A Tribute to Gonzalo Asencio Tio Tom 1919-1991

by Orlando "Puntilla" Rios, El Conjunto Todo Rumbero

Overview

Gonzalo Ascencio, known as Tio Tom (Uncle Tom in English), composed hundreds of rhumba pieces, exerting a considerable influence on the music in his native Cuba. On this album, the band Conjunto Todo Rumbera perform eight of Ascencio's songs under the direction of drummer Orlando "Puntilla" Rios, also presenting a track co-composed by Rios that's dedicated to Ascencio. Though the rhumba is sometimes known outside of Cuba as a more pop-oriented music that incorporates elements of the form into jazz-pop-influenced songs and arrangements, this is rhumba in its more traditional form. It's played on an assortment of percussion instruments, the melody being provided by the lilting lead singing, often augmented by call-and-response style, chant-like background vocals. All of the pieces on this CD have mesmerizing rhythms created by the interlocking percussive instruments, combining with the vocals to create a haunting and economically powerful sound. The lyrics (entirely in Spanish) often cover romantic love, but also go into more topical subjects such as streetwalkers, the bohemian lifestyle, the Cuban land, and -- in Ascencio's most famous composition, "Donde Estan Los Cubanos" -- a protest against the desecration of the statue of Cuban poet/statesman Jose Marti by North American sailors. The booklet includes detailed liner notes on Ascencio, rhumba, and the disc's tracks, in both English and Spanish. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/12/2008
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074054321
Rank:	155312

Tracks

1. Mi Tierra
2. No Me Culpes a M¿¿
3. Caballeros, Qu¿¿ Mujer
4. Solo, Errante y Bohemio
5. Mal de Yerba
6. ¿¿D¿¿nde Est¿¿n Los Cubanos?
7. Siento Que Me Rega¿¿a el Coraz¿¿n [
8. Yo Soy Tu Ley
9. T¿¿o Columbia

Album Credits

Performance Credits

El Conjunto Todo Rumbero   Primary Artist
Orlando "Puntilla" Rios   Primary Artist
Lazaro Rizo Cuevas   Cata,Percussion
Maximino "El Moro Quinto" Duquesne   Percussion,Tres Golpe

Technical Credits

Jack Vartoogian   Photography
Ernesto Gatel   Composer
Leonardo Acosta   Annotation,Liner Notes,Introduction
Joe Parisi   Design,Layout Design
Amy Schriefer   Program Assistant
Cristina Altamira   Translation
Ronnie Simpkins   Audio Supervisor
Gonzalo Asencio   Composer
Jeff Place   Archivist
Rene Lopez   Mixing,Producer,Audio Engineer,Audio Production
Jon Fausty   Mixing,Audio Engineer
Pete Reiniger   Mastering
Daniel Sheehy   Foreword,Annotation,Liner Notes,Translation
Stephanie Smith   Archivist
Orestes Aguila   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Mixing