Search - Puente, Santamaria, Bobo :: Puente in Percussion

Latino percussion PHD

Antonio E. Jacobs | guaynabo, puerto rico Puerto Rico | 01/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the late 60's while in college and learning street rumba in San Juan, PR, i came in contact with this, then, LP. Basicaly if you, still in the 21 first century, want to apply for Congas, Bongos or Timbales 101, enroll in this short course.Although it should be intended for post graduated it won't hurt anyone trying to understand the Salsa phenomenom or Buena Vista Social Club Grammy or just plain "Ritmo Latino". Even if you just like to set up for Classic Latin percussion at it's best, Simply turn this Classic on and enjoy the magic.

Maestros included: Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Patato Valdez, Julito Cillazo, Israel"Cachao"Lopez, etc, etc..."

Definitive Latin Percussion

Frank | NY United States | 07/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have the original LP. It's a must for lovers of Latin Percussion with a Nuyorican feel.



Tito on Timbales, Conga Beat, Four Beat Mambo and Big Four are likely the tracks most readily accessible to those for whom pure (except for a bass fiddle) Latin Percussion (Timbales, Congas and Bongos) is a new listening experience.



Conga Beat is just what it's title implies, that is, the basic tumbao beat played by the Conga drum(s) player or "Conguero."



The hypnotic montuno played by the Bass in Four Beat Mambo was used also for Puente's instrumental "Four Beat Cha Cha" (which I have on an old 45 RPM backing his "Cuban Nightmare"). The Big Four refers to Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Tito Puente and Carlos Patato who take solo turns on Congas, Bongo, Timbales and Congas in that order.



In my experience, Timbale solos are usually too advanced for neophyte ears -- especially since the rhythms are usually more "oblique" than those of the Congas and Bongos. Furthermore, it's usually difficult for neophytes to separate out the sound of the Timbales from that of the other percussion instruments, especially that of a background cowbell. However, the particular track "Tito on Timbales" should be readily appreciated by the neophyte after relatively few listenings.



I conjecture that all the tracks, except maybe "Tito and Mongo on Timbales," were prewritten. As a result, some of the tracks lack a true improvised jam session feel. Nonetheless, the album is a gem and a classic."

The "masters' textbook" of Afro-Cuban percussion; why is it

R G-S | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was once told that "Puente In Percussion", with Willie Bobo, Carlos "Patato" Valdez, and Mongo Santamaria, was "everything you need to know" to study conga, bongo, or timbales, for several years. It's long streches of percussion solos, by those masters, with only bass and piano ostinatos supporting them. BUT WHAT SOLOS!!! I've met drummers who have memorized the entire record, and can sing along with every solo.



Sound quality? Considering when and where recorded, pretty damn wonderful!



So why is it already becoming a "rarity" on CD?"