rpklich Posted March 27, 2009 Report Posted March 27, 2009 The latin jazz listserv and Wikipedia report that the great timbales player Manny Oquendo passed away on 3/25/09. He led the band Libre, which was one of the greatest and most influential salsa bands. I met him a couple of times when he came through Chicago. One time his band hosted a descarga at the Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, a institution that promotes Puerto Rican culture. The band was donating their time. The students there got to sit in with the band. I was impressed how he shared his knowledge with the students and gave them pointers. I liked his wit. I asked him about a timbalero (living). He didn't like the guy's playing describing it as "all rolls - no butter" . Quote
mikeweil Posted March 27, 2009 Report Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) One of the last real timbaleros from the mambo era - R.I.P. Manny Oquendo & Libre was one of the cornerstones of the Latin jazz movement during the last decades. Edited March 27, 2009 by mikeweil Quote
Guest Bill Barton Posted March 28, 2009 Report Posted March 28, 2009 (edited) R.I.P. A true master... I only had a chance to hear him in performance once with his group Libre some years back. A cookin' affair!!!!! Edited March 28, 2009 by Bill Barton Quote
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