How To Do The Francisco Aguabella Tumbao 

Eric - After my departure from Poncho’s band I had the pleasure of being Francisco’s bongocerro for about 4/5 years. Such a treat!!! I’ve got some amazing stories with Maestro Aguabella. On one occasion, we had a gig at a very popular Latin club in Venice Beach, CA, “Miami Spice.” His then timbalero, another great Afro-Cuban percussionist, Nengue Hernandez had a previous engagement so Francisco had me play congas while he switched to timbales. I took my 1984 Skin On Skin drums. During setting up Francisco gets very curious about my drums! He asks to mess with them, falls in love with them and he asks me all about them. What are they, who makes them, where can you get them! I gave him Jay Bereck‘s phone number and in no time at all Francisco had three, ash Skin On Skin congas that he used up until his passing. We were neighbors, in Redondo Beach, CA so he would pick me up for rehearsals which gave me the chance to pick his brain! Rest in peace, Maestro Aguabella...🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽Gracias.

This is great. Nobody out here is combining musical history, crisp technique explanations, humor and general good vibes like you do. As an aspiring conguero I really appreciate your work. Gracias 'mano.

Eric, I appreciate the history lessons that you give us as much as the actual conga themselves. The love and respect always comes through. Thanks so much, man!!

Thanks for reminding me of what an icon Fransisco was. Now I appreciate him much more than when I played in his band. Very much appreciated!

I saw Francisco Aguabella live and when he hits the congas they resonate very loudly... Amazing tones, and hard core approach.

It's alright to take a day off, you knock out these videos like mad! I appreciate the amount of work that goes into making a video. Spot on video of Aguabella's tumbao. Mr. Francisco Aguabella was the cultural embodiment of Matanza, Cuba on so many levels.

Amazing! Francisco is one of the all-time greats and I'm sure he would be proud!

He was a pioneer.. one of my favorites. Heavy.. beyond description.. powerful cat.

I appreciate this. The first time I heard Francisco Aguabella was on the radio. It was an instrumental Latin jazz. He soloed but his drummer/timbalero just shredded. Thats what got my attention at the time. I looked into and found out a little about Francisco. My understanding he was in So Cal. The music industry down there was not trying to give him the "love" so his exposure suffered because of it. Phenomenal conguero and traditionally especially for his time, tuned lower (than today's norm). Awesome bro, thank you for sharing

Eric, I love these tumbaos. Thanks again for taking the time to bring these to lite. I got my hands full.

Eric yeah have stayed away from him as well until you brought him on thanks for getting me involved!!!

Fantastic Eric! what an absolutetly amazing and superb video. The time you take to explain the 'bio' of your featured conguero is deeply appreciated AND important. It's like reading a great book: when you do you connect with a greater intelligence and wisdom. That's what you do in your introduction. This must take time and effort and love. I'm sure all your subscribers know this and are grateful you . God bless. Blair.

I love the history lesson i didn't realize how much i have in common with Francisco besides the cancer thing. i too have the mania of raising my index finger when i slap i been trying hard to stop it thinking it was not proper.😁 Now you made me realize i can do it proudly. Im Always learning from you please never stop.

He really had his own groove and his own pocket!!

Awesome video as usual bro, looking forward to seeing you perform on Sunday!,

Brother! KILLING LIKE ALWAYS!

Hi nice work and interpretation

Francisco was a folkloric specialist. The other cats may have known some, but he was a real tamborero. Matanzas!!!!

Thanks Eric god bless you and your family this tumbao is helping me with my non dominant hand and also to play a better tone with the open slap.

THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THIS UNIQUE TUMBAO DOWN AND DEMONSTRATING ITS PLAYING.... YOU'RE A GREAT EDUCATOR AS WELL AS A PLAYER .... PALANTE MI HERMANITO 👍👍👍🎶🎶🎶🎵🎵🎵😐

Nice work...Love it....

LOVed his playing on MALO on EVOLUTION and ASCENSION-- groovy LAIN ROCK classics--------right first heard the great Francisco......

I like very much this video about that legend.

Thanks for the interesting video! From the beginning, it's a little unusual to play three strokes in a row with your right hand, but then you get used to it, as if you were playing a bongo cowbell :) It is quite convenient to transfer the right hand to tumba.

Hope you are doing well Eric, yeah that stuff is running around getting everyone sick! Anyway another awesome break down on an iconic icon, and Don Francisco was one of the top ones! Keep up the great work Bro and get better, don't over work yourself!

I grew up in the '70''s listening mostly to Mongo, Baretto, Patato, and Armando. Mongo was mostly everyone's hero.

I as well give a little finger lift myself. It gives me that pop on the slap. Everybody's hands are different. With that in mind...there is no correct was of doing it as long as the sound comes out.

You are a bad man!😊

Oh that's gonna be a challenge. Thank you, and love you!

Great lesson! earlier in the video you also played his trademark base, slap,slap, before going on to play the two open tones followed by a ghost note. im paying attention. Gracias compay.

Wow that is a beautiful tumbao!

Excelente maestro, muchas gracias!!!

Thanks! this is great.. I've seen the great Eddie Montalvo lifting his finger like that, I thought it was because of injury or something like that... thanks again for teaching me this.

Those drums sound great

I've been reading bios on Francisco. He tends to credit being from the Mantanzas and starting out playing the bata and different schools. Which was different than where Mongo was from.

Qué maravilla!

That ghost on the right, before the double on the tumba is catching me out.. 😄

That double slap papa!! It's thoooose little thingssss.

Nice!

Thx for the education!

Thx for the HISTORY lesson. Eso QUENTA MUCHOOOO.

Wow, look at Francisco's hands.

Hey my brother, its been a while. i played at a beautiful place and awhhhhhh forgot my wrench. lol thought of you and the footage you made.....thanks again. ever heard of junior tirado congas? i have 4drums 20 year old set rumba set. im selling them. if your interested let me know.....

Can you check FRANKIE Malabe on congas?

Kind of Curious!!! What type of Dark Skins do you have on your Congas? Cesar

Mongo was from Havana's Jesús María barrio.