Francisco Aguabella

Francisco Aguabella (October 10, 1925 – May 7, 2010) was an Afro-Cuban percussionist whose career spanned folk, jazz, and dance bands. He was a prolific session musician and recorded seven albums as a leader.

Biography In Cuba Aguabella was born in Matanzas, Cuba. He demonstrated a special aptitude for drumming at an early age, and was initiated into several Afro-Cuban drumming traditions, including batá, iyesá, arará, olokún, and abakuá. Aguabella also grew up with rumba.

In the United States In the 1950s, he left Cuba to perform with Katherine Dunham in the Shelley Winters film Mambo filmed in Italy. He immigrated to the United States in 1953 Francisco was a widely recognized master conguero and bata artist, a caring and knowledgeable instructor. Aguabella was a faculty member at the annual Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum workshop hosted by the Humboldt State University Office of Extended Education in Arcata, California. He lived in Los Angeles, California, where he taught Afro-Cuban drumming to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Aguabella died in Los Angeles on May 7, 2010, of a cancer-related illness.

Instruments Aguabella played congas, bata, quinto, coro, shekere, drums, claves, bongos, timbales, cajon and other assorted percussion instruments.

Awards and honors Francisco received numerous awards including a 1992 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Durfee Foundation's Master Musicians' Fellowship, and recognition by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

Discography

As leader Dance the Latin Way (Fantasy, 1962) Hitting Hard (Epsilon 1977) Oriza: Santeria Religion Afrocubana (Ubiquity Records, 1993) H2O (Cubop, 1999) Agua de Cuba (Cubop, 1999) Cubacan (Cubop, 2002) Cantos a los Orishas (Pimienta, 2002) Ochimini (Cubop, 2004)

As sideman With Cachao Master Sessions Volume I (Epic, 1994) Master Sessions Volume II (Epic, 1995)

With Peggy Lee Mink Jazz (Capitol, 1963) In Love Again! (Capitol, 1964) In the Name of Love (Capitol, 1964) Pass Me By (Capitol, 1965) Guitars a là Lee (Capitol, 1966) Big $pender (Capitol, 1966)

With Malo Dos (Warner Bros., 1972) Evolution (Warner Bros., 1973) Ascención (Warner Bros., 1974)

With Eddie Palmieri Justicia (Tico, 1969) Lucumí, Macumba, Voodoo (Epic, 1978) Sueño (Intuition, 1989) Champagne (Tico, 1990)

With Tito Puente Top Percussion (RCA, 1958) El Rey (Concord Jazz Picante, 1984)

With Mongo Santamaria Yambu (Fantasy, 1958) Afro Roots (Prestige, 1972)

With Carlos Santana The Swing of Delight (Columbia, 1980)

With Santana Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (Columbia, 1990)

With Lalo Schifrin Gone with the Wave (Colpix, 1965) More Mission: Impossible (ABC, 1968) Mannix (ABC, 1968) Che! (Tetragrammaton, 1969) Enter the Dragon (Warner Bros., 1973) Metamorphosis: Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 4 (Aleph, 1998)

With others Louie Bellson, Walfredo de los Reyes, Ecue (Pablo, 1978) Elmer Bernstein, Movie and TV Themes (Choreo, 1987) Harry Betts, The Jazz Soul of Doctor Kildare (Choreo, 1962) The Doors, Other Voices (Elektra, 1971) Pete Escovedo, Flying South (Concord Picante, 1995) Gil Fuller, Night Flight (Pacific Jazz, 1966) Dizzy Gillespie, The New Continent (Limelight, 1965) Neal Hefti, Jazz Pops (Reprise, 2007) Joe Henderson, Canyon Lady (Milestone, 1975) Bobby Hutcherson, Ambos Mundos (Landmark, 1989) Imagination, Closer (RCA, 1987) Barney Kessel, Contemporary Latin Rhythms (Reprise, 1963) Hugh Masekela, Reconstruction (Chisa, 1970) Dave Mackay, Vicky Hamilton, Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton (Impulse!, 1969) Letta Mbulu, Letta (Chisa, 1970) Pages, Pages (Epic, 1978) Emil Richards, Yazz Per Favore (Del-fi, 1961) Poncho Sanchez, Out of Sight! (Concord, 2003) Paul Simon, The Rhythm of the Saints (Warner Bros., 1990) Ernie Watts, The Wonder Bag (Vault, 1970)

Filmography 1954 — Mambo 1995 — Sworn to the Drum: A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella (directed by Les Blank )