Language of the Masters: Transcriptions and Etudes of 10 Great Latin Percussion Artists
By Michael Spiro and Michael Coletti
Learn the Language Expressed by the Legends of Latin Percussion
The Language of the Masters: Transcriptions and Etudes of 10 Great Latin Percussion Artists by Michael Spiro and Michael Coletti is the first comprehensive analytical study of the greatest figures in Afro-Cuban and Latin percussion.
If you want to move beyond patterns and truly understand how master percussionists think, phrase, and improvise, this book gives you direct access to their musical language. Getting inside the minds of these artists will help you find your own voice as you become more fluent in the language of Latin Percussion improvisation.
Instead of generic exercises, Spiro and Coletti present detailed transcriptions of classic recorded solos from ten of the most talented musicians — revealing the rhythmic logic, phrasing devices, motivic development, and stylistic nuances that define the tradition.
Inside you’ll find:
• Three transcribed solos from each of 10 legendary percussionists • A written etude distilling the essence of each artist’s style • Play-along tracks for every etude — first with the solo performed, then accompaniment-only for practice • A 16-page overview by Michael Spiro explaining how to study, internalize, and apply the material
FEATURED ARTISTS:
Armando Peraza
Tito Puente
Ray Barretto
Manny Oquendo
Tata Guines
Guillermo Barreto
Johnny Rodriguez
Yeyito
Mongo Santamaria
Orestes Vilato
(Plus a bonus Giovanni Hidalgo transcription!)
This book is ideal for intermediate to advanced percussionists, serious students of salsa and Latin jazz, and musicians preparing for academic or professional auditions. It is absolutely the first collected study of its kind, giving these masters the analysis and respect they deserve.
Most importantly, by studying their language deeply, you begin to develop your own voice within the tradition.
“This book allows us to walk through the minds of the legends whose legacies inspire us still.” — Karl Perazzo
Spiral-bound, 127 pages, 20 downloadable audio tracks, Table of Contents.
Michael Spiro is internationally recognized as one of the foremost percussionists in Latin music. He has performed with Afro-Cuban legends such as Cachao, Eddie Palmieri, and Changuito, as well as artists including Ella Fitzgerald, David Byrne, McCoy Tyner, Carlos Santana, Gilberto Gil, and Toninho Horta. A Grammy-nominated recording artist and producer, he has appeared on thousands of recordings and is the author of The Conga Drummer’s Guidebook. He currently serves as Professor of Music at Indiana University.
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Primary Instrument: Percussion
Primary Instrument: Percussion
Language of the Masters: Transcriptions and Etudes of 10 Great Latin Percussion Artists
