Some (sort of) instruction on Colombian music (with my EBMM Bongo, of course!)

[Alvabass]

Hi everybody.

I've just uploaded to YouTube a couple of videos showing examples of music from Colombia. The video notes will allow you to know what they are about, so please read them before watching (notes in Spanish and English).

Hope you find them interesting. Feel free to ask whatever you want to know about these tunes/genres/performances. Here are the links:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uk6IKnHje4&fmt=22"]YouTube - "La Candelosa": Una de las mejores líneas de bajo latino (tropical) en existencia.[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhTycDzzuOE&fmt=22"]YouTube - "Espíritu Colombiano": Línea de bajo basada en "Tapping" a dos manos.[/ame]

As on my previous thread, these videos can be seen in high definition. Just add the following codes to the youtube.com URL:

/watch?v=5uk6IKnHje4&fmt=22

/watch?v=EhTycDzzuOE&fmt=22

Thanks for watching!

 

[Mayers]

wow that music is energic ! even the bass part is interesting in both exemple.

My favorite is definitively the second one with tapping parts.

Nice job !

 

[RocketRalf]

Está buenísimo eso Alvaro, el primero no es mi género favorito pero la línea del bajo es super interesante, y el segundo en tapping es espectacular, la conducción de las voces es perfecta y suena de maravilla, bravo!

 

[Sterling_Bass]

Awesome videos as usual, Alvabass.

 

[Gordon of Eden]

WOW!! I really enjoyed that. Do I detect some African influences in the first one?

 

[Alvabass]

WOW!! I really enjoyed that. Do I detect some African influences in the first one?

You are absolutely right. That song is an example of Colombia's Caribbean coast folklore. In that area, the black race is predominant.

 

[Sterling_Bass]

Alvaro, I have watched each of the videos half a dozen times since yesterday. They get better each time.

 

[RobW]

man, you are a great player

always enjoy your vids

 

[Alvabass]

Thanks, guys. I'm glad you find this stuff interesting.

 

[bovinehost]

Someone needs to tell Carlos Vives about you.

 

[Alvabass]

Someone needs to tell Carlos Vives about you.

Hmm... I don't think I can compete with Luis Angel Pastor "El Papa", Jack. BTW, he was the guitar player for El Binomio De Oro at the time in which "La Candelosa" was recorded (1986).

 

[bovinehost]

I've seen Luis live a couple of times.

You can compete.

 

[stretch80]

WOW! Kudos Alva, you are a great player. I love that this is true BASS GUITAR playing - it's not a part you'd play on any other instrument.

Your right hand playing is great -- are you picking with two fingers or three?

 

[Alvabass]

Your right hand playing is great -- are you picking with two fingers or three?

Thank you so much! On "La Candelosa" I use index and middle finger almost exclusively. I only use my thumb for playing three-note chords and add my ring finger for 4-note chords, as on 1:54.

And that's the reason why any dedicated Vallenato bassist will notice that I'm a *insert any music genre but Vallenato here* player trying to play a Vallenato tune. I normally play with two fingers and I don't change that here. But if you check the related videos, you'll find other guys playing the same song but heavily relying on the thumb for the heavier strings and the other fingers for the lighter ones. Two fingers work for me, anyway.

 

[Gordon of Eden]

Just took a 2nd look tonight at these 2 videos, really great!!
Can you reccomend some recordings to look for?
Espiritu Colombiano reminds me a bit of a tune called "Roule Quadrille" off the 1st "Sakesho" album with Andy Narell. Are you familiar with that?
It features the amazing Michel Alibo in an awesome bass workout.

 

[Alvabass]

Just took a 2nd look tonight at these 2 videos, really great!!
Can you reccomend some recordings to look for?
Espiritu Colombiano reminds me a bit of a tune called "Roule Quadrille" off the 1st "Sakesho" album with Andy Narell. Are you familiar with that?
It features the amazing Michel Alibo in an awesome bass workout.

Never heard that tune, man. Is there any chance I can find it?

For Vallenato music, check anything recorded by El Binomio De Oro during 70's and 80's. Carlos Vives (mentioned by Lord Bongo) is one of the most popular Vallenato artists, mainly because he gave a new twist to Vallenato classics with his [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Clasicos-Provincia-Carlos-Vives/dp/B0000015TN/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245422564&sr=1-5"]"Clásicos De La Provincia"[/ame] album from 1993. A highly successful album.

Here you can hear a couple more songs from El Binomio De Oro (pay attention to the basslines):

Déjame Quererte - El Binomio De Oro - goear.com

El Parrandón - El Binomio De Oro - goear.com

For Colombian music from the Andean region, the most important rhythms are Pasillo and Bambuco. "Espíritu Colombiano" is a great example of a Pasillo. Here's another one called "Bandolita" recorded by a trio called "Palos Y Cuerdas":

Bandolita - Trío Palos Y Cuerdas - goear.com

If you are curious about the instruments in that trio (and any typical Colombian music trio), they are acoustic guitar (which mostly plays the bass part), tiple and bandola (in this case "bandola andina colombiana" according to the Wikipedia article), which is the lead instrument.

Oriol Rangel is considered the best pianist in the Andean Colombian music genre:

El Voluntario - Oriol Rangel - goear.com

He also recorded with a saxophone player called Gabriel Uribe. This tune is called "Riete Gabriel" (something like "Laugh, Gabriel") and you'll understand why:

Ríete Gabriel - Gabriel Uribe y Oriol Rangel - goear.com

And also was the director of a famous ensemble called Nocturnal Colombiano. Here's a tune from them called "Contradanza" ("Counterdance"):

Contradanza - Nocturnal Colombiano - goear.com

Hope this helps, man. Let me know if you need further info.

 

[Gordon of Eden]

There are 2 Sakesho albums out as far as I know. Both are on the Heads up label. The first is self titled and the 2nd is called "We want you to say". I know both are available on Amazon.com. It is all great caribbean flavored Jazz with Andy Narell on Steel Drums and Keys. An Amazing keyboardist and drummer whos names elude me at the moment. And Michel Alibo from the french band "Sixun" on bass. If you are not familiar with him then you are in for a treat, He's a terrific player.
Thank you for the reccomendations. I will be doing some shopping this week. I love this kind of music although I don't have many outlets in which to practice and play these styles.
I have always felt that even a slight knowledge of different styles contributes to my playing in every positive way.
Thank you for turning us on to this music.
All the best,
Dave.

 

[zuma]

Those videos are awesome. I didn't expect that at all. The music is great and your playing is wonderful. I'm going to learn your Super Mario first I think!

I don't know how well this translates to Columbian slang but, eres chingon hermano!!!