Jazz Articles about Patrick Escalante

Johnny Conga: Breaking Skin

by Raul d'Gama Rose
September 7, 2009

Johnny Conga comes from a long line of illustrious tumbadora (conga) players. From the musical evidence on Breaking Skin, this genealogy may begin with the likes of Chano Pozo, Mongo Santamaria, Tata Guines, Candido, Armando Peraza and Francisco Aguabella. Lest there be a scream of “blasphemy," it bears mention that Conga stylistically connects the ancient with the modern, from the challenging rhythms of West Africa--the beating heart of ritmo--to the son and danzon, timba, bembe, charanga, rumba, mambo and more. ...