by Michelle White

VIDEO - Broadband   -  VIDEO - Modem

Timba.com: Hi, we're here with Piloto, who is the Best Timba Drummer. And...there is a rehearsal [loud music in the background]. Can you tell us a little about what is going on with the orchestra now?

Piloto: Yes. Well, to all the people of Timba.com a thank you for the distincion. I thank everyone who voted for me, and a big hug for Kevin and all of the people of Timba.com, for Michelle logically as well.

Look, with Klímax we're preparing a tour for the carnavals of the Canary Islands, the carnevals of Tenerife. Now in February we are puttiing together some new numbers for the next CD by Klímax. Although the CD called Nadie se parece a ti is still hot, we're already beginning to prepare new numbers because there are two singers that we have currently who didn't participate in the CD, and so now they need their own repertory as well.

Apart from this we are also preparing some concerts in universities in Cuba and getting ready for the 10th anniversary of Klímax. Klímax turns 10 the next 7th of April and we are, well, organizing a tour of all of Cuba, the principle cities of Cuba, in the month of April, at the end of March and April and also organizing some things for Europe. We're still not...the performances in Europe are not confirmed, but so far we are doing it here in Cuba, we are inviting the press, doing what we usually do in Cuba at the national level and I believe that we're going to have a good time. It's been 10 years; now the child isn't so small, now it is beginning to be bigger. And we feel extremely good about it..

Timba.com: Any your style of playing the drums, can you say something about that...

Piloto: Look it's a style that's very...let's call it personal. There are a lot of drummers that I admire, that I have admired since I was a child. And I think in the end my style is a fusion of all of those styles, of all those drummers that have impressed me, that I have liked throughout my whole career. But basically I have been taught and have learned from my uncle, Guillermo Barreto, who was one of the greatest percussionists of Cuban music throughout the entire history of Cuban music in this country. And well, finally he taught me by listening to records that he also had listened to in his time in the era of the first American bands. And this I fused with all the experience that I received in the Cabaret Tropicana, listening to the batá drums, the folkloric groups and finally I created my own style that is what the people currently know, that is what has identified me with the different groups that I have participated in throughout my career.

Timba.com: Thanks a lot.

Piloto: A pleasure. A big kiss for all the pretty girls of Timba and a hug for all the brothers of Timba.com.