1948 Arsenio Rodríguez - Tocoloro
xx0x 0xxx 0xx0 xx0x 2-3 son clave
xxxx xxxx xxxx xx00 (pickups to bass tumbao)
0xxx 0xxx 0x00 xx00 MIDI example
bassist: Lázaro Prieto
source: Legendary Sessions

notes: This tumbao clearly marks the clave and also has a unique melodic contour. To appreciate the revolutionary nature of these bass parts you have to keep reminding yourself that prior to Arsenio, almost all bass tumbao followed one of two or three rhythmic formulas and often failed to keep up with the chord progression, much less supply a satisfying countermelody.

This is our first excerpt from Legendary Sessions, a very interesting album combining tracks from four sources: Chano Pozo's group, with Arsenio as a sideman, Machito's big band, with both Chano and Arsenio as sidemen, Arsenio's 1948 conjunto (the source of this recording) and several interesting extended length medleys from 1950 (or 1953 - depending on which source you believe!) with Arsenio's first New York conjunto. It's all great, but the six tracks from 1948 are of "desert island" quality.