**Title: ** Armando's Rhumba **Artist:** Chick Corea **Album:** My Spanish Heart **Released in:** 1976 <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Diregu6eFzk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## Chords  ## Sheet and/or tab Pay attention to the last 3x3 bars in a row at the end. Tricky to read writted like this, but the melody is correct.  ## Music analysis The theme follow the chord, using mostly Cm arpegios. The A turn around a [Minor II-V-I](Chords%20progressions.md#Minor%20II-V-I%20Complete%20minor%20with%20substitution) in Cm with a dominantized `II` acting like the `V7` of Cm's `V7`. It then, on the B section, goes to the `IVm` using the C7b9 as `V7alt -> Im7` and the same in Gm, which is the `Vm` of C. The Ab°7 act as passing chords, very similar to G7alt, then goes to the D7b9 keep the A at the bass. Bb7sus is the `V7sus -> IIIb6` where Eb is just the major relative of Cm. G7alt at the end to come back to Cm. For the solo, it's mostly playing Minor II-V-I lines, using the [Harmonic Minor](Harmonic%20Minor.md) scale on the dominant chords to give this arabic/spanish/flamenca flavor. It could be interesting to highlight some guides tones for the B part, especialy to go through the line from Ab° to Bb7sus. ## Other versions I love this take, with Gary Burton where Chick Corea is also playing the vibraphone, very funny though. <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VRSjLkj0VMw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> My favorite alternative version of this tune is from the great Michel Camilo in his album "Thru My Eyes", with I think, Anthony Jackson on the bass and Horacio "El Negro" Hernández on the drums. Those polyrythms and latin feel from Horacio are just amazing. Also the dynamic in his solo is very well controlled. Especialy those typic cuban/montuno lines from 2:06 are adding a lot to his solo. <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i_LAl0I0AAk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> This one is a reedition from Chick Corea with the Spanish Heart Band, including Marcus Gilmore on the drums. The arrangement is spectacular and I'm thrilled to hear how Chick Corea can reinvent his most played songs like this. <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThYTTn7ZWXE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> This one is a guitar duet, the guys are very good, playing it in a gypsy/flamenca flavor, using real rhumba flamenca rhythms at the guitar and gypsy lines from Django Reinhardt (2:05, Minor Swing quote). There's a lot of great ideas in terms of rhythms, espacialy the end from 2:32 with the montuno licks. <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uFGuZ78MwLs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Talking about gypsy, this version from Rosenberg Trio, famous gypsy jazz guitar players. Very fast playing here and an awesome percussion solo! Great rubato intro though. <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e-qIfhP46ag" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Guitar tuto where the melody is highlighted on a fretboard. When putting in playback speed -0.5, we can see the fingering. <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yn4HPljfs_0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## Related songs A lot of latin songs are related, but mostly some of Chick Corea, of course. We're finding the same kind of lines and influences in "Night Streets" : <iframe width="100%" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yaH8bL7KN_g" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>