Good job on this short clinic on playing conga to American swing, jazz, blues & funk. I use these styles a lot more these days playing in the Jazz big band class at Skyline College (San Bruno). I was introduced to this style of swing from back in the seventies playing in the City College Stage Band (David Hardiman's class) and my mentor Oscar (Tal) Rivera broke it down almost exactly as you did here.. Happy playing, Michael!! Even though I prefer playing to traditional Afro-Cuban..it's all good!
You remind me of the cat on David Garibaldi's videos. Even your explaining kind of reminds me of him. Thanks for the class. Peace and Love from Montreal.
@cbnboy34 Its an instrument. Instruments are from all over the world. There shouldn't be discrimination between instruments and their country of origin. These drums make a very good compliment to a jazz band. I for one am a 100% American white boy who wants to learn to play these for his school jazz band. I want to learn to play the instrument, not imitate a culture.
@cbnboy34 Good point, the purpose of the site is to do it in a authentic and informative way. As I'm sure you know there's a lot of people pretending to know what they are doing. Michael and Jesus teach in an accurate and genuine way and in many peoples opinion (those that know more than I) they are handing down from the previous generation.
I had to comment after seeing the comment about "percussion not spiritual"? If your NOT spiritual, fine, but to say that it's 'not', your' missing the sweetest connection EVER! Who am I and how do I know? See me on congas with Marvin Gaye Montreaux 1980, I had been playing about 1 year. I do hug trees too, so, l could just be a kook, BUT l could be right!!??
i agree with you, there are too many mechanistic human drones in this world, that are simply missing the poetry of the spheres;and, you don't need god or religion to be spiritual.
@congamasterclass Culture evolves, it is not static. The attempt to lock down an expression in a time capsule and call it "the correct way" is not only impractical, it is sort nieve. Culture evolves. None of this was ever static, it always came and will always come from an evolution of ideas from somewhere else. To give you and example, read Chaucer or Cervantes and compare their language to contemporary English and/or Spanish.
Well guess what, we're in 2013, slavery isn't legal anymore. We don't care about the past, welcome to the new era of music, where people are open-minded about music and nothing is "sacred" about a certain instrument. Deal with it.
Job well done . That's exactly the way I play when it comes to these types of jams " keep
It up Bro "
Much respect to Mr. Spiro, this video mostly focuses on jazz/blues shuffle not funk.
Love how you explained the subtleties of playing a basic beat that allows one to play a different genre on the congas.
Good job on this short clinic on playing conga to American swing, jazz, blues & funk. I use these styles a lot more these days playing in the Jazz big band class at Skyline College (San Bruno). I was introduced to this style of swing from back in the seventies playing in the City College Stage Band (David Hardiman's class) and my mentor Oscar (Tal) Rivera broke it down almost exactly as you did here.. Happy playing, Michael!! Even though I prefer playing to traditional Afro-Cuban..it's all good!
I just discovered this....I am a female 50 something on a worship team that plays progressively.... thank you!
Thank you for teaching us Congeros. Greetings from Germany.
I think the content is valid and the guy's character or the one that he plays is a real scream. I hope the humor was intended and fully appreciated!
Enjoyed your lesson. I am learning a lot from viewing them all. You sound very current with any style music. Great!
Great I hear alot of elements used in go go music. Good video I needed to hear this.
Check out "Easin' In" by Edwin Starr for some funk conga drumming at it's finest. That's if u haven't already.
@congamasterclass Usted es Omo del tambor, tienes el angel del ritmo.
Ashe Baba ! Ashe Orula! Shango Kabio sihle oh !
This gringo have my respect!
I saw you in salsa too and you have saoco in your hands. Very nice and simple with sabor and clave.
You remind me of the cat on David Garibaldi's videos. Even your explaining kind of reminds me of him. Thanks for the class. Peace and Love from Montreal.
