#200 Richie Flores- Percussionist for Eddie Palmieri, Dave Valentin, Caribbean Jazz Project & More!
Richie Flores is one of the most in demand percussionists of today’s active music scene. Born in Brooklyn, New York, raised in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Richie was a prodigious child that began playing congas at the early age of 5. He embarked on his professional career by age 8 playing with Grupo Batacumbele and Roberto Roena and the Apollo Sound. By age 13, he traveled to New York to play with Roberto Roena at the Village Gate, making him one of the youngest musicians ever to travel with a band outside of Puerto Rico. He continued performing professionally while studying percussion at the highly regarded Escuela Libre de Musica in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.
Richie’s musical career continued to evolve by playing with some of the most respected and celebrated artists in Music today such as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao, The Fania All Stars, Gato Barbieri, Hilton Ruiz, David Sanchez, Tropijazz All Stars, Jack Bruce of Cream, McCoy Tyner and even the Beastie Boys. He has participated on many notable recordings, including the Grammy Award Winning albums “Master Sessions – Volume I,” 1995 by Cachao, Dave Samuels 2003 “The Gathering” and The Celia Cruz 2002-2003 double Grammy winner album “La negra tiene tumbao”. Grammy nominated albums “Arete” by Eddie Palmieri in 1996 and on “Palmas” in 1994, as well as David Sanchez’s Grammy nominated album “Obsession” in 1997 and many more. He played for President Clintons Inauguration in 1998 and for the UN…All the Presidents around the world in 2000.
Gig Alerts
Eddie Palmieri is playing a live streaming concert this coming Thursday featuring two friends of the show, Little Johnny Rivero and Camilo Molina (who was on twice: First Time - Second Time). You can get more information and watch it by CLICKING HERE.
Educational Spotlight
Reminder, Register for PASIC. Prices will go up after November 2nd. You can get discounted tickets if you become a member of PAS.
You can take music classes online without having to “go back to school”. Coursera offers online courses for several top colleges and universities. The classes offered span the fields of business, entertainment, personal development and more — all taught by accredited professors from well-known universities.
For aspiring musicians, music managers, and music fans alike, Coursera has courses from some of the top music schools in the world, with instructors offering courses that run the gamut from playing an instrument, to learning about music production or marketing. -Article
Iconic Recording
This week’s iconic recording is from Israel “Cachao” Lopez’s 1957 album called: Cuban Jam Session in Miniature, "Descargas". The group is called: Cachao Y Su Ritmo Caliente. The percussion section is Tata Güines- congas, Rogelio "Yeyo" Iglesias – bongos, and Guillermo Barreto – timbales.
The newer version of that same song is from “Master Sessions Vol. 1” with Richie on congas and Orestes Vilato on timbales!
The honorable mention is the album “Misa Negra” by Irakere.
Music News
Bandcamp Friday is coming this November the 6th (and then again on December 4, 2020. All from midnight to midnight Pacific time. For time zone demystification, check out: http://isitbandcampfriday.com/). “Bandcamp Friday”was started back in March to support artists impacted by the pandemic, and in the past few months the music community has come together in a huge way: in just four days, fans put more than $20 million directly into the pockets of artists and labels. -Article
Damon has an album on Bandcamp if you want to check that out. There are tons of other artists on bandcamp that could use your support.
YouTube Music and the National Independent Venue Association’s “Save Our Stages” virtual festival, which took place last weekend, has raised $1.8 million for struggling venues, officials have revealed. -Article
On the heels of the $10 billion Save Our Stages act, currently before Congress, that aims to bring federal relief to independent venues across the U.S. comes #SaveLiveEventsNow. The new initiative that looks beyond venues and aims to expand government relief for the more than 12 million live event workers across the United States who have been out of work since concerts, plays, comedy shows, and all other events shut down in March. -Article
There is more info on Save Live Events Now on their WEBSITE, and you can check out NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) on their WEBSITE. You can watch some of the performances from the Virtual Festival HERE.
Stonehenge NYC has recognized that, like many New Yorkers, artists have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will actively support these essential members of our community by offering free apartments within its portfolio of luxury rental buildings across Manhattan and Long Island City. By supporting creatives across all mediums -- including (but not limited to) literature, performance, design, cinema, music, photography, and visual arts -- Stonehenge NYC hopes to give artists the time and space needed to create groundbreaking work that will lead the city into its next chapter, while supporting its ongoing campaign, "New York is Still Standing!"
