ARTIST ROSTER
Independent
Aaron Serfaty was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began playing drumset professionally at age seventeen. He did extensive work as a session and touring drummer from 1980 until 1991 with local artists. In 1991 he moved to Los Angeles to study Jazz and African American Studies at the California Institute of the Arts under Albert “Tootie” Heath and Joe LaBarbera. He has also studied with Peter Erskine, Jerry Steinholz, and Juan Oliva. Aaron has played with the L.A. Phil, Roberta Gambarini, Chico Pinheiro, Oscar Hernandez, Otmaro Ruiz, Arturo Sandoval, Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi, Bill Cunliffe, Lyn Stanley, Larry Williams and Pauline Wilson, Candi Sosa, Alejandro Fernandez, and Pepe Aguilar, among many others. He is currently full-time lecturer (drumset and Latin percussion) at the University of Southern California (USC).
Abel Valentino & Salsation
Fascinated by the complex and mysterious religious nature of Afro Cuban music, Abel Valentino has spent his life immersed in the study and performance of that dynamic, spiritual percussion. Growing up in a Puerto Rican household in Arizona, he delighted in the sounds of Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Ismael Rivera. A self-taught percussionist, Valentino began his professional career at 14 years old with the Pete Robles Orchestra. His longstanding friendship with Tito Puente began in 1976 at the Casino Ballroom in Tucson, Arizona, when he was invited to perform with Tito Puente's band. Over the years, Valentino continued to be a guest with Tito Puente's band, the final time being at Centennial Hall at the University of Arizona in 1998.
Valentino has also been a guest with Larry Harlow and Willie Colon, Poncho Sanchez, and Malo. He performed with the Brazilian band Zum Zum Zum for President Reagan during the Hispanic Heritage Awards in Washington, D.C. Although he plays various styles, including straight ahead jazz and Latin rock, Valentino’s main focus is as a salsa and Latin jazz timbalero. He resides in Phoenix, playing with various West Coast salsa bands and with his band, Abel Valentino & Salsation.
Dido
Currently touring the world with Dido (over 40 million records worldwide), for her first tour in 15 years. Adam also plays for the French singer, Patricia Kaas (17 million records). They recently finished a tour of 110 concerts in over 100 cities in 25 countries.
Other recent highlights have included being musical director and drummer for Amy Macdonald for many years (over 12 million albums sold. Adam played on her number 1 album and many number 1 singles), and also toured/recorded with Babyshambles.
He is also a band member of One eskimO. Their single “Kandi” was named the #1 AAA song of the year by Billboard’s BDS airplay charts, and also won “Song of the Year” at the FMQB Triple A Conference. They were invited to play on the Ellen DeGeneres Show three times, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and toured the US relentlessly for 2 years.
Independent
Adam was born and raised in Hungary. He studied classical piano and percussion, emerging as a important exponent of latin-pop, -jazz and salsa music. He moved to London in 2007 and immersed himself in the scene there, meeting and working with many of the world's leading percussionists. London's bustling, multicultural hub was inspirational and propelled him forwards on his musical journey.
Adam has toured extensively with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Other recent performance highlights include: Anastacia, Rick Astley, Seal, Boyzone, Ronan Keating, Mica Paris, Kenny Thomas, Heather Small, Lemar, Gregory Porter, Kim Wilde, Roachford, Beverley Knight, Gabrielle, Sophie Ellis Bextor, George Ezra, Mel C, Chris Farlowe, James Blunt, Shola Ama, Emeli Sande, The Shires, and many more. When not touring, Adam performs in theatre orchestras in London, most recently on Disney's “Lion King” and “Thriller Live!”.
Educator/Independent
Adam Manning is an experienced educator, published performer and passionate composer. He performs regularly with prominent Australian artists, writes articles, records for major record labels, and has directed award winning ensembles.
Throughout his earliest years, the snare drum was his primary instrument, as he was awarded the Australian National Snare Drum Champion in 1998. In 2003, Adam completed a Bachelor of Music in orchestral percussion. He has performed with guitar virtuoso Bruce Mathiske, John Paul Young and the All Stars, Australian Jazz legend Andy Firth and many more.