Nico'las Kaz'avan they played in several bands together
Jazz beats are the basis for many a funky sound. You have to start at the basic beat and go from there. Good job, bro'!
Nice one. I learned from it. Thanks.
Very nice!!
It's valid to show all incoming students the variations on Conga playing!! VAYA!!
@cbnboy34 Its an instrument. Instruments are from all over the world. There shouldn't be discrimination between instruments and their country of origin. These drums make a very good compliment to a jazz band. I for one am a 100% American white boy who wants to learn to play these for his school jazz band. I want to learn to play the instrument, not imitate a culture.
STILL LOVE YOU MICHAEL........PEACE
At 01:14, when rhythm is swung.
More, the shuffle part that follows it, can be played in a funk track.
awesome!?!?
FUNK conga and he plays swing and shuffles?
this is very nice ..fairplay
Nice vid
cool! congrats!
are those meinls?
Muy bueno..!
@cbnboy34 Good point, the purpose of the site is to do it in a authentic and informative way. As I'm sure you know there's a lot of people pretending to know what they are doing. Michael and Jesus teach in an accurate and genuine way and in many peoples opinion (those that know more than I) they are handing down from the previous generation.
YES MICHAEL PLEASE STOP
I had to comment after seeing the comment about "percussion not spiritual"? If your NOT spiritual, fine, but to say that it's 'not', your' missing the sweetest connection EVER! Who am I and how do I know? See me on congas with Marvin Gaye Montreaux 1980, I had been playing about 1 year. I do hug trees too, so, l could just be a kook, BUT l could be right!!??
i agree with you, there are too many mechanistic human drones in this world, that are simply missing the poetry of the spheres;and, you don't need god or religion to be spiritual.
What does spiritual mean to you? How do you define it?
Ladies and gentlemen. I present : the stondest guy on earth
@congamasterclass Culture evolves, it is not static. The attempt to lock down an expression in a time capsule and call it "the correct way" is not only impractical, it is sort nieve. Culture evolves. None of this was ever static, it always came and will always come from an evolution of ideas from somewhere else. To give you and example, read Chaucer or Cervantes and compare their language to contemporary English and/or Spanish.
dleddy14 you are criticizing probably the most learned Afro-Cuban brain on the planet.
doesn't sound at all like funk to me, sounds like a swing tumbao
The video is about applying afro-cuban playing to funk....not straight funk. Check out CongaMasterClass for more on this.
hard to follow what you're saying when you pause like that...
Good player, but he didn't talk at all about funk!
galling
by Kurt russle
JUST PLAY ABAKWA PALO BEMBE GUIRO AGBADJA KELE LA TOPA CHANGO LALUBANCHE ETC......
Dude, finish your sandwich!
C'est tout simplement une marcha en 6/8
This guy gets so lost thinking so much before he speaks speaking too much b4 he plays OMG
bad tone from those synthetic heads.
too much talking man!
Try to get a brain !
Nonsense! There is nothing sacred about any percussion instrument I know of. All percussion instruments are taught and studied worldwide.
histfic1 you are very lost. I hope you find your way.
W4ERE IN 2020 !!!! TIME TO PLAY AFRICA AND AFRO CUBAN 6/8 INSTEAD OF SWINGTUMBAO !!!!!!
wow do those drums RING!!! too much overtone!
Well guess what, we're in 2013, slavery isn't legal anymore. We don't care about the past, welcome to the new era of music, where people are open-minded about music and nothing is "sacred" about a certain instrument. Deal with it.
Edgar Vilhelm you are so lost I feel so bad for you. Good luck on your ignorance
I've tried to watch his videos...but the pausing and swallowing noises are annoying! Not very professional
it's michael spiro bro. you don't want it that bad if little shit like that stops you from taking in the info
Is there a way to give you a 1,000,000 thumbs up for that reply? Exactly what I thought when I read the complain. :-)
too much talk
Funk???? Hahaha
THIS TUTO LOOKS LIKE YOUR STONED AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR !!!!!