Customer Reviews

Hands of Rhythm

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In "Hands of Rhythm," Hidalgo teams up with pianist Michel Camilo to create a wonderful showcase for his playing. Using this duo format, one can understand why Hidalgo is considered to be not only the greatest conga player in the world, but also a smart and tasteful musician.

Anyone who is interested in hearing Giovanni work his magic, this is the CD for you. Camilo gives Hidalgo a lot of room/space to play, think, create, and burn. Along with laying down very tasteful conga tracks on each song, Giovanni also incorporates a wonderful blend of auxilliary percusion, e.g., timbales, chimes, cowbells, bongoes, panderetas, shakers, and even a plastic bag to create music that feels great!

This CD is especially useful for percusion students (of all ages and skill levels) wanting to learn how to be smart and tasteful player.

last january when i was in La Habana, Cuba, i met a man giovanni hidalgo used to study/play with: Andres Escandon, or "BALLOYA." An amazing, lonely man, bigger than life, Balloya sent me and my friends from Monterey down a musical adventure that helped us begin to appreciate the incredible contributions that Cuba has made to music worldwide. Giovanni is certainly an example of this--listen to the tracks on this cd and melt into a cuban mode of jazz that's delectable. Old hand or newly created fan (like me), Hidalgo's delicate touch bends ritmo cubano to his own will. And next time you're in Havana, make sure you go to "La Zorra y el Cuervo" on the famous La Rampa avenue. It's where all the cool afro-cuban jazz cats hang out (not to mention famous incognito US musicians and actors...)

Giovanni is one of the greatest human beings and absolutely the best conguero ever. If you're a percussionist/drummer, you NEED this CD. His CDs are music lessons in themselves. Another awesome CD from the master.