Percussion - Ze Mauricio (Chorro Ensemble) - Brazil
Drums - Gintas Janusonis (Anjelique Kidjo) - USA
Congas - Roman Diaz (Yoruba Andazo) Havana, Cuba
Bass - Jorge Bringas (Albita)- Havana ,Cuba
Electric Guitar - Marko Pankovich (Sweetcane) Chicago, Ill
Influences
Cicadas & Howler monkeys in the rainforest, Hot Latin nights, Gahdfatha James Brown, Afro Cuban Guaguanco, Rumba and Yoruba chants, Girls in hot pants. The Meters, Breakbeats, Miami bass, Caetano Veloso's honey tone, Subway screeches in NYC, Collapsing tubes of waves, Marley, Blades, PedroluisFerrer, Troila, Nicolas Guillen, Many influences that may not be evident in the resulting music, but blend in a soup of my soul..........have a drink, its good for u.
Sounds Like
funk, latin, cuba, brazil, nature, son,reggae, singer songwriter, rock, poetry....etc.
The Elefante in the Room: The Singular Voice of José Conde
Gliding the line between Latin heritage and American storyteller traditions Jose Conde shimmies between such diverse sounds as American and Brazilian old school funk, NYC dance beats, Afrobeat, reggae, Cuban son, and jam-band ballad while sliding poetically from universal themes of nature’s beauty to personal expressions of romantic longing and loss.
Conde, who had a year of acclaim in 08 for his many performances and records, (R)Evolucion (Mr Bongo UK), and Baby Loves Salsa (Ropeadope), and his widely seen youtube election hit “Respondele a Obama”, has begun production on a new self titled solo record of 12 new original songs expected to be completed by October 09 (release date 2010 tba)
The new record brings together the raw production talents and world groove and electronica tendencies of the standout New York based drummer, Gintas Janusonis (Anjelique Kidjo, The Revelations, Wu Tan Clan) and Conde. The main touring band, which is already performing frequently and recently headlined a summer night show for a thankful and dancing throng at Lincoln Center Outdoors in NY, consists of a Latin Funk power sextet, with drummer Janusonis, Cuban Conguero Roman Diaz (Yoruba Andavo), Brazilian multi percussionist Ze Mauricio , Bass player Jorge Bringas and electric guitarist Rafael Gomez.
In two critically acclaimed albums, Ay! Que Rico- 2004 (PiPiKi/Universal) and the award winning, (R)Evolución, Conde traversed Puerto Rican bomba to Haitian compas, Cuban son to New Orleans swamp –funk creating a sound which has been hailed the world over as a “brilliant and thrilling” (Billboard) “smorgasbord of sounds that keeps listeners in a diasporic daze” (Trace). Five Jose Conde songs from both his Ay! Que Rico and (R)Evolucion albums have been featured in international compilations on Putumayo and Rough Guide Records. Conde’s recent song and video, Respondele a Obama, which to date has 190,000+ views on Youtube, and has been discussed widely on NPR, papers and blogs, became an anthem of the US 2008 presidential campaign.
Hello Jose... Actually, I've never seen you Live, but discovered you on NPR...your music is inspiring..a companion to any festivity or workout:-) Hope all is well...hope to make it to a show in 09. Cheers:-)