Adam is the Cohort Leader of Percussion and lecturer at the University of Newcastle Australia. In 2016, Adam led the Newcastle Conservatorium Percussion ensemble to victory at the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod. Adam is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. through the University of Tasmania, where he is investigating new rhythmic thinking and sonic opportunities for the hand drummer.
Adam Nussbaum is considered one of the finest drummers working today. He's played with a virtual "Who's Who" in the jazz world. Longtime associates have included: John Abercrombie, Michael & Randy Brecker, Eliane Elias, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Vic Juris, James Moody, John Scofield, as well as freelancing with prominent artists of every generation, being a major asset no matter where he appears.
Nussbaum has joined forces with other musicians to form such groups as “BANN” w/Seamus Blake, Jay Anderson & Oz Noy, and many more. He's been on hundreds of recordings, including the Grammy winning "Don't Try This At Home” recorded with Michael Brecker. In addition, Nussbaum is an in-demand educator doing Clinics and Master Classes, teaching at such institutions as Berklee, NYU, State University of New York, the New School, and at numerous Conservatories around the world. He also coproduced with Hudson Music, "The Art of Playing Brushes."
José Luis Rodríguez “El Puma”, De La Paz Ensemble , Miami Symphony Orchestra
Musician, drummer, musical director and producer, Adolfo has a degree in social communication from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. He has also studied with maestro Andrés Briceño and has participated in over 70 commercial albums, 4 of them resulted in Latin Grammy nominated albums. He studied at the Berklee College of Music from 2002 to 2004. Adolfo resides in Miami where he is currently on the “AGRADECIDO” tour with José Luis Rodríguez “El Puma. In his career he has worked with Franco De Vita, De La Paz Ensemble, Raices Jazz Orchestra (led by Tony Succar and Pablo Gil) Aquiles Báez, La Mala Rodriguez, Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Lena Burke, Siudy Flamenco Dance Theater, Otmaro Ruiz, Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, South Florida Symphony, Leo Blanco, Antonio Canales, Farruquito, Anita Loynaz, Huáscar Barradas, Rafael "El Pollo" Brito, Karina, Kiara, Guillermo Carrasco and Frank Quintero, among others.
Benise
Al Velasquez is a Percussionist/ Drummer who works with many Latin Guitar acts like
Luis Villegas, Incendio, Jose Garcia, Jon Francis and others.
His primary act is with PBS Latin Guitar Star BENISE. With BENISE, Al has recorded 8 albums, 2 PBS specials, several national tours and played on Dancing with the Stars.
He is especially in demand for his Cajon playing. (He can be seen playing Cajon on DrumChannel performing with Luis Villegas & Jose Garcia).
Al has performed with artists like Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy, SugarLoaf, Emmanuel, Terry Ilous, Kimberly Locke, Los Ponchos, Bob Hurd, Jamie Cortez , Perla Batalla and others.
Independent/Solo
Albert Bouchard started playing drums in 1950 at 3 years old. Currently he is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, educator on vlogger. His first professional recording was with Tom Paxton on the album, “Things I Notice Now” in 1968. Since then he has played, sang and or produced 70 commercially released records and in 2020 charted in Billboard twice, first with his former band Blue Oyster Cult (playing cowbell, of course) and then as a solo artist.
Although not originally a percussionist he did play cowbell on Blue Oyster Cult’s hit, (Don’t Fear) The Reaper. He currently hosts a weekly vlog called Most Cowbell!!!
In 2016 he visited the White House to be honored as an educator by President Obama at the educator of the year ceremony. Later that year he toured with his old band, Blue Oyster Cult as guitarist, percussion and vocals).
In recent years he has toured with his band Blue Coupe (Joe Bouchard from BOC and Dennis Dunaway from Alice Cooper) and appeared with the Yacht Rock Revue, Joe Hurley’s Irish Rock Revue, Joe Ramones Birthday Bash, Mike Pinera’s Classic Rock All Stars and many charity events.
