E' scomparso a 84 anni a Los Angeles, dopo una lunga lotto contro il cancro, Francisco Aguabella, percussionista originario di Cuba e maestro delle conga: emigrato negli Stati Uniti dall'isola caraibica negli anni cinquanta, l'artista accompagnò sia grandi del jazz come Dizzy Gillespie e Tito Puente che nomi di primo piano del rock come Doors e Santana, anche se le sue collaborazioni più durature furono con Frank Sinatra (nella foto) e Paul Simon. Nonostante la sua non più giovanissima età Aguabella continuò ad esibirsi con regolarità fino alla fine degli anni Ottanta, senza farsi mancare, fino all'ultimo, sporadiche apparizioni dal vivo: per il prossimo sabato, ad esempio, una sua esibizione era attesa in un locale di Fullerton, in Californa.
Fonte:
http://www.rockol.it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQGJ2yIAGTk[yt=425,350]aQGJ2yIAGTk[/yt]
Vai al sito ufficiale:
http://www.franciscoaguabella.com/La sua biografia tratta dal sito ufficiale:
About Francisco Aguabella
Legendary Conguero Francisco Aguabella first left Cuba in the 1950's to perform with Katherine Dunham in the
Shelley Winters movie "Mambo" filmed in Italy.
After touring with Katherine Dunham he came to the United States and performed and toured with Peggy Lee for the
next seven years. He has performed in Europe, Australia, 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.
Francisco performed with many great Jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Frank
Sinatra, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao, Lalo Schifrin, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Poncho Sanchez, Bebo Valdes,
and numerous others. Francisco's love of music transcends genres as he has also performed and recorded with Rock
legends Carlos Santana, Three Dog Night, Paul Simon, and the Doors. Francisco has had the honor of receiving
awards such as the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Durfee Foundation's
Master Musicians' Fellowship, and recognition by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. He is featured in
the documentary, "Sworn to the Drum" by filmmaker Les Blank, and is currently featured in a new documentary, "Aguabella," currently
in production, directed by actor/filmmaker Orestes Matacena (The Mask, Bitter Sugar). He has also appeared with his
ensemble on television programs including the Orlando Jones Show on FX.
Francisco is a widely recognized master conguero and bata artist, a caring and knowledgeable instructor, and
one of the most inspiring artists of all time.
He leads his own Latin Jazz Ensemble and when the opportunity arises he performs as a guest with the Conga Kings and
wherever he is invited to perform. Francisco has endorsed Pearl Drums since 2004 and teaches Afro Cuban drumming
at UCLA.
