rebel tumbao

First recording session for new CD

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:19:34 +0000

We finally got ourselves into the studio to begin the new Rebel Tumbao recording! I’m (Matt) writing this the morning after the session and in a state of exhausted inspiration. We completed simply WICKED rhythm tracks for 7 out of 11 tunes and the ball is now rolling with lots of editing and overdubbing work ahead of us. It was a fantastic pleasure and honor for me to work with Ruben Rodriguez (bass), Anthony Carillo (percussion), Orlando Vega (congas) and of course, Jose Claussell (timbales). All of these amazing musicians took to heart the Rebel Tumbao vision which is just as the band name name states: GROOVING in the name of a positive and progressive rebellious movement! And we mean groove: we all worked hard to create deep and spacious riddims within our goal to soulfully merge roots reggae and roots Afro Cuban music, something that you don’t hear that much these days

Our videographer, Ron Wyman, was on hand shooting two days of footage (and still shots). He is every bit as much a part of this band as the musicians are! Soon we will be posting a piece combining footage from this session and from our Oakland, CA fundraising concert back in March.

Getting ready for the recording to take place late August

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:31:29 +0000

These days Matt’s deep in the shed and studio writing new music and completing arrangements for the Rebel Tumbao recording that’s coming up in August. A huge part of the process is delving deeply into current progressive (if not revolutionary!) thinking, with deep inspiration from Frances Moore Lappe (Jose’s been reading “Getting a Grip 2″), and at the moment, Naomi Klein, (Matt’s reading “The Shock Doctorine”), but also, on the other side of the spectrum, Matt’s reading Milton Friedman’s “Capitalism and Freedom” (pretty much the road map for laissez-faire Capitalism) and he’s listening to conservative hard core right-wing talk radio (whoa!). It’s important to understand all viewpoints. From this they are crafting lyrics for the project.

Also Matt and Jose have been working together developing the music and grooves for the recording. They’ve been having some really inspiring sessions together sitting a the keyboard and drums with a laptop and an interface.

They both are saddened by not being able to make it to the US Social Forum taking place NOW, BUT, most recently Matt tuned into this incredible talk by David Korten at the 2009 Green Festival in Seattle:

Rebel Tumbao welcomes Karl Perazzo for Oakland fundraiser

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:03:59 +0000

No doubt you can imagine that José is very well connected to the international brotherhood of incredible percussionists. One who fits this description well is Karl Perazzo, most well known for being a mainstay in Carlos Santana’s band for some 30 years now. We’re very excited to announce that he’ll be joining the Rebel Tumbao quartet, now a quintet, for our special fundraising event Saturday, March 13 at Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland, CA!! He’ll be rehearsing with us and putting his masterful touches on our music at the event. This will really fill out our “unplugged” sound!!

Frances Moore Lappé and Rebel Tumbao!

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:44:28 +0000

POST BY MATT JENSON: About a 2 years ago Berklee held a special lecture given by the author Frances Moore Lappé. Some of you may know her as the author of the famous book in the 70’s, “Diet for a Small Planet.” She was speaking of her social vision as described in her book “Getting a Grip: clarity, creativity and courage in a world gone mad”. I had never heard of her and on a whim, liking very much what I heard from her, I bought the book. IT KNOCKED ME OUT!! It is a clear, intelligent, compassionate and visionary view of 1) the inhumane and destructive socio-political-economic state we live in and 2) an incredibly uplifting outline of a vision for change including tons of examples of how people on the grass roots level are making a difference. The margins of my copy of the book are marked up like crazy with my thoughts and comments.

It is just this type of vision that I want to express through our music with Rebel Tumbao and I had the incredible opportunity, made possible by the president of Berklee who is friends with Mrs. Lappé, to meet her. She was so excited about the Rebel Tumbao project that she enthusiastically donated 10 copies of her new book, “Getting a Grip 2: clarity, creativity and courage for the world we really want” to our cause. I am deeply honored to have her support and it is just these type of relationships we will be forging as Rebel Tumbao grows. It’s much more than about just the music!

We will be offering the 10 signed copies of the book as “give backs” for funding levels at the Fundraising concert on March 13, in Oakland, CA!!. THANK YOU FRANCES MOORE LAPPE!!!

