Music
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As a sworn "olu batá" drummer, Francisco Aguabella is revered as a Santería drum priest, a master of tradition. But in the '60s he was also Peggy Lee's favorite conga drummer and toured the country with her band. Since coming to the U.S. in 1957, the Matanzas-born Cuban drummer has been a pivotal force, incorporating traditional Afro-Cuban folkloric sounds into American pop and jazz.
A former member of the Latin rock band Malo, Aguabella is in his prime on this reissue of his 1977 Epsilon Records album (his second asa leader). Hitting Hard is street-style rare groove fusing Brazilian, salsa, Latin jazz, and funk flavors with a cast that includes San Francisco vibist Nerio De Gracia, the dynamic Cedric Deon Bi on vocals, and percussion great Armando Peraza.
Ramón's Desire kicks it off featuring the rich voice of Deon Bi, whose expressive articulation and soulful delivery are impressive throughout.
Afro-Nue, co-written by Aguabella and Peraza, is a traditional piece that has Francisco chanting, asa lone flute plays over drums and marimba in an intriguing kaleidoscopic counterpoint. The Edu Lobo composition, Casa Fuerte, is awe-inspiring due to Aguabella's drumming virtuosity, but Anna Maria is a dancehall reminder of his salsa days with César's Latin All-Stars in the Mission District.
Aguabella's been with everybody - Gillespie, Palmieri, Puente, Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Santana, Cal Tjader, Mongo, Katherine Dunham, and Malo. Les Blank produced a film on his life, Sworn To The Drum, but this reissue projects his creative side at a fruitful point in his career. Thanks to the British jazz dance scene and fans like Japanese DJ and Latin Jazz aficionado Raphael Sebbag, of the United Future Organisation, there's an Aguabella revival underway and it's "Hitting Hard!" - Latin Beat Magazine
Discography
Solo Recordings:
1999 - Hitting Hard - Ubiquity Records
1999 - H2O - Ubiquity Records
2000 - Agua de Cuba - Ubiquity Records
2002 - Cubacan - Ubiquity Records
2004 - Ochimini - Ubiquity Records
Featured Recordings:
1949 - Best of Tito Puente: El Rey del Timbal!
1950 - Dizzy's Diamonds: The Best of Verve Years
Dizzy Gillespie
1957 - Talkin' Verve - Dizzy Gillespie
1957 - Top Percussion - Tito Puente
1958 - Afro-Roots - Mongo Santamaria
1958 - Mongo's Greatest Hits - Mongo Santamaria
1958 - Yambu -Mongo Santamaria y Sus Ritmos Afro Cuban
1959 - Mongo - Mongo Santamaria
1961 - Yazz Per Favore - Emil Richards
1963 - Mink Jazz - Peggy Lee
1970 - Jungle Grass - The Aquarians
1970 - Justicia - Eddie Palmieri
1971 - Other Voices - The Doors
1972 - Dos - Malo
1973 - Canyon Lady - Joe Henderson
1973 - Evolution - Malo
1974 - Ascencion - Malo
1975 - Cesar 830 - Cesar Ascarrunz
1977 - Ecue Ritmos Cubanos -Louis Bellson with Walfredo de Los Reyes
1978 - Lucumi, Macumba, Voodoo - Eddie Palmieri
1980 - Swing of Delight - Santana
1982 - Oye Como Va: The Dance Collection - Tito Puente
1982 - Sueño - Eddie Palmieri
1984 - Rey - Tito Puente With His Latin Ensemble
1989 - Ambos Mundos - Bobby Hutcherson
1990 - Rhythm of the Saints - Paul Simon
1990 - Spirits Dancing in the Flesh - Santana
1991 - Latino Latino: Music from the Streets of L.A.
Various Artists
1992 - Best of Malo -Malo
1993 - 1964-1993 - Paul Simon
1993 - Benny Velarde/Francisco Aguabella Orchestras
Benny Velarde/Francisco Aguabella Orches
1994 - Best of Dance Mania - Tito Puente
1994 - Master Sessions, Vol. 1 - Cachao
1995 - Flying South - Pete Escovedo
1995 - Master Sessions, Vol. 2 - Cachao
1995 - Yambeque: The Progressive Side of Tito Puente
Tito Puente
1996 - Groovy, Vol. 1: A Collection of Rare Jazzy Club Track - Various Artists
1996 - Hacia El Amor - John Santos & the Coro Folklorico Kindem
1996 - Luntana - Emil Richards
1996 - New Jazz Spectrum, Vol. 3 - Various Artists
1997 - Latin Jazz Dance Classics, Vol. 2 - Various Artists
1997 - Nu Yorica 2!: Further Adventures in Latin Music Chang - Various Artists
1997 - Passion Dance - Herb Alpert
1998 - Metamorphosis: Jazz Meets the Symphony, #4
Lalo Schifrin
1999 - Agua de Cuba - Francisco Aguabella
1999 - California Dreamin': Jazz Exotica -Various Artists
1999 - H2O -Francisco Aquabella
1999 - Jazz Meets Symphony Collection - Lalo Schifrin
1999 - Lost Chicano Oldies, Vol. 1 - Various Artists
1999 - New Latinaires, Vol. 2 - Various Artists
1999 - No Categories, Vol. 2: Ubiquity Compilation -Various Artists
1999 - Paul Simon Anthology - Paul Simon
1999 - Royalty of Salsa - Various Artists
1999 - Talkin' Verve - Lalo Schifrin
1999 - Visions of Music: World Jazz - Various Artists
1999 - Viva Cubop!: Jazz the Afro-Cuban Way - Various Artists
2000 - Afro-Cuban Fiesta - Various Artists
2000 - Incontournables - Mongo Santamaria
2000 - Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars, Vol. 1 - Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars
2000 - Late Night Sessions - Caravana Cubana
2000 - Many a Wonderful Moment - Rosemary Clooney
2000 - No Categories, Vol. 3: Ubiquity Compilation - Various Artists
2000 - Viva Cubop!, Vol. 2: Dance the Afro-Cuban Way
- Various Artists
2001 - Complete RCA Recordings, Vol. 2 - Tito Puente
2001 - Cuban Masters: Los Originales - Los Originales
2001 - First Love Last Love - Trevor McShane
2001 - Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, Vol. 2- Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars
2001 - Pass Me By/Big $pender - Peggy Lee
2001 - Saoco! Masters of Afro-Cuban Jazz - Various Artists
2002 - Breakfast at Tiffany's/Bossa Nova/Contemporary Latin - Barney Kessel
2002 - Cantos a los Orishas - Francisco Aguabella y Sus - Tambores Bata
2002 - Continental - Dizzy Gillespie
2002 - Del Alma - Caravana Cubana
2002 - Jazz Chillout [EMI] - Various Artists
2002 - Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta - Various Artists
2002 - Pablo Sampler - Various Artists
2003 - Outa Sight - Poncho Sanchez
2003 - Viva Cubop!, Vol. 3: More Jazz the Afro Cuban Way - Various Artists
2004 - Last Bullfighter - Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars
2004 - Rhythm of the Saints [Bonus Tracks] - Paul Simon
2004 - Ritmo Afro-Cubano - Various Artists
2004 - Studio Recordings 1972-2000 - Paul Simon
Photos
Bio
Conguero Francisco Aguabella left Cuba in 1954 to perform in the Italian film, "Mambo," starring Shelley Winters before finally coming to the United States in 1959. From Europe, to Australia, to South America and all over the United States (including the White House), Francisco has enjoyed an extensive music performing and recording career and has delighted many audiences with his masterful and powerful rhythms.
He has performed with many great artists such as Tito Puente, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao, Lalo Schifrin, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Carlos Santana, Poncho Sanchez, Paul Simon, recent Grammy winner Bebo Valdes, and many more.
Francisco is a recipient of awards such as the National Heritage Fellowship of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and received a fellowship for the Durfee Foundation. He is featured in the documentary, "Sworn to the Drum" by Les Blank.
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