Author Archives: robbrandonpercussion

This week I uploaded my timbales cover of the Noro Morales tune Oye, negra 👂🏻 I always love the bands that he put together, they were super tight. He was very important in the movement of Puerto Ricans to New York City which eventually birthed the salsa movement. This song is speedy, so if youContinue reading “Oye, negra Timbales Cover”

This week I crushed my conga cover of Willie Bobo’s tune Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries 🍟 The legendary conguero Carlos “Patato” Valdés does an amazing job on this tune speaking on one drum. If you are looking for some good one drum tumbao variations, this is a great place to start ⚡️Continue reading “Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries Conga Cover”

Here is a bongo cover of the Cachao tune Sopresa de flauta that I made this week 🥳 All of Yeyito’s playing is excellent, and this song is no exception. Although the pattern he plays is just quarter notes on the mouth of the bongo bell, his timing is impeccable and he adds some coolContinue reading “Sopresa de flauta Bongo Cover”

This week I am sharing a timbales cover of the Típica 73 tune Si te tuviera 🫵🏻 I love Orestes Vilató’s approach to playing cha-cha on this recording. He takes a simple cha-cha part for the timbales and adds some really well placed flourishes and embellishments. Check it out and grab the transcription 🔥 WantContinue reading “Si te tuviera Timbales Cover”

This week I made a conga cover of the La Charanga ’76 song Juan cabeza de pan 🍞 While the conga playing on this tune is straightforward, the playing is very solid. If you are a beginning/intermediate conguero, this transcription is a great way to learn some simple variations… and it is only $6.99 😜Continue reading “Juan cabeza de pan Conga Cover”

This week I am sharing a bongo cover of the Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez tune Blanca paloma 🕊️ Victor Cruz is the bongosero on this recording. I really love his approach on the instrument. He has some great phrasing and killer timing. In my opinion, he is an underrated bongosero. Take a listen at letContinue reading “Blanca paloma Bongo Cover”

This week I created a timbales cover of Tito Puente’s version of Yiri-yiri-bon 🥁 This song was really fun to work on because Tito is always so creative with his playing. He can take a simple part and really make it his own. There is no question why he is referred to as, “The KingContinue reading “Yiri-yiri-bon Timbales Cover”

This week I posted a conga cover of the Mongo Santamaría song Mama Papa Tu 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 I love how clear Mongo’s playing is on his recordings. It makes it that much more fun to analyze and play along to. He works some really creative and challenging ideas around his tumbao on this song. Check itContinue reading “Mama Papa Tu Conga Cover”

This week I’m sharing a bongo cover of the Ray Barretto tune La familia 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Barretto always put together epic rhythm sections, and the one he featured on his album Indestructible is top notch. Tony Fuentes (on bongo) has some unique martillo variations on this tune. I love the way he approaches the instrument 🥁Continue reading “La familia Bongo Cover”

My improvisation series wraps up this week with a timbales cover of the Balún song Pulsos 🎺 I really enjoy playing this song because it gets me moving and there is plenty of room to add percussion. It also features the horn section of one of the best current Afro-beat bands, Antibalas. Go check itContinue reading “Pulsos Timbales Cover”

My improvisation series continues this week on my YouTube channel with a conga cover of Carl Carlton’s tune She’s a Bad Mama Jama 👩🏾 This song grooves and will get your head moving. It was fun taking a few different conga patterns and jamming out to this tune. Go check it out! Fill out my contactContinue reading “She’s a Bad Mama Jama Conga Cover”

I’m switching it up for the next three week on my YouTube channel 💁🏻‍♂️ I’m sharing covers of tunes that I like to practice to that don’t have Afro-Cuban percussion! To kick it off I played Funky Runthrough, Pt 1&2 by The Poets of Rhythm. These guys are a super funky underground group from Germany,Continue reading “Funky Runthrough, Pt 1&2 Bongo Cover”

This week I featured a timbales cover of the Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound song Ese soy yo on my YouTube channel 🔥 I enjoy Roena’s fusion of Afro-Cuban, jazz, funk, and soul to create his unique sound. This tune features Endel Dueño on timbales. He is an absolute beast on the instrument soContinue reading “Ese soy yo Timbales Cover 🥁”

Another new conga cover dropped on my YouTube channel this week 🪘 Piensa en mi by Ray Barretto is a quintessential bolero. One thing I have learned about playing bolero is that, rhythmically, less is more. Barretto perfectly encapsulates that philosophy with his playing on this tune 🎵 Want the conga transcription? 👉🏼 Click hereContinue reading “Piensa en mi Conga Cover”

I posted a new bongo cover on my YouTube channel this week 🎥 Isla del encanto by Orquesta Broadway features the legendary Tommy “Chuckie” Lopez, Jr. on bongo. His martillo variations during the verse sections are truly outstanding and his bongo bell playing is like clockwork ⏰ Want the bongo transcription? 👉🏼 Click here FillContinue reading “Isla del encanto Bongo Cover”

There is another new timbales cover on my YouTube channel this week 🥊 Bar y copas is a straight down the pipe salsa tune from the boys from Colombia – Grupo Niche! Make sure to pay attention to the sneaky hits Diego Camacho works in during the verse sections 😈 Want the timbales transcription? 👉🏼Continue reading “Bar y copas Timbales Cover”

My El nazareno conga cover just dropped on my YouTube channel 💥 Ismael Rivera always put together epic bands. This song features some intricate conga playing by Frankie Malabé. I think he is definitely an underrated conguero. Go check it out and let me know if you agree 🧐 Want the conga transcription? 👉🏼 ClickContinue reading “El nazareno Conga Cover”

It’s Tito Puente week over on my YouTube channel with bongo cover of The Man From Jamaica 🥁 You can’t go wrong with the master, even with his old material. This song features a killer rhythm section with the legendary Willie Bobo dropping some bongo FIRE 🔥 Want the bongo transcription 👉🏼 Click here FillContinue reading “The Man From Jamaica Bongo Cover”

Dropped a timbales cover of Bruca maniguá this week on my YouTube channel 💡 I love Ray Barretto’s rendition of this tune. Orestes Vilató absolutely crushes the timbale part on this track. The changes between Afro and Son on this one are fire 🔥 Want the timbales transcription? 👉🏼 Click here Fill out my contact form forContinue reading “Bruca maniguá Timbales Cover”

My Brujeria conga cover is live on my Youtube channel 🎥 This song features some exceptional conga playing by Miguel Torres of the mighty El Gran Combo del Puerto Rico. I really love how he takes a few simple tumbao variations to keeps his playing interesting throughout. This one is worth checking out 👋🏼 WantContinue reading “Brujeria Conga Cover”

I just uploaded my Mary Ann bongo cover to YouTube 👏🏼 Over the last few months, I have been creating demo videos for all the Afro-Cuban percussion songs I have transcribed. The tune features some great playing by Francisco “Chino” Pozo on bongo. Go check it out! Want the bongo transcription? 👉🏼 Click here FillContinue reading “Mary Ann Bongo Cover”