Hello friends, good vibes to all.

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When we talk about a musical rhythm and everything that defines it, we usually refer to the type of percussion they have, if it is possible to use this expression, and how through the blows on the instruments we can identify them instantly. That is to say, basically the percussion is the heart of a song and the beats we give are the beats, I hope I don't sound dramatic but I think it is the perfect metaphor to be better understood.

But then, what am I getting at? - Well, today I want to show you how this part of the music is so important regardless of the rhythm. It doesn't matter if it's salsa, merengue or latin rhythms or even rock or pop, there always has to be a percussion to match. Today we will see how through the timbal, Latin percussion instruments and a drum kit can be transmitted in such a way that nothing else is needed.

First of all I want to put you in context. Some time ago I belonged to a group, the Bolivar and Garibaldi Band, which taught me everything I know today about music and especially about percussion. In it I spent more than 10 years playing all kinds of instruments: redoblantes, grenadiers, drums, etc. and it was thanks to this that my taste for this musical section developed in such a way that if I could live playing, I would do it.

In this video you will see how and what we played in those times. Luckily I appear in it and exactly at minute 2:10 you will be able to see me playing the best salsa that young people can play. Having said that, let's go to the videos I want to show you.

- Solo de Percusión: merengue y ritmos latinos.

The percussion corps of the band of maestro Juan Luis Guerra. Evidently we are in front of musicians who are probably some of the best in the world in their departments and that is why I brought them here today. Doing what they do in the video is something incredibly difficult because beyond the "improvisation" that we see at the beginning of the charrasca or Güira and then the tambora behind all that there is a synchrony that only they know, moreover if you look at everything has a tempo that each one carries in his mind to sound the best possible.

Doing a tambora solo may be one of the most complicated things to do because it is an instrument that has no adornments like the drums with their cymbals and yet we see how the rhythm is not lost. In the last 2 minutes of the video we see the prelude to the closing of the song and they do it with a series of rhythms and cuts that are crazy: drums, tumbadoras or congas, tambora, güira and other minor percussion instruments come together for a true masterpiece that deserves to be seen again and again. It is because of videos like this that I am still in love with percussion today.

- Drum Performs - Sugarfoot Moffet.

Changing radically in rhythm and genre we have "Sugarfoot" who was Michael Jackson's drummer so above we can see the quality that is there. This is not a solo but I brought it here so we can see the different ways in which percussion can be enjoyable and also understand how a well executed instrument can be visually very pleasing to watch. If you look at Moffett, he is a drummer who embellishes a bit with the stick movement and I think the reason why the cymbals are so high is for that very reason, an aesthetic reason.

At the end of the day it is a show that they give and as such it has to be the most eye-catching for the public. All this does not detract from the immense quality that he has and that is proven by his temperament and he doesn't even flinch when playing, plus he knows every inch of his drums, when he uses the high cymbals we realize that. "Smooth Criminal" is a song that you would think is made with synthesizers and to hear it under the sound of a drum kit and it sounds so good is something that few can do. Another proof that well ejectudad percussion is vital in a song.

- Timbal performs - Tito Puente.

You know what it was about Tito Puente that made him so unique? - The way he felt the music. The timbales is an instrument which to be able to play it the way it should be played you have to have Latin music flowing in your blood. You can learn to play it but if you don't have that "extra" it will NEVER sound the same and that was Don Tito's differentiating element, that magic and even the expressions on his face are things that will never be seen again.

The timbal is the most important instrument in many rhythms especially in salsa because in addition to the "pailas" are the "cocos" and the bell that are responsible for carrying its characteristic rhythm. As you can see in the video, the timbal lends itself well to improvise but always with a sense and a background, solear is not just to give simple blows the instrument, is to know how to give them, where, at what time and above all with what intention. It may be to entertain or to accompany a piece of music while playing another instrument.

In short, percussion in any of its forms and styles is something that will always be essential for music to have life and above all to be able to recognize it. Yes, it is necessary to study it but it is also necessary to feel it. When percussion is not felt it is noticed and that is one of the worst things that can happen to a song and to music in general.

Well my people that's all for today, I hope you liked it.
¡A hug to all of you, we'll hear you in the next one!