Drummers and latin percussionists

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Are all of them everywhere like they are where I live? In my opinion, since all of them deal with percussion, they should be competent in both areas (well, I'm thinking of those who work with sticks. Let's leave conga and bongo players alone). I've just sent an e-mail to the boy who plays timbales in the tropical band I work with. Something like "Hey, I don't know if you'll find this interesting since, in my experience, latin percussionists aren't that interested on the drum kit and drummers aren't that interested on latin percussion. Anyway, I think this guy should be a reference point for anyone who works with percussion instruments", and included a link to Neil Peart's Rio solo at YouTube, Neil's personal website and Rush's official site.

His reply? "Hey Alvaro, thank you so much! That guy is great but, as you said, latin percussionists don't find drums that interesting. Thanks, anyway".

On the other hand, some years ago, the leader of the university's jazz band asked me for an arrangement of a classic Salsa tune. When I brought it to the rehearsal, the drummer started playing an "extremely polished latin jazz" accompaniment. I was like "Hey! That's heavy Salsa, man. You can't be that 'decent' when playing that stuff. You don't have timbales? OK. Perform the hell out of your toms' shells, at least!"

So there's my question: Does that happen elsewhere? When I asked some years ago to the guy who played timbales with me at the time "Which drummers who you know?" His answer was: "Ringo Starr... Oh! And Peter Criss". I hate when a sort-of rock or pop tune hits the tropical charts. The owner of the band tells me: "Hey, this song from Maná seems to be very popular. Maybe we should play it". Aside from other limitations, that stuff never sounds decent because of the lack of a real drummer. When in a rock or jazz context, I've tried asking drummers: "Play a clave pattern on the hi-hat and a cáscara pattern on the snare's rim". They are like .

All the guys mentioned above are really good in their respective areas, but I find it as a lack of culture not being able to go both ways, taking into account that all of them have the needed skills to get great sounds from a drum head. I'd like to hear your opinions on this. Thank you in advance!

P.S.: Of course, all of us have our own likings and dislikings ("my style is...") but what bugs me is that generalized tendency among those instrumentalists.

[lefty007]

You'll randomly find percussionist interested in the drum kit, or not. I have played with many percussionist who are complete musicians and are school graduates; they, compose, play piano and double on drums--and play severla styles. And I have played with very focused and limited percussion players, who don't do anything outside their instrument, and often, outside their latin styles.

Here in Miami there are a lot of Cuban percussion players who are known only for their instrument, be it congas, bongos, or timbales, and they often do not even switch around to other instruments. And in my experience, they are great in only one instrument.

We recently had a conguero sub for my band, who was really a great timbal player. He played both, but sucked at congas. On the other had, we sometimes play with a drummer who is equally great in all percussion. . ..

. . . and the story goes on. I did a tour with Ricky Martin's percussionist Richard Bravo. He is famous as a percussionist and teaches percussion at the University of Miami, but also has his own band, where he plays drums.

But "in general" I guess I agree that most percussionist do not care about anything outside their instrument and style. They won't listen to any music that does not have a clave in it! LOL.