Guiro - Willie Everich, Izzy Davila, Jose Rivera - 11/17/2007

A while back Willie gave me a recording of himself, Izzy Davila and Jose "Jose Conga" Rivera playing a "Guiro" that was recorded on 11/17/2007. This recording was never meant to be shared with anyone. With the recent passing of Willie Everich and the earlier passing of Izzy Davila (2009), I wanted to share this little gem to showcase their talents. Willie was never one to brag about his abilities and would rather highlight other players/rumberos/talents.

This particular set up has Izzy Davila singing lead and playing guataca. Willie Everich is playing shekere and singing coro. Jose Rivera is playing caja and singing coro, that's it. No more singers/players! One thing Willie told me a while back which stood out is that he felt that his ability to sing and play simultaneously was the main factor that kept him working for so long. Willie told me that he felt that other players were more gifted than him but it was his ability to do the job of two men that kept him busy.

I have shared two clips below that I hope you will enjoy.

 

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

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)

Jose Rivera

(Jose Rivera on caja, Angel Rodriguez and Babaila in the background, Photo Credit: Willie "El Ruso" Everich)

"Don't ever sit down with anyone who will ruin the montuno..." (Santiago "Iko" conversing with Jose Rivera)

I first heard of Jose through my compay Willie. From the way Willie talked about Jose, you can tell that more than admiration and respect followed his words, it was a sense of loyalty and brotherhood. More often than not, (especially in the music scene) we are quick to be betrayed, used, and disrespected. This has unfortunately become the status quo, so it's really a breath of fresh air when you come across someone that really ain't looking out for number one. I don't have to tell anyone that's met Jose, what a great guy he is. In any case here is his story:

According to his mom he started around the age of 4, banging on the old export soda cans. The moment came when he about 17 years old, and happened to be playing baseball at his High School (Adlai Stevenson), when he heard a car drive by playing some "plena" and he was hooked. According to Jose, he struck out and said goodbye to his baseball career. His uncles taught him some bomba and plena beforehand, but this had been one of those special awakenings. Jose would go on to play conga in a band by the name of “Tony Aponte y su Conjunto”, the band would later dissolve after the band leader got married. They used to play Tito Puente charts among others.

(Jose on a beautiful Skin on Skin quinto, Photo Credit: Willie Everich)

Jose and a friend by the name of Alex used to play behind a high school on Friday nights in the Bronx, and one day some guy with a Doberman came by and it turned out to be the late Ralphie Davila (Chivirico’s Son). Ralphie asked Jose if he wanted to go to a big rumba on the concourse, and as time went on Jose got more and more into the scene. Apache had been playing rumba, and was ushered into the bembe scene by non other than Willie. Willie was playing with Totico's Okokan guiro group and after insisting for a while Jose finally joined eventually developed into the first call cajero that he is today. Jose has played with Totico's Okokan, Izzy Davila, and Bembesito.

I've had the good fortune of meeting Jose and hanging with him. Always humble, he is always willing to share what he knows as long as you are respectful. Once in a while Jose will play a bembe with the younger cats, and speak his mind as to certain behavior that goes on. Gentlemen take heed, because we could use a few more Jose Riveras in the game.

July 4th @ Totico's....'99

Despite oppressive temperatures going over 100 at times...Totico's backyard rocked to the beat of Batas and congas during an impromptu jam session. That's Chano in the beginning talking a little about drumming.

Pa' La Rumba Otra Vez.......

It was another Saturday night and the rumberos met to do their thing on 182nd and Amsterdam Ave. Armando's Rumbacera was in full effect, 7/17/99.

