The Conga's Journey

Follow the tumbadora from Cuban rumba into the conjunto, bebop, Latin jazz and salsa.

The tumbadora was shaped in Cuba from African-derived drum traditions and first belonged to rumba. When Arsenio Rodríguez made it part of the conjunto, the drum entered popular dance-band architecture. Chano Pozo arrived in New York with Havana's rumba language already in his hands; with Dizzy Gillespie, that language became part of modern jazz. Cándido Camero changed what one player could do across several drums. Mongo Santamaría, Ray Barretto, Poncho Sanchez and Giovanni Hidalgo then carried the instrument through Latin jazz, crossover pop, salsa and a new level of virtuosity. This is not one invention but a chain of musicians changing what the drum could do — and where it could be heard.

Theme

instrument

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