George Clinton and Me @ Berklee!
These two rhythms are not the same!
The Difference Between Congas and Bongos
These (on the left ) are CONGAS. They are larger and sit on the ground when played. The song “What’s Going On” uses congas in addition to drum set. Many people mistakingly think these are bongos.
The drums on the right are BONGOS. They are are held between the knees when drummers play them. They also have a very hi pitched sound. The song “Outstanding” by the Gap Band, uses bongos in addition to the drum set. Go and look up the song and see if you can hear them. Bongos are also featured prominently in the theme from the court TV show “The People’s Court”
You can hear both, the congas (on the right) and bongos (on the left) in this video by Celia Cruz and La India. The song is “La Voz de la Experiancia” The Voice of Experience. The conga player (conguero, in Spanish) is standing whereas the bongo player (bongocero, in Spanish) is sitting.
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p32Yynab6l8
#music #vocabulary #drums #latinpercussion
Music lessons available in Southbay (Los Angeles)
Cariko Music Group
Music Lessons for all levels and styles. If you want to take your playing to the next level, or if you just want to learn a new instrument in order to enrich your life, give us a call!
Ruri…
CHOPS & LICKS
CHOPS and LICKS: What’s the difference?
The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of woodwind instruments or the mouthpiece of the brass instruments. Commonly referred to as “CHOPS”
The term CHOPS has also come to be used to describe technical ability in general, on any instrument. For example, one might say something like, “Wow, she’s got a lot of chops” about someone who can play very difficult things on their instrument. So, to be clear, it is NOT possible for a musician to PLAY chops. We HAVE ABILITY. We HAVE CHOPS. CHOPS and ABILITY could be used interchangeably.
This term should NOT be confused with musical ideas or “LICKS” which are patterns or ideas that make up a portion of musical vocabulary, especially in improvised music. Many musicians often make the mistake of using “chops” and “licks” as if they have the same meaning. They do not.
I once had a student ask to be taught “a chop per week.” What that student meant was that they wanted to learn a new “LICK” at every weekly lesson. There is NO SUCH THING AS “A CHOP”, in music. #musicterminology
Martin Luther King
I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland Ohio, called Cleveland Heights. My family moved there during the Summer, right after I turned six years old. Though not a perfect place, the Cleveland Heights/University Heights School system was (in my opinion) decades ahead of it’s time. Though I struggled with my identity as a black boy growing up in the 70s, I count it a blessing that my mom saw fit to move us to a place where children of African, Asian, and European decent who were Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Buddhist lived in the same neighborhoods, played in band together, and played together on sports teams and theatre groups. We ate at the same tables. We fought and we argued, we sometimes called each other names and made disparaging remarks about the ethnicities of others. We all brought everything we’d learned up until then, along with us to school and out on the block when we played. We weren’t perfect, no. But, there were a whole lot of “somebodies” who saw enough of the big picture to let us be together and strive together, for “The Dream”. This country struggles still, with issues that were created long before any of us existed. But, we keep making progress little-by-little. Today, I’m thankful that my home country is at least beginning to catch up with my little home town of Cleveland Heights. Let’s all keep growing up together! Let’s make “The Dream” a full reality for our children in the coming generations. Happy Birthday to Martin Luther King. Thank you for lighting the way for us!
Behind The Lines
Video Release by Andy Vargas & One Tribe Nation
So, FINALLY, the video we shot for our song,”Behind The Lines” is out! produced by Sullen TV, the video features my band, One Tribe Nation and Santana lead singer, Andy Vargas! The song shows the writer in a most vulnerable state of mind bearing his soul about his personal demons. The video was shot on location at The Continental Room in Fullerton,CA. Please have a look at the video…and share it with all your friends. A rocking tune with authentic LA latin-rock vibe.
“BEHIND THE LINES”
ENJOY!
One Tribe Nation & Andy Vargas shoot music video with Sullen Musik!
Yup! That’s right! Look for it soon!
As some of you know, my band One Tribe Nation recorded a song with (lead singer of Santana) Andy Vargas, several months ago, that is on a compilation released by the life-style company Sullen Clothing. The compilation titled Sullen Musik Volume 1, also includes tracks from CYPRESS HILL’S B-Real, as well as several Orange County- based bands such as Johnny G, The Slow Forward, Oscar Brown, Shifty’s Crazy Town, Mest, Lost Souls, Inhale, Sick Jacken, Attika 7, Good Guys In Black, Low Life Music, Against All Odds, Psycho Realm, The Pricks, Lords of Ruin, 2tone, Cashis and Rikanatti, and Yuri Yuri. The album is currently available for download on amazon and iTunes.
Featuring Mao Shimizu and Amin El! Sept. 25 =)
If you dug the Tuesday night jam we had back in June, then you’ll LOVE this. Come on by 2nd Street Jazz which is located in Little Tokyo! for a night of great music and great fun!
This time we feature singer Mao Shimizu and singer/multi-instrumentalist Amin El both doing their own set of music with our stellar band of some of LA’s finest musicians on the jazz scene! Just as before the featured show will be followed by a jam session. So, musicians, bring your instruments, singers bring your voices..lol..can you imagine someone actually leaving their voice at home? But, I digress..come out! Great music, great fun, great company in a cool venue where music is king! 5 dollar cover. See you there! 366 East 2nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90012
