Descarga Pi-Mozambi-Son (Boogaloo Productions BP009, 2005)
The musicians who participate in this video show how well Cubans can jam. Descarga means unloading and it is the name given to jamming by Latin musicians. This is what the producers got when they visited Cuba. Chaguito y Sus Timberos is a group of world class musicians, representing several generations, assembled under the leadership of Santiago “Chaguito” Garzon, the former musical director of Rumberos de Cuba and Clave y Guaguanco.
The 68 minute DVD contains eight fiery music sessions that include several popular Cuban music styles, ranging from son montuno and cha cha cha to rumba.
For Descarga Pi-Mozambi-Son, Chaguito invited a group of longtime friends, many from his native Guantánamo. Included are musicians from such legendary groups as Conjunto Chappottin y Sus Estrellas, Orquesta Sublime, and Pachito Alonso y Sus Kini Kini.
“The tradition of descarga in Cuba is about unloading creatively in music – a special form where musicians can improvise and interact with more freedom, ” say the producers of the video. “To this end, descargas often have stripped down arrangements of a repeating melody line, strong bass, and percussion. With this rhythmic groove solid, individual musicians have permission to solo, invent, and
stretch out.”
The descargas on the DVD are “Báilalo Mi Negra” (cha cha chá), “Estrellas Del Son” (son), “Pi-Mozambi-Son” (a mix of the rhythms in pilón, mozambique, and son), “Ogún Guerrero Tumbaloya” (bembé guantanamero), “Timba Para Changó” (batá rumba), “Tremendo Descargón” (son montuno), “Guarapacha-Son” (a mix of rumba guarapachangueo and son), and “A Paso Firme de Aqui Pa’Ya” (conga).
The bonus tracks and files on the DVD include outtakes of sessions and solos not used in the body of the film and mp3 audio of all the sessions that can be turned into a CD, or uploaded to an mp3 player.
The
musicians featured are:
Santiago “Chaguito” Garzón – percussion/voice (former musical director of Clave y Guaguancó & Rumberos de Cuba); Melquiades Fundora Dina – wooden flute (Orquesta Sublime); Tomás “Panga” Ramos – congas (studio and/or touring artist with: Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Buena Vista Social Club Alumni, ¡Cubanismo!, Paulito FG); Armando Fuentes Silega – bass (Conjunto Chappottín y Sus Estrellas); Angel Laborí Hernández – piano (Conjunto Chappottín y Sus Estrellas); Juan Carlos Tito Rojas – trumpet (Pachito Alonso y Sus Kini Kini); Alberto Muguercia Ramos – timbales/voice (Grupo Reyes 73); Esconodio Padilla Pérez – tres/voice (Grupo Tradición 2000); and Luis Enrique “Kiki” Romero – bongo/voice (Grupo Caña Santa).
View Quicktime Movie Clip-
click here for info on private percussion classes with Chaguito in Havana
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Buy the DVD from Boogalu Productions.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
