Synopsis "Beyond Salsa Piano: César "Pupy" Pedroso - Part 3 - Los Van Van in the 1990s"
(This page sells the book only - the supplemental audio files are a separate downloadable purchase. The book also contains a link to a free download of an assortment of audio files from each chapter.)THE BOOK: Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 12 is the third volume on César "Pupy" Pedroso, and covers his last decade as the pianist and one of the principal songwriters of the Cuban supergroup Los Van Van. The book contains music notation and analysis of Pedroso's piano tumbaos as well as historical and discographical information about Los Van Van and its many famous members, including Juan Formell, Samuel Formell, Mayito Rivera, Angel Bonne, Robertón Hernández, Pedrito Calvo, Boris Luna and José Luis "Changuito" Quintana. During the period under study (1989-2001), Los Van Van released seven albums generally considered to be among the best Cuban popular music recordings of all time: Crónicas (1989), Aquí el que baila gana (1990), Azúcar (1992), Lo último en vivo (1994), Ay Dios ampárame (1996), Te pone la cabeza mala (1997) and the Grammy-winning Llegó Van Van (19990.Volumes 10 and 11 of the Beyond Salsa Piano series cover Pupy Pedroso's earlier work with Los Van Van and Volume 13 will cover his work as the leader of Pupy y Los Que Son Son from 2001 to the present). Los Que Son Son is currently one of the most popular bands in Cuba. Volumes 1-5 are a beginning-intermediate-advanced course in Latin piano playing in general; Volumes 6-9 are an in-depth study of piano giant Iván "Melón" Lewis and his work with the pivotally important Issac Delgado Group. Volume 14 covers the piano style of Tirso Duarte with Charanga Habanera. Interestingly, Duarte was also a lead singer with Pupy y Los Que Son Son. The Beyond Salsa series also includes 5 books on bass, 3 on drums and timbales, a course for Latin ensemble, Understanding Clave and Clave Changes, and a special book, Beyond Salsa for Beginners, that teaches basic rhythms and history for dancers and other interested non-musicians.
