Performance Spotlight: Bobby Sanabria

Vic Firth Artist Bobby Sanabria performs for the VF cameras during a recent shoot in New York City!

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"AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ SUITE FOR ELLINGTON"
composed and arranged by Michael Philip Mossman

from the double Grammy nominated CD
MULTIVERSE, BOBBY SANABRIA BIG BAND 2012 (Jazzheads)

Grammy nominated Best Latin Jazz CD 2012
Grammy nominated Best Instrumental Arrangement - Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite for Ellington 2012

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Bobby uses:
#vfX5A - American Classic® X5A

#vfHB - Heritage Brush

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DRUMMING ANALYSIS

:07 - Bembe’ (6/8 meter) on cowbells with backbeat on s.d. and clave in left foot behind caja (stick on conga) solo, time stops at :18

:19 - Bembe’ on bell of cymbal and horn kicks behind clarinet, trombone, trumpet with plunger solos

1:37 - Jazz Shuffle with backbeat on transitional brass section

1:44 - Bembe’

1:48 - Ad libitum tom tom solo with bramudo (finger glissando’s)

2:03 - Swing jazz feel behind tenor solo

2:30 - Swing jazz feel with cross-stick on 2 & 4 with horn kicks

2:54 - Bembe’ with backbeat on cymbal and backbeats and cierre (stop time break)

3:22 - Ad libitum piano solo interlude

4:18 - Bembe’

4:32 - Tempo modulation reduction with horns

4:40 - Bolero with cross-stick on snare behind alto sax

5:38 - Fill, tempo reduction, time stops

5:56 - Ad libitum alto sax solo interlude

6:52 - Fill into bolero

7:01 - Fill, tempo and metric modulation to bembe’ (6/8 meter) at faster tempo

7:20 - Mambo/montuno up-tempo bell ride in 3/2 clave

7:25 - Cierre (stop time break), clave counterpoint (seamless clave transition) to 2/3 clave

7:26 - Son clave 2/3 on Jam block

7:30 - Mambo/montuno bell ride in 2/3 clave

7:33 - Cierre (stop time), son clave in 2/3 on jam block

7:40 - Cascara in 2/3 on floor tom, stop time cierre (break)

7:48 - Son clave 2/3 on Jam block

7:51 - Mambo/montuno bell ride in 2/3 in clave

7:55 - Mambo/montuno up-tempo pattern in 2/3 clave on bell of ride cymbal behind trombone solo

8:09 - Doble paila (R. H. on hi-hat, L. H. stick cross-stick on s.d.) on bridge of tune behind trombone solo

8:15 - Mambo/montuno up-tempo pattern on bell of ride cymbal while kicking horn figures

8:35 - Abanico on 3 side of clave setting up…

8:36 - Doble paila

8:43 - Mambo/montuno up-tempo pattern on bell of ride with horn kicks

8:50 - Mambo/montuno bell ride 2 bars

8:52 - One bar cierre (stop time) fill with horns for seamless clave counterpoint transition to 3 side of clave

8:53 - 2 bar metric modulation with horn figures to 6/8 meter

8:55 - Bembe’ on ride cymbal with backbeat, downbeats in left foot

9:12 - 1 bar 1/8 note levante a.k.a jaleteo (liftoff, buildup) for metric modulation to 4/4

9:14 - Son montuno/cha-cha-cha with horn kicks

9:41 - Transitional 2 bar stop time fill to…

9:45 - Coble paila guajira on hi-hat 2 bars

9:49 - Metric modulation to bembe’ (in 6/8) superimposed against established 4/4 tempo for 2 bars

9:53 - Transitional fill with stop time brass figures

10:00 - Son montuno/cha-cha-cha with horn kicks

10:12 - Transitional horn brass figures kicked

10:17 - “Relleno en campana” (fill on small bell)

10:20 - Cha-cha-cha

10:23 - Son montuno/cha-cha-cha

10:32 - Son Funktuno/cha-cha-cha (son montuno with backbeat on 3)

10:47 - Bolero

10:59 - Levante a.k.a. jaleteo (1/8 note buildup, 2 bars)

11:03 - Son funktuno

11:13 - Stop time with horns to slower tempo modulation

11:20 - Bolero on ride cymbal

11:35 - Modulation to slower tempo, short fermata (pause) with horns

11:44 - Drum cue in 3/2 clave to set up new tempo

11:46 - Rumba abierta in 3/2 clave

12:13 - Horn cierre 9break) with drums

12:15 - Rumba abierta on cymbal with horn kicks

12:29 - Matanza style guaguanco’ w/ mambo bell behind conga solo

12:32 - Havana style guaguanco’ w/ mambo bell behind conga solo

12:34 - Matanzas style guaguanco’ 1 bar, fill

12:35 - Rumba abierta

12:38 - Drum solo - all figures in 3/2 clave

13:02 - Rumba clave in 3/2 used as cierre (stop time break)

13:03 - Cierre (break) - note, the break is the same as the one that starts the tune

13:05 - Metric modulation to son montuno/cha-cha-cha

13:13 - Stop time with horns playing triplets

13:18 - Floor tom roll fermata (pause), saxes set up new tempo,

13:38 - vocalist says in Spanish, "Damn, what a band."

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FOLLOW US!

[timprice]

Bobby Sanabria is a multifaceted musician who in my opinion is one of the leading players in these times- His music deserves a world wide audience and attention from everyone- History in the making. Great jto listen to a master and someone who has roots and has paid dues.

[pdizzly]

I’m so glad I got a chance to play with him I’m so blessed 🥰

[ferminbarajaspazos]

Bobby es un primera clase del latin jazz, sin ninguna duda.

[nottobey]

He's amazing! I'm a beginner drummer, wish I'll be a half so good as Bobby Sanabria some day. Thanks for inspiration!

[mountainhobbit]

wow…this guy has some seriously good skills! and he sure is giving this Vic Firth sticks a serious workout.

[allanyoltic]

This is so awesome!
Just a bit more than two years ago I considered metal my main genre, and since few months later I started to be more diverse. First I listened to epic symphonic music, and I was interested in jazz. With time I am going more diverse, it is awesome.

[nobody]

seriously impressed, this man is great

[RaulFuertes]

Bobby is a gigant jazz-master and catedratic amazing

[badoocee]

Reminds me of Willie Colon, Malo, Santana, Willie Bobo and Tito Puente wrapped together with an Afro-cuban rhythmic tip....VERY Inspiring!

[rillloudmother]

after seeing this video, i am convinced that merengue is the beat that Bobby uses to tear through space-time into the multiverse.

[edgarramirez]

Buen video buena ejecución de ritmos afro cubanos

[TheRofl]

"13:38 - vocalist says in Spanish, "Damn, what a band.""

[samuelbalavoine]

I wish he'd say what cowbell he used in this video. There are some on his website but this video is old...

[lztoniolo]

The drum is way too low in volume compared to the other instruments. Needs better balancing, because I can't barely listen to the snare sound. Otherwise, this guy is skills are out of this world...

[robbarker]

My Teo was Maximo Sanabria he was a Cuban refugee he passed away I know Sanabria is a one family name fought for Castro and was betrayed by Castro he was jailed and escaped, fled with Teo Pete to America just said that to you so you know I'm authentic not in search of anything Max was a Santero in Cuba also he had a glass eye from getting hit by a horse whip

[JulioFalavigna]

Bobby kicks ass, too bad the sound engineer got jealous of him...

[gringochucha]

Este tipo es una bestia.

Una pena que la mezcla sera absolutamente terrible.