Ochimini

Cubop is very proud to bring you Francisco Aguabella's (a certified living legend) vibrant fifth album for Cubop, the latest musical chapter from the driving force in Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music since his U.S. arrival in 1957. A master percussionist who was born in Matanzas Cuba, Francisco is one of the first eschelon of drummers who came to America and are responsible for all drummers that came after them, says Latin percussionist John Santos in the movie Sworn To The Drum. "He is one of the strongholds of our music and has always kept the commitment to our Cuban rhythm. He plays with everybody but always maintains our rhythm, that?s very important," adds Isreal "Cachao" Lopez. On Francisco Aguabella's fifth Cubop album the master Conguero cruises from the old school rumba of "Ochimini" to the modern latin jazz of "Nuestra Era." He enlists the best Latin jazz artists on the West coast to bring these old and new styles together. Justo Almario, Sal Cracchiolo! and Luis Eric Gonzales are on hand to deliver masterful improvisations, while the drumming of Jimmy Branly and Conra Coky Garsia keep the rhythms fresh and exciting. The bass and piano team of John Belzaguy and Donald Vega keeps everyone on their toes, pushing the solos to the limit, with Vega displaying his enormous improvisational talents. But the leader is what makes all these musicians push themselves, displaying his mastery of the congas as well as percussion, Aguabella is always the driving direction behind "Ochimini."