Versión en Español, pulsa AQUÍ

From Son to Songo,
or how Formell defined
"Timba with Songo"

By:
Santiago, Cuba

Translated by:

Since the time that different types of popular Cuban music have existed, there has not been a musical genre that has caused more diverse opinions between the experts than that of the "son". This of course, does not leave by the wayside the Changüí and other derivations which equally have their origins in the Son, including Salsa, Songo, Timba and other pseudonyms that have been used to differentiate between the styles and formats that have surfaced over the 40 some years that the son has been in existance.

We will try to explain here, in our own way, what Juan Formell called, "Timba con Songo".

Since Juan Formell appeared on the Cuban musical scene as a member of the Orquesta Revé near the end of the 60's, certain subtle transformations began to take place that would revolutionize Cuban music and that have served as a basis for all of the new musical movements, at the same time maintaining the authenticity of the Son. This shows the rich musical roots that have always been inside our dear island - Cuba.

What is Songo?

Without going into a profound theoretical explanation, "...it is the synthesis of a personality, of a way of being and feeling the music, a sum of cultures and a way of making a musician into someone polyfacetic and original: Juan Formell." (Francisco Ulloa).

In the beginning

Of all of the changes made by Juan Formell, the most well known are those he made to the musical format known as Charanga, among others: the incorporation of the bass and the electric guitar, the introduction of the Vermona electric organ, some with double keyboards, known as the organeta (possibly of Soviet origin), the larger violin and cello section, in addition to the use of the violins imitating the strumming on the guitar; substitution of the 5-hole flute for the traditional flute and the use of the singers, as well as the full drum set (known as the Cuban Drum set); and introduction of the three trombone section, which caused a grumble among the music critics when it was first done. These changes have changed the sound of the traditional format of those groups that played Son. It was a sort of hybrid between the Rock, Jazz, Big Band and Charanga Orchestras.

It was the elements taken from the Son, Rock, Jazz and the percussion instruments with the full drum set as well as other Afro-Cuban rhythmic instruments, including the Pailas, that Formell called Songo, "... which consists of a rhythm design in the percussion, combining the tumbao in the Piano, followed by the electric bass with a counter rhythm and obtaining a well defined cadence that the dancers can pick up on immediately. With this they go on to form new choreographies including pelvic thrusts and rather lascivic movements...".

In the beginning what made Songo so special was the participation of the drummer Blas Egües and the decisive contributions of the percussionist, José Luís Quintana (Changuito), as well as the participation of César Pedroso (Pupi) who had a very special way of executing the tumbao on the piano, and mostly the charismatic and unique style of the Master Juan Formell on the bass.

Songo is alive and well today within that formidable, universally well-known group called the Orquesta Los Van Van, and proof of that is the Grammy Award they received in 1999 for the album they recorded in the Estudios ABDALA (Cuba) entitled, “Llegó Van Van”. The following songs, “Permiso, que llegó Van Van”; “El negro está cocinando” and “Temba, tumba, timba”, are prime examples of some of the best songo around.

With the CD, “Llegó Van Van” this group has run circles around the most popular salsa groups today and have proven that "Timba con Songo" is not an accident. It is the culmination of 30 years of transcending the other groups in their genre, and sets apart not only the founder of the group, but all of those who have contributed to the enrichment of Cuban music, both in and out of the Orquesta Los Van Van.

It is paradoxical that the Grammys awarded the Orquesta Los Van Van this award in 1999 for the category of "Best Salsa Group". No, this is not salsa! This is Songo con Timba!

 

Definitions:

Timba: Synonym of "Piquete".

Piquete: Non-conventional musical group that may take different formats and execute distinct styles of music.

Tumbao: A very particular way of playing the piano with a counterpoint line that repeats and acquires almost a percussive quality.

May 29, 2003, in Santiago, Cuba.

 

Translator's note: Thank you to Tomás Cruz for help with Cuban musical terminology!

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Esta página fue actualizada el día / This page last updated on:  31-Dec-2007