Long Drive Home
Ralph E. Hayes

When I walked to catch the Fung Wha, Chinatown-to-Chinatown express bus to New York City, it was by all measure, a perfect spring day in Boston. As I stood, waiting my turn in the sizeable crowd, a noticeable tension permeated the crowd; the desire to get a seat on the bus! You could feel the anxiety in the air. Although there were only enough people to fill half the bus, the mood suggested worry from everyone—we might not all make it on the bus.

Finally as I reached the front of the line, the ticket-taker said “wrong bus company, down there,” pointing down the road. A jolt of urgency and humiliation flashed through my face as I hurried down the sidewalk in the blazing sun.

With the headphone already on my neck, I hit play on Ralph E. Hayes’, Long Ride Home.

Suddenly, the smooth prancing guitar took me to another place before the bus even got there. I remembered, with a deep breath, how beautiful the day was. I looked up to the radiant spring sun piercing the blue sky. Bright buildings stood all around, freshly washed by one of the rainiest Aprils Boston has ever seen. The expressive Stratocaster guitar syncopated perfectly with the fresh green leaves—only a few weeks old—rustling in the crisp ocean breeze.

My world of anxiety-laden thoughts were put to rest by the ambient surf-guitar of Hayes.

Ralph’s timeless, “guitar noir” sound puts the listener in a slow dreamy state of bliss. The songs tend towards a minimalistic, black & white tranquility. Characterizing his mood music, Ralph describes his melodies as “kind of like it’s 11 P.M., when everyone has gone to bed and all is quiet...you turn down the lights, light a candle, and unwind.”

As I took my seat and glanced around, the transitory chaos of getting onto the right bus had ended, and every person around me had a chill look of peace on their face—as if they too had just noticed how nice of a day it was. With a signature sound similar to that of Chris Isaak or Chet Atkins, the warm tube guitar, left me languorous for the long road ahead.

Sacumba
Luis Garay Percussion World

The Luis Garay Percussion World proves once again that percussion can hold its own. On the newly released Sacumba the group is lead by percussion legend Luis Garay. Other members of the ensemble include, Wilbur Wood, Leon Eynatyan and Miguel Alfaro. They perform on a variety of percussion instruments including, kit drums, whistles, marimbas, Argentinean drums, and a wealth of Afro-Latin percussion such as congas, surdo, bongo, agogo, timbales, tambourine, colanuts, djembe, ngoma, and if that were not enough, they also throw in gongs, bells, and chimes.

Garay who was born in Cordoba, Argentina, studied at the Cordoba State Conservatory of Music. He continued his education at the Catholic University of America, with advanced studies at the Escola de Musica de Brasilia in Brazil. The intense, yet organized percussion arrangements highlight Garay’s classical training. The variety of instruments used throughout every piece brings a liberal and verbose intensity to the arrangements.

Garay has received numerous awards and accolades over the years for his incredible use and understanding of percussion. The prestige and honor has not changed his dedication and willingness to experiment with new and innovative percussion techniques and sounds. This innovation can be heard on every track of Sacumba.

The addition of the incredible conga player Wilbur Wood adds a cohesive sound to each track. The combination of Latin American and African percussion beats is an exhilarating and ongoing barrage of beats, bangs, rhythms and phonic riots.

Percussion World rallies between the varied and irregular beats of Latin music to the constant and full tribal rhythms. On the track “Dumbe”, Garay, Wood, Eynatyan and Alfaro all play only Afro-Latin drums, including the djembe, congas, ngoma and bongo. The driving and weaving sounds created by the drum circle of musicians shows the power of the mighty drum. The puling beats will course through your body and direct your momentum.

To change up the drum circle vibe, the ensemble pulls together “Marimba Azucar”, which is a tribute to the beauty and vibe of the marimba. The marimba solicites memories of the pacific coast and the fresh ocean air. Garay refers to it as the classic surfer film feeling. It is the driving force behind the surf guitar.

Sacumba is an album that commands the listeners attention. This is not a CD to put on at a party for mellow background music. This is a CD for the musician and specifically, the percussion enthusiast. Drum lines, jammin’ drum circles, the symphonic timpani solo, the guy in the subway playing the bucket; if these are the sounds that appeal to you, then Luis Garay has created an ensemble and a CD that will bring the beat home.
Visit www.luisgaray.com for more information.