Bobo Butires

This “Local Boy” from Waimanalo Hawaii has had an a illustrious career as a conguero here and in the mainland states. Bobo is a “First Call” musician always ready to do a gig. He Launched his career for 8 years during the 70’s with one of Hawaii’s most popular bands “Country Comfort”. After which he moved to the mainland U.S. and played with many great artists. Bobo has over 200 recording sessions to his credit,and countless musical scores and presently tours with internationally famous music artist“FIJI”.

Credits

Barry White, Yosef Lateef, War, Pauline Wilson, David Sandborn, Sheena Easton, Jeff Lorber, Little Feet, Ozomatli, Donna Summers, Country Comfort, Kalapana, Henry Kapono, Na Leo Pilimehana, Hoonua, B.E.T., Sean Naauao, Zanuck Lindsey, Kirk Thompson, Kalaeloa, Fiji.

Bobo likes his “Retro” look Volcano’s. “The grain is so incredible in our woods, especially the way Tom puts it in the drums”,say’s Bobo. He also prefers to have 1 Remo Fiberskyn head & 1 steerhide head to make up his 2-congas and Remo’s on his tumba and bongos which sound great all the time, anywhere for any occasion.

Robertito Melendez

Volcano Percussion is pleased to announce that Robertito has chosen to add his name as a representative of our fine drums.

“Volcano bongos are like firecrackers everytime I strike them, which I love. The congas are beautiful, natural and very light in weight....the BEST I’ve played in all my years!” Robertito

Born in New York City, of Puerto Rican descent, he had great opportunity to learn percussion at the Ife Ife Percussion School in Philadelphia. He studied all Latin percussion and Caribbean rhythms. His goals are to have a community based workshop/studio for percussion learning and to continue traveling the world sharing rhythms and cultural sounds with various artists and students; and to study and perform at the National Afro-Cuban Conservatory in Cuba..

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Bobby Matos Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble
• Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz
• Francisco Aguabella Salsa Orchestra
• La Palabra
• Miquel Cruz Afro-Cuban Group
• Johnny Polanco y Su Conjunto La Amistad
• Susie Hansen Latin Jazz Band
• Johnny Martinez Band
• Rudy Regalado Orchestra Chevere Latin Jazz Salsa
• Tavio Figueroa and La Sopresa salsa Band
• Afro-Taino Ensemble
• Nocy, Brazilian Flamenco Jazz
• Teddy Riveria and his Puerto Rican Orchestra
• Willy Cadena Cumbia and Salsa Band
• Legendary Dave Pike Latin Jazz
• Orchestra Macondo Salsa Band
• Tony Vega Salsa Band
• Ray Amando Latin Jazz Quintet
• Pete El Conde Salsa Band
• Karen Hernandez Jazz Quartet
• Jump with Joey Ska band
• Melocochita Salsa Orchestra
• Tierra Latin Rock
• Legendary El Chicano Latin Rock

WWW.ROBERTITOMELENDEZ.COM

Eddie Del Rios

This musician has been endorsing our drums since first playing Volcano’s owned by Rudy Mangual, editor of Latin Beat Magazine, back in ‘02. Eddie hails from the Bronx originally before making his success with Johnny Polanco’s Y Su Conjunto Amistad in Hollywood Ca. Being one of the most popular bands in Ca., has kept Eddie working 5 to 6 nights a week. Then, in his spare time, he travels with the likes of Tito Puente Jrs. Band. He likes our Mango drums with thin skins on his whole set. Easier on the hands and with brighter sound, states this professional.

Mark Henderson

As you can see, Mark surrounds himself with Volcano’s. He never has enough of them. Everytime he thinks he’s got enough, he falls in love all over again with a another look. Well, we think he needs too, since he’s a member of 4 bands, as well as teaching music, owning a recording studio, production company and a night club. This Columbus Ohio native has been playing bongos, congas, timbales, set drums with the likes of Sam & Dave, the Coasters, the Drifters and many other notibles as well as sharing the stage with greats like James Brown & Ray Charles for over 30 years. Who said White Boys can’t play percussion? This is one Soulful Cat! When asked, What kind of music do you like to play? Mark replies, “ Man, on Thursday I play Jazz, Friday Soul & Saturday night, Salsa! I love it all and these drums sing to the touch. Whether it’s a slap tone, open, muted or bass hit, the drums sound so superior to any on the market, there is no comparison. I think the combination of the exotic woods and the hand picked heads are a huge part of the sound exuberance. They are the best musical instrument in their genre.

Visit Mark at HiHatprodrum@hotmail.com orwww.hoodoosoulband.com or www.yumbambe.com or www.columbusrumbacafe.com

First of all I would like to thank Tom Alexander for his insight into the making of  these beautiful conga & bongo drums. As a professional percussionist and recording artist, I have played, recorded and performed with many different brands of percussion instruments throughout my life. Volcano Percussion congas and bongos have a very unique sound all of their own, rich, vibrant, excellent tonality and timbre. These drums have so much quality in them. Great craftsmanship. Made from the best Mango & Koa woods available plus their “Made In Hawaii”. The congas & bongos both have handmade stainless steel hardware & cowhide skins that make your hands swing with delight as you play them! I feel very fortunate to be one of the first professional percussionist to proudly own a complete ensemble of V.P. Hawaii drums. I know I will cherish them always. So for all you professional & up & coming percussionists alike, these drums are just the right Volcanic Explosion that you will need to produce the best sound available today! I wholeheartedly recommend that you contact Tom and get yourself a piece of the “Islands of Hawaii” by having your own set of congas and bongos made by him.

