The Roots of Timba, Pt I - 1949-Dundunbanza

by Kevin Moore ©2007

1949 Arsenio Rodríguez - Dundunbanza
0xx0 xx0x xx0x 0xxx 3-2 son clave
0xx0 x0xx 0xx0 0xxx MIDI example
bassist: Lázaro Prieto
source: Dundunbanza

notes: Dundunbanza is just one torrid vamp from beginning to end, barely even pausing for the bloque. The bass tumbao is unusually similar to the coro in both pitch and rhythm and marks the clave very distinctly. At the end of his solo Lilí hints strongly at the way timba piano would be played a half century later. The diablo is also very interesting -- it has interlocking trumpet parts but the lower one is played in a way that sounds very much like trombones. Having only recently introduced the idea of more than one trumpet Arsenio was already laying the groundwork for future conjuntos with contrasting groups of horns.

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Tuesday, 22 March 2011, 07:32 PM