#255 Marcos Lopez- Percussionist for Marc Anthony, Jeremy Bosch, and More!
Photo by Martin Cohen.
This episode is sponsored by Dream Cymbals. Check out their Tasting Tour Dates.
This week’s guest is Marcos J. Lopez. Marcos is one of the most promising multi-genre percussionists that broke through the music scene out of his native Puerto Rico. He's armed with a reputation for his profound ability to transition seamlessly between diverse styles with great precision, thanks to a history of great and abundant influences from every part of the world. Marcos is leading an inspiring movement among the musicians of this time that has broad implications for the modern percussion performers.
Lopez began to make his path known with the salsa group N’Klabe. Following its inception, he has become unstoppable. He has toured and performed with figures like Cuban superstar Issac Delgado, Puerto Rican all-stars Wisin & Yandel and salsa veterans like Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tony Vega, Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, La India and Tito Nieves in venues like the Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center and the Carnegie Hall. Marcos has also appeared in ABC’s Good Morning America and the Late Night Show with Seth Meyers along pop duo Karmin.
As a Berklee College of Music alumni and after only 4 years as a New Yorker, Marcos Lopez has expanded his frontiers as a percussionist. He has appeared in countless recordings, including his contribution and featuring in major studio projects including Ceremony with Nea jazz master Dave Liebman, which was released in November 2014 and Maldades with Grammy winning artists Humberto Ramirez and Oskar Cartaya, released in 2015. He has become a member of the Max Weinberg Orchestra and has also been on tour with Multi-Grammy award winner Lila Downs, superstar Thalia as well as with the Grammy nominee band Plena Libre.
Thanks to family influences, including his grandfather Sammy Ayala, who was one of the founders of Cortijo y su Combo, Marcos began playing caribbean percussion instruments at age two. At age seven, he got into the Conservatory of Music in Puerto Rico and at age twelve he was accepted in the Escuela Libre de Musica where he trained in classical percussion, graduating in 2006. Within that time, in 2005, he won a full scholarship from Berklee College of Music, from which he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Music Business & Management in 2011.
While at Berklee, Marcos was part of “La Timbistica”, a group of Latin Jazz with worldwide influences that represented the talent of the renowned college. They headlined the Heineken Jazz Fest in Puerto Rico, the Monterey Jazz Fest in California, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington D.C, the Saratoga Jazz Festival in NY,and many more. They were awarded Downbeat Magazine’s 2008 Jazz Group of the Year Award in the collegiate category.
As an educator, he has given percussion clinics and performances at The Montreal Drum Fest, PASIC, Berklee College of Music and in the Percussion Festival in The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music.
Marcos is continually working to reach new levels, musically and artistically. His evolution rests on a solid foundation layered with diligence and a strong work ethic that has been nourished by all his years in the music industry. These qualities manifest themselves in a form of professionalism rarely found in musicians his age and make him a treasure among the percussionists of this era.
R.I.P.
R.I.P. to drummer Mike Shapiro. He enjoyed a successful thirty plus year career as a drummer, percussionist, producer and educator. A self-taught musician from Washington D.C., Shapiro has performed with many legendary artists spanning multiple genres. Mike has worked with such noted artists as will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake, Natalie Cole, Macy Gray, Al Jarreau, Toots Thielemans, Frank Gambale, Yellowjackets, Randy Travis, Ivan Lins, Dori Caymmi and Sergio Mendes. Currently working with the legendary Herb Alpert and wife, singer, Lani Hall, Mike has recorded, co produced and done arrangements for several of their albums. They continue to tour extensively. His movie soundtrack credits include, Shrek the 3rd, Rio, People Like Us, The Odd Life Of Timothy Green, Jersey Boys, The Peanuts Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales, Despicable Me 3, Pitch Perfect 3, Jumanji, Kingsman and Rampage.
Happy Birthday!
Happy 70th birthday to Luis Conte. His genius stems from his ability to integrate the powerful rhythms of his native Cuba with the American necessities of American pop music. His long and varied career has included numerous Hollywood film scores and mega-successful albums with Madonna, Ray Charles, Phil Collins, Santana, Shakira, Jackson Browne, Sergio Mendes, Cachao, and a multitude of other artists too numerous to mention.
Born in Santiago, Cuba, Luis spent the first 15 years of his life soaking up the rich musical heritage of “El Son” and Carnival. "Life in Cuba is all about enjoying life, and music is central to that lifestyle," Luis says. "Music is almost like food to Cuban people.” While immersed in the music of his native Cuba, Luis also developed a passion for Rock & Roll, R&B soul music, jazz, and the Beatles.
At 15, looking for freedom, Luis emigrated to Madrid, Spain. He soon had another opportunity to travel, this time to Hollywood. In California, Luis stayed with a cousin and attended Hollywood High School, playing guitar in numerous rock bands throughout his teens.
After high school, Luis met John Monteallegre, who reunited him with Cuban drums at LA City College. By the time he was 18, Luis was intensely interested in drumming and took every opportunity to play and to learn, drawing his inspiration from a deep source of rhythm absorbed during his youth in Cuba.
Since then, Luis has become one of the most respected and recorded percussionists in the world.
Happy birthday to Nick Angelis. Nick has been involved in the drum corps activity since 1979. Throughout 15 seasons, he marched with The Satellites from Leicester, MA from 1980-87, The Spartans from N.H. '88 and '89, The Boston Crusaders '90-91, The Santa Clara Vanguard 1992, The Star of Indiana 1993, Brass Theater 1994, and aged out of The Blue Knights from Denver, CO in 1995. As a performer, he was crowned The 1992 Drum Corps International Rudimental Snare Drum World Champion, 1993 Drum Corps Midwest Champion, and was a part of the 1993 Star of Indiana World Champion Percussion section.
