Tata Güines
Encyclopedia
Tata Güines was a Cuba
n percussionist
on the tumbadora, or conga drum, as well as a composer. He was important in the first generation of Afro-Cuban jazz
.
Güines was born in Güines
, a poor town east of LA HAVANA in HAVANA province of Cuba
. He made his first drums out of milk cartons and sausages. By the 1950s he was working with such top Cuban musician as Arsenio Rodríguez
, Chano Pozo
, Bebo Valdés
and Israel Lopez
. In the late 1950s he formed a band with the pianist Frank Emilio Flynn, forming a new band, Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna, later known as Los Amigos.
Güines moved to New York City in 1957, playing there with great jazz players such as Dizzy Gillespie
, Maynard Ferguson
, and Miles Davis
at Birdland
. As a percussionist, he performed with Josephine Baker
and Frank Sinatra
. He returned to Cuba in 1959 after Fidel Castro
came to power in the Cuban revolution
which he helped fund by contributions from his earnings as a musician.
For a while instrumentalists fell out of favor with the Cuban public and his popularity diminished. He again became popular in 1979 with his work in the Estrellas de Areito
sessions, recording for Egrem, the Cuban state record company, which revived the old descarga style. By the 1990s, he was considered an old master and frequently toured. He recorded with the young conguero Miguel Díaz, his greatest stylistic progeny, on the 1995 record, "Pasaporte", which won the Egrem album of the year award, the equivalent of a Grammy in Cuba. Again in 2004 he played the congas on the Latin Grammy-winning "Lagrimas Negras" ("Black Tears") with pianist Bebo Valdés
and Spanish Flamenco singer Diego El Cigala
. He worked with other young bands and recorded "Chamalongo", with the Canadian saxophonist Jane Bunnett
, and played on the title track of Bebo Valdés
and Diego El Cigala
's popular 2003 album, Lágrimas Negras.
Tata Güines was known as the "King of the Conga
s". He had a musical career that lasted six decades that helped popularize Afro-Cuban
rhythms.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n percussionist
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
on the tumbadora, or conga drum, as well as a composer. He was important in the first generation of Afro-Cuban jazz
Afro-Cuban jazz
Afro-Cuban jazz is an early form of Latin jazz that mixes Afro-Cuban rhythms with harmonies and musical timbre typical of Bebop. It was developed in the early 1940s by both Cuban musicians and Jazz musicians, with Dizzy Gillespie, Mario Bauza, Machito and Stan Kenton among some of the most notable...
.
Güines was born in Güines
Güines
Güines is a municipality and city in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It is located southeast of Havana, next to the Mayabeque River.- History :The city was founded in 1737 by the Spanish...
, a poor town east of LA HAVANA in HAVANA province of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. He made his first drums out of milk cartons and sausages. By the 1950s he was working with such top Cuban musician as Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez was a Cuban musician who played the tres , reorganized the conjunto and developed the son montuno, and other Afro-Cuban rhythms in the 1940s and 50s...
, Chano Pozo
Chano Pozo
Chano Pozo was a percussionist, singer, dancer and composer who played a major role in the founding of Latin jazz...
, Bebo Valdés
Bebo Valdés
Bebo Valdés is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was a central figure in the golden age of Cuban music, led two famous big bands, and was one of the 'house' arrangers for the Tropicana Club.Valdés started his career as a pianist in the night clubs of Havana during the 1940s...
and Israel Lopez
Israel López
Israel López Hernández is a Mexican football player who plays for Querétaro FC.His former clubs include UNAM Pumas, Chivas de Guadalajara, and Cruz Azul, he has also played at international levelfor Mexico....
. In the late 1950s he formed a band with the pianist Frank Emilio Flynn, forming a new band, Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna, later known as Los Amigos.
Güines moved to New York City in 1957, playing there with great jazz players such as Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
, and Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
at Birdland
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
. As a percussionist, he performed with Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was an American dancer, singer, and actress who found fame in her adopted homeland of France. She was given such nicknames as the "Bronze Venus", the "Black Pearl", and the "Créole Goddess"....
and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. He returned to Cuba in 1959 after Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
came to power in the Cuban revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
which he helped fund by contributions from his earnings as a musician.
For a while instrumentalists fell out of favor with the Cuban public and his popularity diminished. He again became popular in 1979 with his work in the Estrellas de Areito
Estrellas de Areito
Estrellas de Areito was an ensemble involving over thirty of Cuba's musicians, including Rubén González, Richard Egües, Nino Rivera, Félix Chappotín, Miguelito Cuní, Pío Leyva, Arturo Sandoval, Tata Güines and Paquito D'Rivera....
sessions, recording for Egrem, the Cuban state record company, which revived the old descarga style. By the 1990s, he was considered an old master and frequently toured. He recorded with the young conguero Miguel Díaz, his greatest stylistic progeny, on the 1995 record, "Pasaporte", which won the Egrem album of the year award, the equivalent of a Grammy in Cuba. Again in 2004 he played the congas on the Latin Grammy-winning "Lagrimas Negras" ("Black Tears") with pianist Bebo Valdés
Bebo Valdés
Bebo Valdés is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was a central figure in the golden age of Cuban music, led two famous big bands, and was one of the 'house' arrangers for the Tropicana Club.Valdés started his career as a pianist in the night clubs of Havana during the 1940s...
and Spanish Flamenco singer Diego El Cigala
Diego El Cigala
Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar, known as El Cigala , is a famous Spanish Romani Flamenco singer...
. He worked with other young bands and recorded "Chamalongo", with the Canadian saxophonist Jane Bunnett
Jane Bunnett
Jane Bunnett is a Canadian soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader known for her Afro-Cuban jazz melodies.In 2004, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada...
, and played on the title track of Bebo Valdés
Bebo Valdés
Bebo Valdés is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was a central figure in the golden age of Cuban music, led two famous big bands, and was one of the 'house' arrangers for the Tropicana Club.Valdés started his career as a pianist in the night clubs of Havana during the 1940s...
and Diego El Cigala
Diego El Cigala
Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar, known as El Cigala , is a famous Spanish Romani Flamenco singer...
's popular 2003 album, Lágrimas Negras.
Tata Güines was known as the "King of the Conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s". He had a musical career that lasted six decades that helped popularize Afro-Cuban
Afro-Cuban
The term Afro-Cuban refers to Cubans of Sub Saharan African ancestry, and to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community...
rhythms.