The Experience, Alameda: Rhythmix Cultural Works Salsa Classes!

The Experience:

The Real Stars of Salsa Music: Conga, Bongo & Timbales!

Join Rhythmix for this spicy 3-week course on Zoom taught by Grammy-Award winning singer/percussionist, Omar Ledezma, Jr., who combines audio and video samples with lecture and live percussion demonstrations to create an engaging virtual class environment. Tuesdays, 7-9 pm, June 1st – 15th.

Behind the artists and celebrities, you’ll find the real stars of Salsa, the Afro-Cuban percussion section: Congas, Bongos and Timbales. In this series, instructor Omar Ledezma, Jr will share the histories of these percussion instruments, how they shaped the salsa genre, and the ways they blended into popular American music and genres around the world. Attendees will also learn about the artists who made these instruments popular, the racial barriers they had to overcome to do so, and the recognition received for developing the techniques for how these instruments are played throughout the world today.

Week 1 (June 1st)From rhythmic foundation to stardom – The Conga Drum: Artists: Chano Pozo, Tata Guines, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto, Giovanni Hildalgo, Francisco Aguabella, Carol Steele and more.

Week 2 (June 8th) So little but so important – The Bongos: Artists: Armando Peraza (Santana), Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, Jack Costanzo, and more.

Week 3 (June 15th)From behind the symphony to Latin royalty –The Timbales: Artists: Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Orestes Villato, Sheila E and more.

You can buy tickets for the whole series or by the class. Gentle Winds readers can use discount code: ‘salsastars’ for $10 off the series price!

Rhythmix Cultural Arts is a cultural arts destination in Alameda for theater, art, classes, live music & performances. Rhythmix brings the world to you. They are celebrating their 13th year milestone and currently are dubbed Alameda’s Virtual Destination for the Arts. 510-865-5060

Born in Caracas, Venezuela Omar Ledezma Jr. is an exclusive artist with Pearl Percussion, Pinchclip, ELH Cowbells, Kandu Cajons, Vater, Remo and Soultone Cymbals.