Jungle Fire, Quetzal, Qvln
Alberto López has performed, recorded, composed and/or produced music with artists such as Quetzal, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Lee Ritenour, Stanley Clarke, LCD Soundsystem, The Brand New Heavies, The Dalai Lama, Juanes and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, among many others. He was part of the Oscar-nominated soundtrack for the 20th Century FOX animated film "Rio" and in 2013 received a Grammy Award (Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album) for his work on the "Imaginaries" album by Quetzal, released on the Smithsonian Folkways label. In November 2004, Alberto founded Belú Music, a music production house and independent label, with the aim of developing and sharing the musical vision of artists around the world. Additionally, Alberto is a co-founder and partner of Artivist Entertainment, an independent entertainment company founded in conjunction with Aloe Blacc, Maya Jupiter, Quetzal Flores and Veronica Gonzalez dedicated to representing artists whose art and music inspire positive social change. Currently, Alberto is working with Scott Wardinsky in the production of an instructional DVD/CD set of Afro-Cuban rhythms featuring Cuban masters Ramón "Sandy" Pérez and Lázaro Galarraga and is an instructor at the Dubspot online and Los Angeles campuses.
Repercussion, Kosa
Founder and Artistic Director of the KoSA International Percussion Workshops, and member of the internationally acclaimed percussion ensemble, Repercussion, Aldo Mazza is an internationally recognized drummer-percussionist, recording artist, clinician, composer, author and educator. He has recorded over 100 cds with such artists as Celine Dion, Jon Bon Jovi, Alain Caron and Aldo Nova and has performed live with such artists as James Brown, Chris De Burgh, Oliver Jones and major symphony orchestras. Aldo has also participated both as a performer and an adjudicator in numerous international classical, contemporary, world music as well as jazz music festivals.
Independent Artist
Hailing from Santiago, Chile, Alejandro’s introduction into music started with his passionate pursuit on the drum kit. His professional musical career began at the age of 16 in South America, with television appearances and national tours. In an ironic twist, Alejandro’s career in percussion only began when he pursued a musical career in Australia. Whilst busking on the streets of Melbourne, Alejandro was discovered by one of Little River Band creators, Graeham Goble which later lead to him touring with the legends on their international tour. He is now regarded as one of Australia’s leading percussionists with a strong and varied repertoire in all things percussion.
Alejandro is best known as Dancing with the Stars (AU) long standing main percussionist and other notable television series such as X Factor. He has also toured and performed with a variety of international artists.
Afromantra
Chilean-born, Cuban-raised, Emmy® Winner, drummer & composer Alejandro García, studied classical and contemporary Afro-Cuban and jazz percussion at Cuba's Ignacio Cervantes School of Music under the direction of Irakere's drummer Enrique Plá. Along with his performances as a leader with his band AfroMantra, Alex has shared the stage with important bands and artists in the New York’s Latin-Jazz Scene. Major performance, recording and composition accomplishments include Cuban trombonist and composer, Juan Pablo Torres also Grammy nominee singer song writer Juan Carlos Formell, Tony Cimorosi (Baba Olatunji), Frank Colón (Weather Report, Manhattan Transfer, Wayne Shorter), Oriente Lopez (AfroCuba, Silvio Rodriguez). Steve Kroon (Ron Carter), Chris Washburn & Syotos, Meme Solis, Israel Kantor (Los Van Van), Charles Flores (Michel Camilo, Emiliano Salvador, Issac Delagado), Eddie Martinez (Gato Barbieri), Tony Perez (Klimax, Irakere), Malena Burke, Alfredo De La Fé (Fannia All Stars), Harvie S, among many others.
Maná
As an adolescent in Mexico City, Alex González dreamed of a day when he would join the ranks of icons such as Ringo Starr, John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, Clem Burke, Keith Moon and, later, Terry Bozzio. Today, no one would contest the claim that Alex has achieved his goals—and then some. Alex’s first break was with Mexican band, Sombrero Verde (green hat). That band morphed into Maná and from the beginning, Alex was integral part of the group, even co-producing the band’s first record. In 2007 the group sold out a whopping four Staples Center shows and their albums were going platinum and beyond—a considerable feat for a Rock/Latin band singing in Spanish. Alex González is an intricate drummer capable of wowing crowds with his popular solos. At the same time, he is extremely physical and plays with real force. The two characteristics, complexity and brute power, don’t often coexist to such a refined extent. His kit reflects his muscularity and reach. He is surrounded by drums, cymbals, and a variety of LP instruments, starting with his red-rimmed, his Cyclops Tambourine and LP bells.
