji to name but a few. Here we have many of his students paying tribute to him the POINT CDC in the Bronx where he has resided for many years. Babaila is on lead vocal. The rest of the group consists of myself, Angel Rodriguez and Dafadi on drums, Jimmy Cruz on bell and Kali Ramirez and Chano Rodriguez on shekere. Date: 7/20/02