MANZANARES Nuevo Latino

MICHAEL'S CAJON PAGE 

Welcome to Michael's Cajon page. It features the incredible wooden drums that are hand built by Michael Manzanares.

Michael has created a wonderful instrument that he has dubbed the "Trapajon"...

Trapajon due to it's trapazoid shape. Check out the origins of the cajon and keep an eye out for some really cool videos that will feature one of Michael's hand built models getting a serious work-out during a MANZANARES show.

History of the cajon:

Cajon is the Spanish word for box. The instrument originated in colonial Peru, when slaves, whose African drums had been forbidden by their masters, resorted to boxes and overturned drawers to play their rhythms. With the years a real instrument developed, and in the early 1970's the cajon found its way into Flamenco music. Ideal for Flamenco - short staccato sounds that seem naturally related to the footwork and "palmas" (clapping) - its use has since spread worldwide.

The cajón is believed to have originated in Peru. Africans displaced from their homeland substituted cod shipping crates for their native drums. In Cuba, small dresser drawers were used for the same purpose. The instrument was refined and became an important part of Cuban and Peruvian music. Three quarter inch pine or other white wood was generally used for five sides of the box. A thin sheet of plywood was nailed on as the sixth side and acted as the head or striking surface. The top edges were often left unattached and could be slapped against the box. A sound hole was cut in the side opposing the head. The player sat on the box striking the head between his legs. Today, the cajón is heard extensively in Andean, Cuban, and Flamenco music. It¹s steadily gaining popularity in all types of contemporary music and has become a favorite for "unplugged" sessions.

The player sits on the instrument and plays it with the hands between the legs. It is associated with the styles from the coastal towns of Peru. The cajon is very popular internationally nowadays, and has even found a place as "the" percussion instrument of the Spanish flamenco ensemble.

Box-drum, 'Cajon' History has shown us in many ways that something great can be generated from a very shameful act, the Cajon is such an object. When West Africans were taken from their homeland to be sold in port cities unknown to them, they were often times feared, partly due to the power from these first heard, DRUMS! Particularly when the Angolons were purchased they were forced to burn their own drums. The result of this was the discovery of a cod-fish box which not only resonated like a drum, but could also be disguised as a seat or stool.

Michael is available to answer any of your questions about his drums via email or at the next MANZANARES show.

Email Michael at manzysol@MSN.com