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| Carlos "Patato" Valdes' Birthday  Cuban percussion pioneer Carlos “Patato” Valdes celebrates his birthday with a little help from his friends on Friday, November 25 at Satalla World Music Club, NYC Special guests include Candido Camero, Nicky Marrero and Sonny Bravo. A true Cuban legend who has lived in New York since 1954, Patato is considered by many to be the greatest living Cuban conga player and a man who has influenced an entire generation of percussionists. Patato is a master conguero who has played with every giant in the history of salsa and jazz including Machito, Cachao, Mario Bauza, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Tito Puente and Quincy Jones.For over 60 years Carlos “Patato” Valds has demonstrated how a musician can combine technical skill with superb showmanship.His conga playing demonstrates the fusing of melody and rhythm, and his understanding of rhythm is rooted in dance. His use of melodic percussion was well ahead of his time, and required advances in drum technology; during the late 1940's he helped develop the first tunable congas. Now in his 70's, and still going strong, Valds is considered one of the greatest conga players ever to tap the skins. He has played with most of the great figures in the Latin Jazz movement of the 1950s, including a lengthy stint with Herbie Mann's groundbreaking septet and multiple recordings with Tito Puente. He is also the man who gave Brigitte Bardot a mambo lesson in “And God Created Woman.” write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |