Carlos “Patato” Valdés (1926–2007) was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader whose six-decade career bridged Havana’s dance halls and New York’s jazz stages. A defining figure in Afro-Cuban jazz, his performances and recordings continue to influence percussionists around the world.
Percussion Profiles: Mongo Santamaría
Percussion Profiles: Tata Güines
Cuban master conguero Tata Güines is hailed as the godfather of modern conga playing. His crisp and unique sound, rhythmic vocabulary and technical innovations, as well as his prolific body of recorded work, have had an immeasurable impact, however direct or indirect, on every conga player over the past 70 years.