The artists and creatives will be selected by a special committee via an application process, which will consist of two primary components -- the personal statement and the art submission, and will open on October 22nd and close at midnight on November 30, 2020. The residency will commence in March of 2021 and is open to any artist or creative who is eligible to live and work in New York City. -Article
The song leading into the interview is called “Descarga Vieques” by John Benitez from his album ‘Descarga in New York’. The musicians include: John Benitez-bass, Richie Flores-congas, (friend of the show) Dafnis Prieto-drums, Luis Perdomo-keys & Ravi Coltrane-sax (guest on some tracks on the album).
Richie Flores Interview
Richie is currently in Cali, Colombia. He was there to do a few recording sessions, and because of the coronavirus, the sessions were postponed and he has recently resumed them.
Richie was born in Brooklyn, but raised in Puerto Rico. He attended the Escuela Libre de Musica in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. His first teacher was actually his father and he uses to listen to lots of records of Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Carlos “Patato” Valdez and more!
In Puerto Rico Richie met Cachete Maldonado, Giovanni Hildago and Anthony Carrillo. Richie was invited to Batcumbele rehearsals, and then became an invited guest with the band, before joining the band.
When Richie was still in school at age 13, he started playing with Roberto Roena.
Richie talks about balancing school during the day and playing gigs at night.
Richie talks about learning rudiments on drums at age 10-11 before attending Escuela Libre as well as reading music. He later applied the rudiments he learned to congas and other hand drums. Pedro Hernandez was a friend of Richie’ father and helped him learn to read music and learn his rudiments.
He was also inspired to add rudiments to hand drums from seeing Changuito and Giovanni do it first. He also listened to some of the Cuban bands like Los Van Van, Irakere, and Cachao.
At age 16, Richie received a call from Eddie Palmieri to sub, and then he stayed in NYC and played with Eddie for about 10 years.
In between playing with Eddie, Richie would play with other artists like Charlie Sepulveda, Cachao and others.
Richie also started to work with Sergio George, and started to play more commercial salsa music. The first artist he worked with in that genre was Johnny Rivera. From there he recorded with Ray Sepulveda, Ray de la Paz, and then D.L.G. (Dark Latin Groove).
Johnny Almendra, Andy Gonzalez, Jerry Gonzales, Steve Berrios, Milton Cardona and even (friends of the show) Marc Quiñones and Bobby Allende.
Damon asks about learning folkloric music and Richie mentions he played rumbas with Milton and studied bata back in Puerto Rico.
Richie talks about going to school in Puerto Rico with David Sanchez and how David started on percussion before switching to sax.
He met Dave Valentin in Puerto Rico. Dave was on tour with his group and they happened to stop into the club Richie was playing that night in San Juan at age 9. Several years later he lived in the apartment below Dave Valentin in the Bronx as well.
Richie talks about meeting (friend of the show) Robby Ameen with Kip Hanrahan through his label American Clave. Damon brings up listening to those albums and some of the other musicians on those recordings like (friends of the show) Horacio Hernandez, Paoli Mejias, Giovanni Hidalgo, Milton Cardona, Ignacio Berroa and more!
On a previous episode, Damon talked about Robby Ameen’s latin drums loop packages that are now available from Toon Tracks (also featuring Richie on percussion).
Later the Kip Hanrahan sessions turned into the Deep Rumba group. After that, Horacio and Robby started a band called the El Negro and Robby Band.
Richie talks about the Knitting Factory show (above) and how (friend of the show) Dafnis Prieto was a special guest.
Damon brings up Richie’s surprise birthday party at El Rey Del Marisco in the Bronx. After dinner, everyone went back to Richie’s house (Negro, Robby, Damon, Jotan Afanador) and then Dave Valentin came downstairs and everyone recorded a Rumba.
Richie does masterclasses as well. Some with Robby Ameen and occasionally with Robert Vilera.
Richie was involved with the TropiJazz All-Stars concert and recordings put together by Ralph Mercado and RMM Productions.
Damon brings up the duet Richie did with Giovanni.
Richie talks about Celia Cruz sitting in the front row and Damon brings up the album Richie recorded with her. “La Negra Tiene Tumbao”.
Damon brings up Richie’s solo in the Eddie Palmieri recording of “Our Routine”.
Damon brings up moments that Richie will never forget.
Richie also talks about getting the call to record with the Beastie Boys.
Richie talks about the aforementioned iconic recording for this week.
Richie uses Pearl Drums and Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, and Vater Drumsticks and Mallets.
You can follow Richie on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Damon mentions meeting Richie at the Blue Note, using serving trays under the congas, and Richie talks about playing on Damon’s first album.
