#214 Rodney Barreto- Drummer for Chucho Valdes, Omara Portuondo, Havana de Primera & More!
Born in 1984, Rodney Barreto comes from a family with musical tradition. His second last name, the very well known Barreto, is synonymous with excellence in drumming in Cuba, as Rodney’s uncle is Julio César Barreto. Although Julio César was an enormous inspiration for his nephew, he was not the only family member that contributed to Rodney’s musical story. Rodney’s great uncle was a composer for Cuban singers, including the famous Benny Moré. From the early age of three, Rodney was totally involved in musical activities, and captivated as he watched his uncle practice, and took in the live shows during street carnivals.
At 9 years old, Rodney entered the elementary music school in Havana to study percussion. Although percussion students are not supposed to start with the drumset until the age of 18, Rodney had his first drum lesson at 11, and 5 years later, at the age of 16, he was already touring internationally as a professional drummer.
At the age of 17, Rodney joined one of the biggest and most prestigious Cuban salsa bands, Isaac Delgado’s Orchestra, with whom he toured with for five years.
It doesn’t matter if it is salsa, jazz, rock, hip-hop… Rodney Barreto is the owner of a very personal style and groove, that has made him one of the youngest and brightest drummers in Cuba.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to the great Phil Collins. There’s a clip posted below from the documentary film about Phil called “Face Value” (its available on Amazon Prime).
Gig Alerts
Coachella is cancelled again this year. So is its country music counterpart, Stagecoach. Coachella draws thousands of people to the southern California desert each April. But this year it will be quiet again due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As in earlier cases, the cancellation order came from local health officials.
“The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival currently scheduled for April 2021 are hereby cancelled,” says the Riverside County Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser. -Article
Despite facing far-reaching financial obstacles and an uncertain future after a last-minute cancellation in 2020, SXSW is moving forward with its 2021 edition – albeit as a digital event, with passes currently available to purchase for $249 apiece.
SXSW 2020 had been slated to kick off on March 13th, but was canceled just one week before that due to an order from the City of Austin. (Earlier, on March 6th, the Big Three record labels added their names to the long list of businesses and professionals that had withdrawn from the happening.) -Article
Educational Spotlight
The Percussive Arts Society has new info for their chapters like elections, Day of Percussion activities, committees and more. Slide on over and see what is happening.
In the first installment of our three-part webinar series, "Remote (Controlled)," studio professionals break down what you'll need to record at home—from preamps to pop filters to the best set of headphones and more. In the first half of the hour-long clip, recording engineer Jake Vicious and multi-instrumentalist/producer Asha Santee discuss how to record acoustic percussion instruments, such as Cajon, bongos, and shaker. -Article/Video
Product Review
KB Covers is a comprehensive array of keyboards and covers for all applications, languages and needs. They have a wide selection of different DAWs and more. They make the best keyboard covers for all Mac laptops and devices in different styles and colors, languages, applications, and needs. They also ship worldwide!
Iconic Recording
Damon and Marcos put together a Black History Playlist on Spotify for your listening pleasure. This week’s iconic recording comes from the aforementioned playlist.
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is a song on both a compilation album as well as from the album, “Pieces of a Man” by American singer and songwriter Gil Scott-Heron. It was released in 1974 by Flying Dutchman Records. The compilation album featured the song with two percussionists, and the “Pieces of a Man” album features Bernard Purdie, Hubert Laws among others.
Music News
NIVA, AEG, Live Nation, More Offer Venues and Staff to Help Covid-19 Vaccination Efforts
“We have vast resources that, if fully utilized, could provide invaluable mechanisms in our country’s vaccine distribution,” reads letter to Biden administration. -Article
Coachella organizer Goldenvoice and Riverside County government officials are reportedly discussing the possibility of working together to open a massive COVID-19 vaccination site. -Article
Rodney Barreto Interview
Damon met Rodney at the NAMM convention in Anaheim, CA.
Rodney starts the interview explaining how the internet works in Cuba.
Rodney talks about the challenge of getting gear in Cuba as well. He talks about how Raul Pineda helped him get a kit while he was playing with Chucho Valdes.
Rodney was classically trained in school and didn’t learn drumset till much later.
Rodney’s uncle Julio Barreto played with Tony Martinez. He lived with Rodney, but didn’t really give Rodney lessons per se. Rodney “studied” his uncle by watching him practice.
Rodney’s dad played basketball. Basketball and baseball were really big in Cuba. To study music In school you have two aptitude test opportunities. One at 7 years old for piano, and one at 9 for other band instruments. Rodney missed out at piano so he played basketball instead.
Rodney’s first injury playing basketball was jumping up for a layup and someone knocking his feet from under him and he landed on his face and broke his jaw.
Rodney was playing with Havana de Primera when he realized he had tendonitis. He started meeting with a physical therapist and started warming up at age 27.
When he was back and forth between Omara Portuondo and Havana de Primera, he popped his tendon while playing bongos.
Before recording his second CD he went to see his friends in Isaac Delgado’s band and ended up falling off the stage and fractured his right foot. He tells the story about how he tried to get better before recording and touring.
Damon brings up the Chuck Silverman videos from his visits to Cuba.
Rodney mentions Changuito and Enrique Pla as the beginning of Timba drumming in Cuba. Rodney mentions the Irakere Documentary.
Rodney talks about how songo was the only drumset groove created in Cuba. Changuito was one of the first to do that.
Rodney also explains how Cubans count the clave vs how it is created in the USA. Then he explains how the Timba groove is built on the drumset with how the hi hat and snare are phrased. He brings up the video with Changuito explaining the songo. There’s supposed to be a video of Changuito explaining songo to Dave Weckl, but this was all that could be found.
Some of the artists/recordings that Rodney suggests for checking out Timba include Giraldo Piloto Y Klimax, Irakere Bacalao Con Pan and Por Romper El Coco, Los Van Van, NG La Banda (also with Calixto Oviedo). There is also a video explanation with musical comparisons of salsa vs. timba that can be seen HERE.
Damon brings up how Rodney can go between jazz, latin jazz and timba. Rodney talks about what he listened to growing up and what was playing in his house. He checked out a lot of Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, and others. Specifically the Burning for Buddy video.
Rodney teaches via zoom and you can contact him through his social media on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
He has a DVD coming out called Drummer Negrito.
Rodney talks about his DVD’s title and the play on words from the Omara Portuondo song, Drume Negrita.
Rodney uses Sabian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, and Evans Drumheads.
