Okay, I know it's not rumba instruments, or even rumba, it's jazz and piano. However I did attend a similar lecture series by SF Jazz on rumba by John Santos and it was very good. I intend on attending a few of these lectures as well.
Rumba and jazz share similarities as they are both improvisational musics. In the words of Mario Punchard of Isla Percussions "Jazz and Rumba are on the same plane". Also an interesting fact the late and great Miguel 'Anga" Diaz was influenced by the incomparable Thelonious Monk; stating as much in the videos on the making of his phenomenal album Echu Mingua. Incidentally the second lecture of the series covers the great Cuban pianist and composer, Chucho Valdes, who also appears on Diaz's album Echu Mingua.
Anyways, I love jazz as much as I love rumba. I can say that it was actually jazz that led me to discover, appreciate and learn rumba. So if you happen to be in San Francisco during September and October, or live here, I recommend attending one or more of these lectures.
Non-Members: $25/class| $100 full course (5 classes) buy ticketsSFJAZZ & JCCSF Members: $18/class| $75 full course (5 classes) buy tickets
Jazz has played an integral role in opening ears to “world music,” and the piano has played a central role in much of that progress. In our fall Discover Jazz course, students will learn about some of the most significant pianists on the global stage. The five-class series will create a vivid picture of the musical diaspora of jazz, using the compelling musical histories and personal biographies of the great jazz pianists to shape our journey.
- Sept. 17: New York, Monk and Modern Jazz The aptly dubbed “genius of modern music,” Thelonious Monk and mid-century Manhattan, when all the modern giants of jazz came out to play—features guest artist Adam Shulman. buy tickets
- Sept. 24: Cuban Piano and Latin Jazz A close look at the Cuban piano greats, from Chucho Valdes to Gonzalo Rubalcaba and young upstart Alfredo Rodríguez—features guest artist The Nina Ott Trio. buy tickets
- Oct. 1: From Jelly Roll to Modern New Orleans Trace the vibrant piano legacy of the birthplace of jazz through legends like Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint—features guest artist Mitch Woods. buy tickets
- Oct. 8: European Masters Take the Stage The old world welcomed early jazz players; now European pianists like Bobo Stenson, Nik Bärtsch and Marcin Wasilewski are becoming increasingly important—features guest artist The Peter Horvath Trio. buy tickets
- Oct. 15: Great Jazz Pianists of Africa Jazz returned to its African roots with a fury through pianists Abdullah Ibrahim, Hotep Idris Galeta and Bheki Mseleku——features guest artist Dee Spencer. buy tickets