José Luis Quintana, better known as ‘Changuito’ is a world class percussionist who renovated the Cuban songo. He was born in 1948 in Casablanca, on the other side of the bay, across from Havana. He began his musical career at the age of eight. By age twelve he was regularly appearing at ‘Morocco’ nightclub on Prado Boulevard in Old Havana.
His prodigious skills were developed playing with several bands, such as ‘Cuba Mambo’ under the direction of Rolando García. He became a professional musician with the group ‘Havana Jazz’ directed by Tomás González. During this stage Changuito played music with his father, who was also a great music teacher.
In 1970 Changuito joined Los Van Van, who soon became one of the most popular Cuban bands in the world, achieving international recognition and fame. Changuito stayed with them for over twenty-three years before leaving to go solo and pursue his popular teaching interests, or as he puts it, “helping the hands of those who wish to study Cuban percussion”. In 1992 he made his first solo recording which led to work across the world as a musician and maestro of percussion.
This Cuban master conga and timbales player contributed to Flora Purim’s album, ’Speed of Light’, in 1994. The following year, in November, Robert Trunz embarked upon the second leg of the Melt 2000 Meltdown recordings in South Africa inviting Changuito to join him. During these recordings Changuito fell in love with yet another vast array of African percussion instruments, which transformed with his guidance into new sounds. A few months later he went to England to work with Amampondo and Airto Moreira at Brownhill Farm, and decided to record a solo album two days prior to his departure, leaving instructions for overdubs with friends such as Chucho Valdés. This highly original album, Syncopation was produced by Tony Thorpe and is an interpretation of what can happen when Havana, London and Johannesburg collaborate.
Selected Discography
El Muso y su Sonora, with Cándido Fabré (2000)
Noche De La Rumba, with Clave Y Guaguanco and Celeste Mendoza (2001)
Syncopation (2001)
Telegrafias Sin Hilo (2007)
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.
