SHK was sad to learn today that Francisco Aguabella, the master Cuban percussionist and sacred drummer, has died in LA at the age of 84. He was due to perform with The Conga Kings in New York this weekend alongside the legendary Conguero, Candido Camero and current master Giovanni Hidalgo. The concert will go ahead as a tribute to Aguabella.

Aguabella was famously described by Dizzy Gillespie as “the John Coltrane of the Conga Drums.” The LA Times carried a short obituary today. All About Jazz has a more extensive profile with some additional video clips here. Aguabella was featured in the documentary Sworn To The Drum in 1995 (excerpt below) and is the subject of a documentary simply entitled Aguabella which is currently in production.

New York event details can be found on the site of the World Music Institute, here.

There’s really only one way to honor the memory of Francisco Aguabella and that’s to keep his music alive. For some of the most spiritual conga drumming you are ever likely to hear, seek it out and add it to your collection.