These neighborhood drumming groups are called Llamadas because they call out to each other as they're walking down the streets of the night practicing their drum playing.
The week before tickets had been purchased for a nightclub appearance, so they set off at 10 pm in search of their favorite group. Turns out the street address printed on the tickets meant nothing; however, a word to the wise was found in a very busy, corner liquor store. The nameless club was finally located just before the witching hour, but the performers and dancers were only now beginning to show up. Led in as it were by the slower, warm-up music.
(Double click the YouTube links below for a listen, if you like)
http://youtu.be/iwWlymHPu9A
One of the things that makes this group a little different is they have a trumpet player and tonight he is joined by a guitar player. Normally, on the streets, there would be thirty or forty drummers; but tonight there willl only be four.
http://youtu.be/IijHZCW5tx0
There are costumed dancers, though,
that bring back fond memories to the gal and guy of their New Orleans & Mardi Gras college years.
Finally, on the next day, after midnight the beat begins to pick up and the gathered feet start slamming up and down as fast as the whiskeys and cokes.
http://youtu.be/TW5v8J5g4cM
And many of those in atttendance are in fact famous singers from the past in search of a groove.
All the songs were familiar standards, so the crowd joined in with the guest singers and translation became unnecessary for the foreign couple.
The music was hot, the underground club's dance floor was getting hotter and fans of the fans were flapping like the tail feathers of so many colorful birds in a courtship ritual orgy. http://youtu.be/YWjf8PUAjHM
The YouTube videos are only for listening to and hardly worth trying to watch, so just close your eyes and you'll actually be simulating the club's darkness.
There were many songs through out the night, but now the new day's dawn has arrived and it's time to put the YouTube videos away and just
call it a night.