A taste of Columbia @ the Sport's Bar, Bronx NY

Sport's Bar, on Castle Hill in the Bronx, 4/6/05

Interview w/ Felix Sanabria

(Jose Rivera, Willie Everich, Photo Credit: Ralph Duque)

In October of 08' I made a trip to NY to catch up with Willie, Jose and Alfie, but also to conduct a comprehensive interview with Felix Sanabria, "Awo Orunmila Oshebile". We mapped it out and choose a Saturday when everyone was free, and headed out to Staten Island. Felix and his lovely wife Susan greeted us with open arms and Susan hooked up a wonderful meal that was slammin'. At the end off the night we walked away with 4 hours of interview material. 4 hours!!!
Now that is not only alot of information to go through but also alot of material to edit. So until now we are still working on being able to present to you the clips in a manner we feel most presentable. The amount of information and conviction from which Felix told us his history was not only informative, but moving as well. For Willie and I, that is all the validation we need to "do what we do".

(Felix doing his thing, Video Credit: Ralph Duque)

So all that to say, that soon enough we will have parts of Felix's interview up on the blog. Stay tuned...

June 26, 1999 Armando's Rumbacera

I remember that evening as being hot as all hell. Folks were embobao from the heat. It took the rumba awhile to get going but once it did it was "sal del medio hay viene el tren." Angel Rodriguez and Jose Rivera are on claves, yours truly is on guagua, "Yambu" Monsanto is on quinto, Armando Costales is on tumbadora and our elder statesmen Jorge Tapia, is on tres golpe. El Chino Venezulano is singing Gallo and Pacheco is to his left and Victor Montanez is to his right singing coro along with several others. Jorge Tapia is a Central Park original. That particular meeting place has been the scene for rumba since the early 60s. Tapia was there from the earliest times. Here he is in his early 70s still holding it down.

Rumbacera.....6/4/99

Here are several scenes from Armando's Rumbacera, which was held almost every Saturday, for 20 years, on 182nd St. and Amsterdam Ave. The videos progress from a warm up session to a full blown rumba as people arrived and added their voices or playing abilities to the mix.

Rockin' Rumba @ the Sports Bar 4/10/05 Bronx, NY

There was some serious intensity on dsplay in this segment of the regular Sunday night rumba held at the Castle Hill Sports Bar. I'll let the video speak for itself. All the usual suspects were in attendance.

Que Viva Armando's RUMBACERA

This was one of those really good nights on 182nd St and Amsterdam Ave. The date was 7/3/99, July 4th eve and folks were in a party mood. We have spoken much about Manuel "El Llanero Solitario" as of late. Well here he is kicking things off on lead vocal soon to be followed by "Chino El Venezolano." The drummers are Jose on tres, Rene Lopez II on tumbadora and Eric, Angel and Yeyito taking turns on quinto. Beatrice joins later on tumbadora. Beatrice is one of the few woman that can hang with the fellas and has much respect. There are many more usual suspects in the coro "miyare" that formed to push the rumba. Suffice it to say, a great time was had by all.

Guiro - Izzy, Jose & Willie

Totico had one of the best guiro groups in the city for a long time. Willie mentioned a time when he didn't see the beach for about 12 years because he was so busy playing guiros and such. Just recently Izzy Davila, Jose Rivera, and Willie recorded a guiro that they did in Jersey. I wanted to post a snippet from the oro so you can get an idea of how they sound.

Now keep in mind its just Izzy, Jose and Willie. Izzy is the akpwon, playing guataca and singing coro, Jose is playing caja and singing coro, and Willie is playing agbe and singing coro. Not a small feat by any means.

Hope you enjoy.

*photo credits: Allen Spatz, Izzy Davila, Ralph Duque

Rumba at the POINT C.D.C.

The Hunt's Point section of the Bronx is home to the Point CDC, a great community action center involved in many issues affecting the quality of life of South Bronx residents. The Point gave Angel Rodriguez, percussionist extraordinaire a forum for teaching his skills to the children and even some adults in the neighborhood. It was called All America Is Drumming. Angel also created the Living Legends tribute series where over 35 of our major artist were honored for their contributions. More on that later. This night which occured in February of 1999, featured Rumba and included Jose "Apache" Rivera on vocal and clave, Angel Rodriguez on tumbadora, myself on tres golpe and Jose "Mongo" Rivera on quinto.

