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Carlos "Patato" Valdes

Since Patato emigrated from Cuba he had an incredible career,having the spontaneity and charm to draw audiences from all over, with the irresistible Afro-Cuban rhythms he so skillfully created. Valdez's understanding of melodic percussion was ahead of his time and required advances in drum technology. During the late 1940's he helped develop the first tunable congas, as earlier models were tuned by the previous method of heating them over a source of fire. His innovations on the conga drums have been a major contribution to music. He truly is in the master class. Born November 4, 1926 in Barrio Los Sitios in Havana, his father was a pioneer "tres" (guitar) player with the group Los Apaches, made up of longshoremen, the group was formed in 1915 and when they broke up in 1920 split into Sexteto Habanero and Sexteto Nacional. In this musical fertile environment he learned various instruments as a child, like the "marimbula" and of course the "tres." Around the age of twelve he began playing congas with a "compara" called "La Sultana" and by his teens was an established "rumbero." From the beginning it was his melodic tone that set him apart and at nineteen he broke into the big time when he replaced the ailing Valentin Cane as conguero with La Sonora Matancera. He stayed a year before his boyhood friend Armando Peraza brought him into the Conjunto Kubavana of Alberto Ruiz. In 1952 he visited New York City for a performance with Conjunto Casino at the Tropicana Nightclub. With all his friends there like Peraza, Mongo, Candido Camero, and other, he was impressed with the scene. The Palladium and the mambo were in full effect, not to speak of the bebop revolution sweeping jazz, and he decided to immigrate in 1954 to this country. Mongo recommended him to Tito Puente who quickly absorbed him into his orchestra. If jazz was a motivating factor, he took it head-on. His first record date in this country was with trumpeter Kenny Dorham on his Afro-Cuban LP alongside Art Blakey on traps. His appearance with Tito Puente at the Apollo Theater in 1955 is a legendary performance that brought the house down! A document to those years is Puente's classic Cuban Carnaval on RCA which included Mongo, Willie Bobo, Candido, and Johnny Rodriguez. He was also part of Tito's landmark Puente in Percussion. In 1956 he joined the Machito orchestra at the urging of musical director Mario Bauza.

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175
Album Review

Carlos Patato Valdes: El Hombre

Read "El Hombre" reviewed by Russ Musto


Carlos Patato Valdes is arguably the most melodic of all congueros. The inventor of the tuned conga drum, he sings on his instrument like no other percussionist, so it comes as no surprise that this delightful date consists of some particularly lyrical Latin jazz. Leading an ensemble that features flutist Oriente Lopez (star of Charlie Haden's Latin Grammy-winning Land of the Sun), multi-reedist Phil Vieux (an Eddie Palmieri alumnus), pianist Edsel Gomez, bassist Joe Santiago, and percussionist Steve Berrios, plus ...

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182

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Carlos "Patato" Valdes

Jazz Musician of the Day: Carlos "Patato" Valdes

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Carlos “Patato" Valdes' birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Carlos “Patato" Valdes

Carlos “Patato" Valdes - congas, percussion Since Patato emigrated from Cuba he had an incredible career,having the spontaneity and charm to draw audiences from all over, with the irresistible Afro-Cuban rhythms he so skillfully created... more

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127

Obituary

Carlos Valdes, a Conga King of Jazz, Dies at 81

Carlos Valdes, a Conga King of Jazz, Dies at 81

Source: Michael Ricci

Carlos Valdes, better known as Patato, whose melodic conga playing made him a giant of Latin jazz in Cuba and then for more than half a century in America, died on Tuesday in Cleveland. He was 81 and lived in Manhattan. The cause was respiratory failure, said his manager, Charles Carlini. Born in Havana, Patato (a reference from Cuban slang to his diminutive size) played in the 1940s and early '50s with important groups like Sonora Matancera and Conjunto Casino. ...

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Performance / Tour

Carlos "Patato" Valdes' Birthday Tribute featuring Candido & Nicky Marrero at Satalla November 25

Carlos "Patato" Valdes' Birthday Tribute featuring Candido & Nicky Marrero at Satalla November 25

Source: All About Jazz

"Carlos Patato Valdes is arguably the most melodic of all congueros. The inventor of the tuned conga drum, he sings on his instrument like no other percussionist" ~All About Jazz

New York, NY - November 2005 - Cuban percussion pioneer Carlos “Patato" Valdes celebrates his birthday with a little help from his friends on Friday, November 25 at Satalla World Music Club, 37 West 26th Street, NYC at 7:30 pm and 10 pm. Special guests include Candido Camero, Nicky Marrero ...

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Event

Carlos "Patato" Valdes & Afrojazzia at Satalla January 23

Carlos "Patato" Valdes & Afrojazzia at Satalla January 23

Source: All About Jazz

Carlos “Patato" Valdes & Afrojazzia Performance Satalla - New York, NY From 8:00 pm to Legendary Afro-Cuban percussionist Carlos “Patato" Valdes & Afrojazzia Satalla 37 West 26th Street @ Sixth Avenue New York City 8 & 10 pm $20 212-576-1155 Afrojazzia is: Carlos “Patato" Valdes - Percussion Jimmy Delgado - Timbales Enrique Fernandez - Reeds John Walsh - Trumpet Edy Martinez - Piano Cucho Martinez - Bass Phoenix Rivera - Drums Legendary Afro-Cuban percussionist Carlos “Patato" Valdes performs with his ...

128

Performance / Tour

Carlos "Patato" Valdes & Afrojazzia at Satalla January 23

Carlos "Patato" Valdes & Afrojazzia at Satalla January 23

Source: All About Jazz

Legendary Afro-Cuban percussionist Carlos “Patato" Valdes performs in a rare appearance with his group Afrojazzia on Friday, January 23 at Satalla, located at 37 West 26th Street Between Broadway and 6th Ave., in New York City beginning at 8:00 pm. Considered by some to be the greatest living Cuban conga player, Patato has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Tito Puente, Machito, Mario Bauza, Quincy Jones and many other salsa and jazz stars. The first conguero to tune his congas ...

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Performance / Tour

Friends and Colleagues to Pay Tribute to Carlos "Patato" Valdes

Friends and Colleagues to Pay Tribute to Carlos "Patato" Valdes

Source: All About Jazz


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