"Long John Penalty connected with us through our close spiritual mentor, Pancho.Quinto( one of the founders of the legendary group, Yoruba Andabo. Penalty told us that Pancho was his father. We were never sure if he meant in the musical/spiritual sense or as his biological father. Regardless he became a member of Spirits of Havana through that special connection that we both had! Also, he participated in an important concert at the Montreal Jazz Festival ,Jane Bunnett and the Cuban Piano Masters featuring pianists Frank EmiIio and Hilario Duran in 1997 This concert was filmed for a one hour show and distributed worldwide. I distinctly recall the powerful connection the he had with a quite young Dafnis Prieto ! BEAUTIFUL! Long John was a complicated person, but he was a skilled, charismatic percussionist who "raised the bandstand.”
- JANE BUNNETT