Towards the Rebel Tumbao philosophy

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:00:56 +0000

We feel that the human race has largely given over its fate to an economic system, “with its materialistic premise and insulting assumptions about human nature, [that] can’t satisfy our higher selves’ yearning for transcendental meaning.” We feel that markets alone have never and never will be able to create livable societies and that for a true Democracy to flourish the power of money must be removed from governance. Our one rule economic system, that in which wealth is returned to the (tiny few who are) wealthy, works tirelessly to create an unfathomable cycle of production and consumption that amounts to a subtle (or not so subtle!) form of slavery, wreaks havoc on a healthy sense of self, undermines our sense of security and destroys the environment. On all levels; financially, emotionally and spiritually, we say that this path is UNSUSTAINABLE.

(- the quote and general essence of the above paragraph come from Francis Moore Lappe’s amazing book, “Getting a Grip: clarity, creativity and courage in a world gone mad”)

Rebel Tumbao is expressing the cry of the positive side of human nature against the greed and fear of the few that determine so much of our current reality. Through our music, to put it unemotionally, we are provoking a paradigm change that seeks non-market based and sustainable solutions. But really, we want you to groove and dance with us so as to ignite a higher sense of purpose!

To many, including us, this transition of consciousness is a matter of human survival.

So, we’re angry, angry at the recent insulting supreme court decision regarding campaign finance, we’re angry that our political leaders speak of helping the middle class but rarely say a thing about the poverty stricken classes. We’re angry that many of the world’s leaders do not have the courage and vision to put a halt to corporate control of nearly every aspect of life, we’re angry at the ridiculously unfair distribution of wealth in the world……this list goes on and on.

HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT STUCK IN ANGER and find our deepest inspiration in the faith that the POSITIVE side of humanity, found in a beautiful sunset, a purely loving gaze between two people, a poetically crafted musical phrase, will prevail.

We take tremendous inspiration from Bob Marley’s life and music which expresses some of the highest truths known to man kind. His music speaks volumes about, healing, truth, resistance and harnesses the transformational power that only music and art can. His music delivers a one two punch against oppressive systems of societal organization and unhelpful human mindsets.

Another inspiration comes from the late Howard Zinn (so sad to have to say farewell to him!!). He spoke and wrote volumes about a vision in which “national boundaries are erased, when the natural riches of the world are used for everyone, when the false promises from the rich and powerful about ’spreading Liberty’ can be fulfilled, not by them, but by the concerned effort of us all, as the truth comes out, and our numbers grow.” Mr. Zinn continually pointed to the fact that change has mostly come from the bottom up and not from the top down. It is well-known that throughout history, at times of deep crisis, it is the creative people amongst us, the musicians, poets, painters, playwrites, inspired educators and philosophers who often light a path towards a better way of living….from the bottom up.

We know there is a BETTER WAY. And you?

With a strength begotten by humility, awareness and many years of musical experience, Rebel Tumbao is joining the ranks of the visionary artists, both past and present, who continue to lead us to a more enlightened understanding and to help ignite the action needed to resist human greed and fear.

All of our work in developing Rebel Tumbao is aimed at creating transcendent moments on stage, in recordings and in our educational programs that ignite the innate beauty, humility and interconnectedness that we all carry.

In our minds and hearts, we feel this to be revolutionary…..REBEL Tumbao. In our instruments we cut deep grooves of dancing ecstasy into the souls of our listeners…….Rebel TUMBAO (“groove”).

We also have a hell of a lot of fun doing it!

Musicians on the Rebel Tumbao 3 Song Demo

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:10:47 +0000

Our only recording to date is a three song demo that hasn’t been officially released. You can hear brief excerpts on the music player to the right. You will hear Matt’s arrangements of Marley’s REBEL MUSIC, STIR IT UP, IS THIS LOVE.

JOSE CLAUSSELL – percussion
MATT JENSON – piano, programming, arranging
TOUSSAINT YESHUA – lead vocals
Alex Alvear – vocals and soneo on Is This Love
Manolo Mairena – vocals and soneo on Stir It Up
Donna McElroy – backing vocals
Darcel Wilson – backing vocals
Gwen Leathers – backing vocals
Angel Subero – trombone
Squantch – trombone
Carlos Henriquez – bass
Orlando Vega – bongo

Dragonfly Taxi

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:15:25 +0000

By Matt Jenson

Well, I’m looking for that Dragonfly Taxi
That Jimi rode back in ‘67
I bet she could turn on less than a dime
How about a nickel?

