I met Chucky Lopez in 1973. Eddie Palmieri had moved to the City by the Bay San Francisco, California. Eddie has family there and felt…
Les Moncada Chats with Bongo Legend Chucky Lopez
Author: Les Moncada
Les Moncada is a former Latin Jazz orchestra leader and conguero for over 40 years. He was born in Oakland, California and currently resides in Sacramento, California.
Les Moncada was an apprentice to conga and batá master Francisco Aguabella, a friend of vibraphonist Cal Tjader, Latin Jazz band leader Pete Escovedo, conguero Armando Peraza and many more.
He has been writing for many years for World Music Central.
Les Moncada’s Facebook site is: Timbales and Congas Bongo Bata and bells.
Les Moncada Remembering Conga Bata Master Francisco Aguabella in 2016
Francisco Aguabella was one of the greatest Latin drummers. He was a conga and bata master, a Latin Jazz orchestra leader, and composer. Francisco was…
Les Moncada Chats with conguero and djembefola drummer Michael Pluznick
Francisco Aguabella once told me, “I do not play the drum, I have lived the drum”. Remembering that phrase, it’s great when one’s daily line…
Les Moncada Chats With Legendary Latin Percussionist and Orchestra Leader Angel “Cachete” Maldonado
There are at times special musicians with the utmost talent and creativity. Angel “Cachete” Maldonado is this type of musician. We will refer to him…
Les Moncada Chats with MOPERC Company owner, Michel Ouellet
When you talk about drums, there are the handmade versions of drums and then there are also mass manufactured drums. Michel Ouellet the owner of…
Les Moncada Remembers Latin Trumpet Legend Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros Sr.
When it comes to the Latin music world, the living legend of trumpet players was Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros Sr., who passed on January 6, 2016…
The Magic of Christmas
When you get a creative composer, musician, Latin band leader, studio engineer, along with another composer and saxophonist together, the outcome you get is a…
Les Moncada Chats with Latin Percussion Legend Pablito Rosario
There are great percussionists in Latin Music. Some Latin percussionists styles can be copied, some cannot. Some musicians flocked to Cuba to see a…
Les Moncada Chats with Friend and Latin Musical Instrument Craftsman Peter Lugo of JCR Percussion
When you listen to salsa, mambo or Latin music, the instruments played, especially the percussion instruments, such as bell, bongos, congas, timbales are made…
Les Moncada Chats with the Legendary Cuban Pianist Javier Vazquez
There are pianists in Latin Music, and then there are certain pianists in Latin music that stand out amongst all the others. I am speaking…