THE CONGA KINGS: GIOVANNI HIDALGO, PATATO VALDES, CANDIDO CAMERO

THE CONGA KINGS
GIOVANNI HIDALGO, PATATO VALDES, CANDIDO CAMERO

La rumba la dieron estos tres maestros de la conga en diciembre del 99 en la St. Peter's Episcopal Church en Nueva York donde fue grabado en directo . Sólo la versión de Avísale a mi contrario, basta para sentirse satisfecho con este disco. La pieza, que desde ya hace tiempo es un standard, cobra una fuerza y alegría que se corona con un excelente duelo entre los tres tumbadores, el repique de Joe González más una original y vacilona aproximación vocal de Olivera que junto al coro va llamando sucesivamente a Patato: ven, ven, Patato ven, ven. Ven, ven, Cándido ven, ven... El entusiasmo que genera este tema no debe hacer pensar que el resto no vale la pena. Al contrario, es un disco equilibrado, en que la presencia de la conga y el bongó, con virtuosos solos, mucho entusiasma y jamás apabulla. Sin piano, el tres, que es protagonista permanente en las manos de Nelson González, y la ausencia del timbal, puede que ayude a dar ese ambiente tradicional, que no anticuado y sí original, que logra el disco Es de destacar la facilidad que brinda la grabación para identificar a los tres congueros: Hidalgo se escucha por el canal izquierdo, Cándido en el centro y Patato a la derecha. Muy recomendable.
---------
Between Candido, Hidalgo and Patato Valdes, the entire history of Afro-Cuban music is represented, and as conga players they are peerless. The sound of this recording is most intriguing, done at ~St. Peter's Episcopal Church/NYC with one microphone. Though the sound is thin of presence it is fully balanced and rich, feel free to turn it up and kick in the sub-woofer. Bassist Guillermo Edgehill, tres players Nelson Gonzalez and John Benthal, the great flute player Mauricio Smith, percussionists Jose Francisco Valdes (claves) and Joe Gonzalez (bongos) and three singers are in the mix, but never get in the way of the kings. Where the conga men are front and center throughout, it is the brilliant veteran Smith who shines just as bright. His spare flute floats over the coro and clave rhythm with ostinato tres on the endless jam "Tumbando Cana," easy tres montuno with Smith's ultra-melodicism is effortless during "Guaguanco Pa' Las Tumbadoras," while the sung son
"Nague" repeats the title incessantly while Smith's solo is as piquant and poignant as it gets. Overblown harmonics and fluttering flute informs the "Duet II" with Patato. Edgehill is also quite good, leading the percussionists with ostinato on the "Descarga De Los Reyes," and engaging in call and response with Candido during "Duet III." "Tuna Se Quemo" is the most out and out, montuno braized descarga, with a wonderful tres solo from Gonzalez. The cuts featuring vocals include the delicate yet deliberate repeated line of "Elube Chango," and the tres buoyed, lighter "Duet I; Temporal" (not really a duet) with insistent conga. Each percussionist gets solo space on two cuts; "Avisale A Mi Contrario" also uses a repeated vocal line with clave rhythm, bass and indiviudal spotlights, while the "Grand Finale" has each player soloing, quite melodic in his own way, then together in a 6/8 slow burn. Considering there are as many as ten conga drums going at
once, the sonic reproduction is remarkably distinct. The music is firmly rooted in tradition, exciting from start to finish, and a
perfect vehicle for students to learn the authentic rhythms which these three masters have led their lives by.
(By Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide)
----------
Album Details: Conga Kings
Release Date:04/25/2000
Label:Chesky Records
UPC:090368019325

TRACKS /FAIXAS
1. Tumbando Cana
2. Elube Chango
3. Guaguanco Pa' Las Tumbadoras
4. Nauge
5. Avisale A Mi Contrario
6. Tuna Se Quemo
7. Descarga De Los Reyes
8. Duet I: Temporal
9. Duet II
10. Duet III
11. Conga Kings Grand Finale

PERSONNEL:

Candido Camero: congas, voz
Giovanni Hidalgo: congas, voz
Carlos Patato Valdés: congas, voz
Joe González: bongó
Guillermo Edghill: bajo
Nelson González: tres
Mauricio Smith: flauta
José Francisco Valdés: claves
Hermengildo Olivera: voz
Nelson González III: coro
Luis Rosa: coro

DOWNLOAD: AQUI

PASSWORD to open rar file: oscarelli
SENHA para abrir arquivo rar: oscarelli