What do you think she took for a fare
Technicolor air?
Something about the trip back then
Really seemed to get you somewhere

2X Dragonfly Taxi – sky
Dragonfly please tell me why

Her wings are baby’s breath stained glass
And her seats will tell the truth of you
But this box you’ve been trying to think your way our of
Has poisoned the morning dew

Supersonic sound is how she gets around
Eyes crazy with bloodshot love
And the billboard on her trunk reads:
“Not for money, no way!!”

2X Dragonfly Taxi – sky
Dragonfly please tell me why

Lost on a street corner planet
You are miles from reality
Hail her, but she won’t pull over
Too long now you’ve made her cry your tears

She leaves a streak of green, purple, blue light
And last I heard
Though you might not think it’s right,
She was dancing with the cotton candy clouds

2X Dragonfly Taxi – sky
Dragonfly please tell me why

Well, it took 30 years later
I found that sad lady
Buried under a cross, a flag, a dollar bill and a gun
Somewhere inside of me and you

Hang on if you can sweet darling
Cuz that burnin’ drag you feel every day
Let me say, “Ms. Dragonfly Taxi,”
Man, she’s GOING to have her way!

Muse

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:12:20 +0000

by Matt Jenson

Way, way, way
Way down

Some days I want to share a touch that knows the unfair depth of a
Healed, lonely heart
Other days I wonder why some people in this world just won’t
Play the right part
And yet another day comes when to express what I really feel I must
Scream and cry
Other days I can’t believe some people in this world will force
So many others to die

Way, way, way
Way down

I see a beautiful dancing muse and she’s as fleeting as a
Shooting star
Then I see a gun-shot, terrorist, president, CEO forcing on us a
Never ending war
How many times must we bow to the mentality of profit before
You and me
Share a touch of a muse, a scream and cry, shooting star so that some day we will
All see

The Story

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:10:48 +0000

By Matt Jenson

I really don’t think that you know anything:
About the desires of our nation
About interest rates and inflation

Because you’ve got your story all wrong, story all wrong, story all wrong

I really don’t think you know anything:
About holding free and fair elections
About the true welfare of your people

Because you’ve got your story all wrong, story all wrong, story all wrong

FREEDOM
I’m gonna go get myself a freedom credit card right now
It’s as easy as can be…..at 23%
FREEDOM
And for breakfast, how about a little sub prime credit crunch, with milk
Sweeten it up with a couple of universal default penalties
FREEDOM
Yes my children, life takes mountains of debt
It’s everywhere you wanna be….ya can’t leave home without it!

I really don’t think you care anything:
About greenhouse gas emissions

I really don’t think you know anything:
About enlightened holy spirit in the rest of us

Because you’ve got your story all wrong, story all wrong, story all wrong

I really don’t think you know anything:
About the truth, life, liberty and happiness

I really don’t think you know or care anything:
About what the rest of us call freedom

FREEDOM
I’m back, Yo! Let’s have a nice ownership society
You’ll have the most extensive credit line for Larger Living
FREEDOM
Inactivity charges! Even if you don’t buy, you’ll still pay
This, guaranteed to you by your elected officials
FREDOM
Make life rewarding. All it takes. All you need.
Love every day. My life, my card.

Wake up, wake up, wake up……

Your First Million

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:09:04 +0000

by Matt Jenson

Making your first, Million
Making my first, call to your head

You’re dead
Institutes of higher Ed
Tantalizing fruit vegetable spread
50 million miles ahead
Tie you up with a piece of thread

[chorus]

What did I just said?
Read another book instead
All the traffic lights say red
Many many many loaves of bread
Could not fix your sled

[chorus]

Well don’t worry, the bank says you can
Borrow much more than a pen
And watch out for the belly dancer with the
Dotted eyes
How many of you will be able to
Live out your purpose
Is there a boat in this tidal wave
This melody will show us the way

[chorus]

Mr. President go back to your shed
There’s a spider in your bed
And all the soldier’s, they continue to bled
How many have been fed?
And you just let it go to your head

[chorus]

I once had a stock named Fred
But this system of Capital, it’s gonna shred
Prescribe me another med
Happily ever after you are wed
But the rain drops keep falling on your…..

Making your first million
Making my LAST, call to your head