Castle Hill Rumba 4/10/05

This particular video highlights the new generation of NYC rumbero. Sports Bar on Castle Hill Ave. was the place to be on Sunday nights if you wanted to hear rumba, and this particular night was no exception. On quinto you have Jonathan Troncoso, on tumba/cajon you have Nicky Laboy, and on tres golpes you have Jose Rivera, a well respected rumbero and first call percussionist within the bembe circuit. Jose "El Chino" Real is singing lead, and Matanzas is playing the guagua. Tito is dancing up a storm and another well respected percussionist, Obanilu Allende is playing clave and later marcando Tito's steps on quinto. In my personal opinion I believe that Oba is one of the best primo players in the city. Another older cat is shown dancing as well, but unfortunately I don't know his name to properly ID him. Danny Maldonado is called up to play tumbador towards the end of the clip.

As my pal Willie has said time and time again, (because of these young cats) the rumba is alive and well in the city.

Columbia @ La Pregunta Arts Cafe

Ilu Aye playing a columbia at La Pregunta Arts Cafe:

Felix Sanabria - quinto
Camilo Molina - tumbador
Jose Rivera - tres golpes
Matthew Gonzalez - guagua
Bembesito - lead vocals
Jonathan Troncoso - lead vocals

Fidel Tavares- campana

A Bronx Tale...

(Willie Sanabria, Angel Rodriguez, Jose Rivera (behind Angel), Rene Lopez II, Tony Rosa, Willie Everich, Hector Elegua, Mike Rodriguez, Photo courtesy of Willie Everich)

The main reason I started this blog was to highlight several groups and individual rumberos which have played a significant role in the development and longevity of rumba in the city. One such group that plays a major part is whom i like to refer to as "the Bronx crew".

This particular crew of rumberos has consisted of street rumberos and members of Totico's house. I am going to name a couple that will hopefully be covered more deeply in the coming weeks/months.

Jose Rivera

Jose "Apache" Rivera

Ralphie Davila

Izzy Davila

Angel Rodriguez

Willie Sanabria

"Bamboo"

Rene Lopez II

Scorpio

* Willie reminded me to add John "Babaila" Martinez to this list as he has played a significant role as well...we will prepare more info on Babaila soon.

All these cats are heavies in their own right, and most are still playing in the NYC area. Some like Scorpio have moved on to other cities (i.e Atlanta) and sadly some have passed. Its is safe to say that without players such as these, NYC would not have the thriving rumba scene that it once had and still has (especially among the younger generation of rumberos y tamboleros). These individuals, to me are the unsung heroes of rumba in the city.

Now this is not to say that this was/is the only crew in NYC that mattered, as mentioned before Puntilla's extended crew was equally as heavy, the Central Park Crew, Chevere Macum Chevere crew and others will all hopefully be covered at some point in time on this blog.

(Wille "El Ruso" Everich", great rumbero, friend, and Sentimiento Manana partner)

You will be hearing me throw around Willie's name in probably every blog entry I write. See, Willie is my ear to the streets so to speak. Since I haven't lived in NY for quite some time, Willie has been gracious enough to provide me with contacts and inside information on the rumba scene as he knows it, and believe me, Willie has been around long enough to be considered an authority on said scene. Willie is a true Bronxite and his straightforward demeanor, guidance and honesty have provided much help to up and coming rumberos and his willingness to share what he has learned and experienced have provided valuable insight to all that know him. So that said...let's formally welcome Willie "El Ruso" to the blog....

He is in fact of Ukranian descent, but "El Ruso" does have a nice ring to it...

On a side note...if you haven't checked out Barry Cox's site...shame on you...you are missing out...

http://esquinarumbera.blogspot.com/