If there is one percussionist that can be described as a drummer's drummer that has spanned several decades, it is Armando Peraza. He was instrumental in the spread of the music called Latin jazz with his work with George Shearing, Mongo Santamaria and Cal Tjader. His work with Santana brought his recognition to an even wider audience. I have known Armando for over 30 years. He was an inspiration and remains so to this day. He is a classy guy and an intellect.

Armando was the first guy I ever saw play bongos and conga at the same time. This was when working with the George Shearing Quartet. The group would start with several straight ahead jazz tunes and then bring Armando out. He electrified the band and inspired me. Some of the original motivation I had to grow LP came from seeing this man play.

Armando was born in Cuba. I am not sure of the year but I think it was 1920. He is a crazy baseball and boxing fan and delights in giving lessons in both of these sports. His physical toughness is not apparent until you cross him and he will stand up for principles, even if the one effected by the errant individual wasn't himself. I hear the story of a camera belonging to someone associated with the band he was with being stolen from a dressing room. Armando tracked down the camera, went to the thief's house and got it back. There are countless stories like this that his fellow musicians like Karl Perrazo or Raul Rekow like to tell.

One of Armando's eccentricities is shoes. He has, as it is told to me, hundreds of pairs in his home. It might come from being a poor kid in Cuba and not being able to afford to have shoes. Some he tells me he has never worn. Another of Armando's passions is walking. If you want to phone him, you had better get him before 9 am because after that he is out of the house, walking, having coffee and being a part of the big world around him that he is very much comfortable in. Not to be categorized, Armando is a citizen of the world.

In 1997 LP introduced the Armando Peraza line of Valje^® Congas that are made from luscious, deeply finished cherry wood. These drums feel rich when you touch their satin surface. Every aspect of Valje is superior. Armando was particularly distinguished as a bongo player and the Valje bongos are said by many, including Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez from the Puente band, to have the best sound of all the bongos available today. This line of drums remind Armando so much of the drums of his birthplace. The debut of this line of percussion was at the 1997 PASIC show where a recording was made of Armando playing along with former band mates, Karl Perrazo and Raul Rekow.

Armando Peraza and Mingo Lewis. Date or location unkown.

Armando doing the "Boxing Mambo" in The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California. November,1995.