In this Masterclass we’ll sit down with legendary percussionist Bobby Allende to get the inside scoop on developing our skills on conga and bongó! For those of you who are not familiar, Bobby has worked as a percussionist and musical director for a who’s who in the music industry. From David Byrne, Grover Washington Jr. and Paul Simon, to Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Tito Nieves and many, many more. Regarded as a triple threat— equally masterful on conga, bongo, and timbal, Bobby is heavily responsible for shaping the sound of modern salsa alongside his long time musical brother, Marc Quiñones.

In the Interview section of this Masterclass we’ll learn all about Bobby’s upbringing in NYC, how he got started, where honed his skills, and of course about his big break joining Ruben Blades band in the 1980’s. He was kind enough to share a ton of inspiring anecdotes and insights from his years of experience on stage, which began at a very young age.

What we’ll cover in this Masterclass is must-see material for any serious latin percussionist. Bobby demonstrates and talks about his conceptual approach to getting started on conga and bongó, as well as gives us his insights and tips on how to create grooves, play in a band setting, some of his favorite chops, and the importance having fun and of bringing your own unique voice to the table.

This Masterclass impeccably compliments our Courses on Congas and Bongos here on the site. So if you haven’t already, I recommend you spend some time studying the concepts and exercises we cover to make sure you’re fully prepared to benefit from what Bobby shares with us here.

Get ready to learn one on one with a legendary percussionist, in this dynamic Masterclass on congas and bongos!

PLAYLIST OF BOBBY ON CONGAS

PLAYLIST OF BOBBY ON BONGÓ