JOHNNY CONGA
I grew up in "DA BRONX" in the 60's/70's and was playing in Latin bands by the time I was 15 and half years old. I was afforded the "luxury" of seeing, hearing,and playing with some of the best Latin bands ever, during this time. I started with "JOE PANAMA" doing gigs on the "loisida"(lower east side-NYC) and lots of weddings. Then with "FELIPE "PHIL" DIAZ & THE LATIN JAZZ SEXTET", where I really "learned the ropes" from Phil Diaz, Manny Ramos, Pat Patrick, Llewellyn Matthews, and Carl Witherspoon. From there I went thru the bands of "RENE GRAND Y SU COMBO", "GIL SUAREZ & THE HI-LATINS", "EARNIE AGOSTO Y LA CONSPIRACION","THE LATINAIRES with LOUIS SMALL & CARLOS CROSSMAN", "JUNGLE RAT" with DWIGHT BREWSTER, "FESSOR FUNK", "ROSETTA STONE", and some lesser known bands. I got to see and hear so many many bands growing up in New York City and "Da Bronx". They had a profound influence on my life and I have not stopped playing or listening to what I believe is the GREATEST MUSIC ever invented!.
My band plays in that "NY style", and people ask what is that?.... Well it's the same thing you would find in Puerto Rico or Cuba-Great Musicians and Great Music. It is the "supreme" ground of "competition". Where else could you truly test your latin Music skills, outside of those 3 places? I would also like to THANK George "Sabu" Caldwell the 3rd(who played with Dizzy Gillespie,Charlie Parker, others and toured with Katherine Dunham's Dance Co.) who gave me rhythms and taught me to become a "Dance Musician". I would like to give CREDIT to a Mr. Henry "Hank" Fields, who taught me how to play the drum and gave me my first set of fiberglass congas
I HAVE BEEN A WORKING MUSICIAN NOW FOR 45 YEARS AND HAVE WORKED WITH OVER 100 MAJOR ARTISTS LIKE: SERGIO MENDES, THE JACKSON 5, PAQUITO D'RIVERA, JUAN PABLO TORRES, GLORIA GAYNOR, DAVE VALENTIN, MONGO SANTAMARIA, WILLIE BOBO, EL CHICANO, AND MANY MANY OTHERS(see Performance History on site page). I STILL TRAVEL, RECORD AND NOW PUT TO MY TEACHINGS WHAT IS CALLED "NEURO LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING" WITH MY "CONGAROBICS(TM)" METHODS ON THE CONGA DRUM. I HAVE BEEN TEACHING NOW FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND TEACH THE METHODS AS THEY ARE TAUGHT TODAY IN CUBA, ON THE CONGA DRUM, AS WELL AS MY OWN. I have taught at: University of Miami Dept. of Percussion Cornish College of the Arts-Seattle,WA Pacific Lutheran University-Olympia,WA Music Works Northwest-Bellevue,WA I have worked as a "Folklorist" in Los Angeles County School district Dade County,Florida Seattle,WA I have also worked as a "dance musician" for the New York City Ballet Miami City Ballet Chuck Davis Afro American Dance Co. Olatunji drummers and dancers Mattie Lascoe Afro-Haitian Dance Co. .
We have selected some of the best tracks from the album for release on theClave; Caribe Madness, Conganation, Rumba Pa La Ocha and Bembe Ochun. This CD is a danceable Latin jazz album with lots of Rhythm and satisfying solos. Johnny's impressive track record shows. His true calling seems to be hot Latin jazz on the one hand, and the essential Afro-Caribbean rhythms that underpin everything from Santería to samba on the other. This CD has a lot to offer – from in-the-pocket instrumental mambo to hard-core folkloric conga workouts. The late great J.P. Torres, a hero of Cuban music, had his debut recording session with Johnny, and Mario “Del Barrio” Marrero does a nice job on piano. Eddie “Gua-Gua” Rivera keeps things anchored in the bass seat.
Caribe Madness, Conganation, Rumba Pa La Ocha and Bembe Ochun
Johnny Conga ("J.C.") Leader, Musical Director, Congas, Agogo, Campana, Chekere, Triange, Surdo, Ganza Eddie ("Gua-Gua") Rivera Bass and Inspiration Mario ("Del Barrio") Marrero Piano and Vibes Ronnie ("Wakka-Wakka") Loreto Bongo, Bell, Clave, Guiro, Triangle, Coro, Chekere Edwin Bonilla Timbales, Wind Chimes, Cascara, Chekere, Coro Doug ("Darkman") Michaels Trumpet Johnny Padilla Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax (solo-7 Juan Pablo Torres Trombone solo Tom McCormick Tenor sax Jose "Junito" Martinez Drums Guests: Sammy Alamillo Drums, handclaps, coro Jeff Woods Congas, guitars, handclaps, coro
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