Nick has taught and/or written, for numerous marching bands and drum corps all around the country including: Blue Knights, Boston Crusaders, Crossmen, Spartans of N.H., Troopers (Caption Head/Arranger 2005), Spirit of J.S.U. (Co-Caption Head and Co-Arranger, 2004-05), University of Massachusetts at Amherst, three-time BOA Finalist and AAA National Champion, Kennesaw Mountain H.S. (Percussion Arranger), BOA 2004 Atlanta Regional Finalist Harrison H.S., and BOA 2005 National Semi-Finalist, Bellbrook H.S. In 1994, he performed as a soloist in Star of Indiana's Brass Theater Featuring The Canadian Brass. He was an Original Featured Star performer for The Tony and Emmy award-Winning Show, Blast! From 1999-2003.
He performed in London at The Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, opened in New York City at The Broadway Theater, and was in The 1st National Tour performing in over 40 cities. Nick attended The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. He is currently the Assistant Band Director for the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands under the direction of Dr. Terren Frenz, and the Caption Head and Percussion Arranger for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps from Dubuque, Iowa.
Gig Alerts
Check out Damon playing with the hip hop cover band, Concrete Jungle at the Woodbury Brewing Company in Woodbury, CT this coming Friday November 19th.
Instagram is paying creators up to $10,000 to post Reels – as TikTok surpasses the one billion monthly active users mark. Instagram isn’t the only social media platform hoping to incentivize users to post short-form videos, either. YouTube Shorts, Snapchat Spotlight, and Instagram Reels all have some type of creator incubator program. YouTube Shorts established a $100 million creator fund to encourage creators. Snapchat offers cash prizes for new videos, and Instagram has launched its monthly Reels Play bonus program. -Article
Social Soundbyte
Friend of the show, Jon Epcar, has a new release called Solo Duo Toot. Its available on all the platforms, but if you really want to help him out, slide over and grab it from his Bandcamp page.
Educational Spotlight
Conga Chops has some new lessons up!
PASIC happened this past weekend and they might be uploading some future videos. Be on the lookout for those.
Product Review
Damon mentions a couple of products like the phone tray and some pedals and vibraphones with different colors.
Iconic Recording
Damon talks about a transcription in the interview. This is the recording is comes from. “Que Vendes Tu” by
Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.
Music News
Is Britney Spears free? Yep, a 13-year conservatorship was terminated by a judge. Judge Brenda Penny in Los Angeles Superior Court grainted Spears’ petition to terminate the conservatorship on Friday, November 12. The pop-star can now regain control of her health, work, and her estimated $60 million estate. Her attorney Mathew Rosengart worked to terminate the conservatorship at her wishes. -Article
MusiCares is launching a second ‘Help for the Holiday’ initiative this year. Many music venues across the United States are now scheduling shows again, but musicians still need help. The holiday campaign was so successful last year, that MusiCares is repeating it for 2021. Eligible musicians can apply to receive a $250 gift card from Kroger or Walmart. The gift cards are intended to cover the purchase of essential items like food, gas, and prescriptions. Applications are now available on the Musicares website – with some eligibility requirements. -Article
Marcos Lopez Interview
The song leading into the interview is called Sanctuary by Marcos, and friend of the show, Jessie Caraballo.
Marcos starts by talking about what his PASIC masterclass was all about.
Marcos explains how he wanted to give actionable advice for percussionists and drumset players. He started with explaining what the clave is, and how it’s used.
Marcos talks about listening to solos of masters to get a handle on the vocabulary that is used. He has a spotify playlist of tons of songs that have these solos on congas, timbales and more.
Damon brings up the quinto transcription. You can get and download that below…..
Marcos talks about the evolution of rudiments in Afro-Cuban percussion playing.
Marcos mentions John Wooten’s drum book that he used in his lessons.
Damon brings up the Old Guard after Marcos played on a Cooperman rope tuned drum.
Marcos talks about the “Groove Toolbox” that was released on Conga Chops’ website.
Damon mentions Jimmy Branly using timbales and a drumset. Marcos mentions Changuito and Juan Formell. Marcos also mentions Ritmo Oriental and the timbale player’s setup. Damon mentions Negro and Dafnis’ setups.
Marcos talks about learning music pre-internet.
Shout-out to the late Chuck Silverman’s Drumset Artists of Cuba videos with the aforementioned Jimmy Branly, as well as, Raul Pineda and Jose Sanchez among others.
Marcos also talks about the book Chuck Silverman helped Changuito put together.
Marcos talks about what his role is on the tour and also how fortunate he feels.
Marcos talks about the covid protocols for his current tour.
Damon brings up a couple of vaccination passport apps like: Common Pass, Bindle and others.
Marcos and Damon talk about different apps used to travel with from: TSA Precheck, to Global Entry, to Mobile Passport, to Clear (which also includes the Clear Health Pass).
Marcos talks about hacking.
Damon and Marcos give a shout-out to PASIC, and their successful attempt to keep people protected.
Marcos uses DW drums and hardware, Latin Percussion instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and mallets and Gruv Gear.
You can follow Marcos on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. You can catch him on tour with Marc Anthony.
Here is the White BBQ Sauce Damon uses with his Smoked Turkey…….
White BBQ Dipping Sauce (for poultry or pork)
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon powdered garlic
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon finely ground cayenne pepper
Do this
Whisk together all the ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate in a jar overnight if possible to allow the flavors to meld.
The song leading out of the interview is Marcos taking a solo with Marc Anthony in Houston, TX.