Sincerely, Rolando Sanchez www.salsahawaii.com

Russell *Sango Robertson

     “The sound quality surpassed my wildest dreams in the 45 yrs. I’ve been playing”

Sango is an educator at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu Hawaii. He holds his Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology. He also has his own percussion school and teaches from Hawaii to New York. Originally from New York, he had formal training in theater and mass communication. Consequentley, has performed on Broadway, had numerous television and motion picture parts, as well as lectures on international percussion from coast to coast. He also is founder of the 30 year old New York dance company,”Liberation Ensemble”. Sango’s long history of percussion performing includes such names as the great Eartha Kitt, Harry Belefonte, The Drifters, Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii Band and Henry Kapono of Hawaii. He’s currently playing the Honolulu night club curcuit. We at Volcano Percussion are very pleased to have Sango amongst our supporting artists. www.babasango.com

                                                       Beyond Excellence                                                                                                       

-From Mango to Bango-                                              Newsletter: June, 2004

“Campus Drummers” at the University of Hawai’i

This June newsletter serves to introduce and endorse Volcano Percussion.com as a leader in the construction and manufacturing of award-winning conga and bongo drums that have been made in Hawai’i since 1995. “Made in America”, printed on items today is rare, especially in these hard economic times when making things overseas is a lot cheaper because of manufacturing and labor costs. But this obstacle did not stop Tom & Victoria Nava Alexander, founders and owners of Volcano Percussion on the Big Island of Hawai’i, from going beyond excellence in creating a world class conga drum based on their unique ideas and designs. After visiting the V.P. drumworks in April by request and on behalf of Lois Russell, UH Manoa percussion Instructor for over 30 years, I came away knowing that the Music Department had to have a set of these drums. For those not  familiar with congas, a set consists of three drums of different sizes accommodating a range from the low bass “Tumba” to a midrange “Conga” to a high pitched range of “Quinto”. The sound quality of the Volcano drums surpassed my wildest dreams in the 45 years I’ve been playing. The tones were clear, the bass resonated with depth, and the slaps were crisp. Rated on a scale in comparison to other drums, these get a grade of “excellent”. What sets these drums beyond excellence is their craftmanship, hardware and the unique beauty of Hawaiian Mango an Koa wood. I was truly impressed with Tom’s operation and the unique, still secret, construction design and method for crafting congas and bongos. These drums are solid and come with the manufacturer’s (rare) 5-year warranty against the shells splitting or cracking under normal conditions. This covers all weather of the four seasons. In spite of the warm, moist and salty air of Hawai’i or hot, dry and cold climates of the East Coast, these drums are guaranteed not to split and all the stainless steel hardware has a limited lifetime warranty. Now here is a guarantee to marvel at! I could have added an additional V.P. Hawai’i drum to my collection with all the money I’ve spent replacing lugs and bent rims on my X brand congas. Once again, my ”beyond excellence” rating is due in part to the custom stainless steel hardware that I saw being manufactured at Tom’s drumworks. This craftsmanship, alone with his years of experience and love for woodcrafting and music making makes these drums a “must have”. I would not want to be on stage playing X brand congas with a set of Volcano Percussion congas in view! These are the most beautiful drums I’ve ever seen or played. We just received our congas at the UH Music Department and I can’t wait to play “bango on our Mango”. For more information and to see Tom’s work for yourself, visit his website at: www.volcanopercussion.com   -by Russell Robertson II aka Sangomuyiwa-

www.babasango.com

Nolan Empron is a percussionist by night with a local Honolulu group “Kona Wind” & “Blue Lights” as well as a Honolulu police officer by day (sometimes reversed). His striped drums are Koa & Mango. Center drum is solid Koa.

Nolan Says: Just arrived home to a wonderful surprise. I was spellbound from the beauty of these fabulous drums. Their a work of art . I don’t know if I just want to sit here and look at them or tune um up and start pounding!  They look 100 times better in person than on the web site. Thank you for the awesome drums and I’ll spread the word of V.P.Hawaii to every music contact I meet.

  Greg Herbst is a fine guitar player and lead fireman for Volcano National Park. We made these drums for him out of his own Hawaiian Koa lumber.

Greg Says: Tom, thank you so much for these drums. The timbre, sustain,  warmth and “mana” of these instruments reminds me of the many melodic sounds we enjoy from our island home . The winds for which our districts are known for, the thunder and showers that bring the snows to our mountains and waters to our rivers, and the surf that lulls our spirits are inherent in these instruments. The beauty and finish of these locally grown woods, delineated with the gem like precision hardware make these “pahu” masterpieces that my family will play and cherish.

Mahalo Nui Loa, Hi’Ipoi I Ka Aina Aloha,                                         Gregory Arthur “Kukala” Herbst