(U)Nity, King Klave, Candido
Amaury Acosta (Aka King Klave) is a Cuban American Drummer, Producer, Composer, & Arranger. Leader of the band (U)nity alongside with Axel Tosca Laugart. Amaury has played and Recorded with Candido Camero , Paquito D’Riverra, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Mantilla, Luques & Zaccai Curtis, Michael Rodriguez,Chris Smith, Xiomara Laugart, Pedrito Martinez, Isreal “Cachao” Lopez, and many more
Grupo Falso Baiano
Ami Molinelli is a professional percussionist and educator specializing in Brazilian and Latin percussion. She co-leads the Brazilian and jazz ensemble, Grupo Falso Baiano. Her percussion curriculum has been used and published in clinics and education workshops including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Music in Schools Today, Young Audiences of Northern California, The San Francisco Jazz Center, etc. Her extensive performance and recording credits include theater, television (NBC) and live performances with artists such as Jovino Santos Neto, Rogerio Souza, Hamilton de Hollanda, Teka, Katia
Maher Zain, Hamza Namira, Humood Alkudheralso
Amr started playing drums at the age of 6, started his career as a drummer at the age of 16, Since 2008 Amr started touring around the world till the present day, In 2009 Amr met Maher Zain has the biggest subscribes on Facebook as an Arabic singer, he chooses Amr to be a member of his band. Plays with a famous Arabic singer Hamza Namira since 2008 till present. In 2014 Amr met Humood Alkhudheralso he's one of the famous Arabic singers, Amr plays in his band since then till the present day.
Founder, producer and drum player at Sout Beik band started in April 2018 till the present. Also he's the founder and main drummer of Crash Boom Bang band published in 2009 till the present.
Broadway Cordis Composer, Song of Solomon: a new musical
Hailed by New York Classical Review as “spectacularly virtuosic”, international soloist and composer, ANDREW BEALL’s works have been performed around the world. His concerto, Affirmation, was premiered at Avery Fisher Hall and recently recorded by the Siberian Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Beall has performed on Broadway in The Lion King, Les Miserables, Spiderman, In The Heights, and A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder, orchestras such as the American Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Greenwich Symphony, and is the drummer for eclectic rock quartet, Cordis, and Broadway dance company, American Dance Machine.
Mr. Beall has released three albums on BMP Records: Deliverance, Glass Jungle, Concerti, and one Concept Album on Broadway Records: Song of Solomon: a new musical, starring Tony-nominated Ramin Karimloo. Mr. Beall was recently commissioned by The Telling Company to write his second musical.
Independent/Studio/Educator
Andy Cheng is a multi-percussionist from Taiwan who has a double master’s degree in World percussion and North Indian music at California Institute of the Arts.
He is a performer, educator and composer who is currently teaching at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. His world music training includes North and South Indian, Brazilian, Ewe African, Latin, Balkan, Arabic and Persian music.
Deep traditional training and a crosspollination of different types of music make up Andy’s unique sound of percussion. He has performed in the U.S, Japan, Holland, Indonesia, China, and Taiwan.
Andy also performs with world music groups such as Hands On’Semble, Lian Ensemble, Go organic orchestra and the Salaamuna Near East Ensemble.
He has studied under Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Randy Gloss, Houman Pourmehdi, Pirayeh Pourafar, Andrew Grueschow, Poovalur Sriji, Beatrice Dzidzogbe Lawluvi, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, and Souhail Kaspar.
Lucky 7 Mambo/Studio/Independent
Angelo Rodriguez was born in Downey, California, to Puerto Rican parents Maria and Angel Rodriguez Sr. where he started performing at a local church at the age of 9. Angelo’s first band was New Creation, directed by Andrew Crouchs’ musical director, Alberto Salas. At the age of 16 Angelo began performing at all the local nightclub in Los Angeles, attending rehearsals and performing five nights a week while attending High School. From then on Angelo has performed with the following artist: Britney Spears (In the Zone promotional tour), Nelly Furtado (Area 1 Tour 2001), Jagged Edge (Jay Leno Tonight Show), Celia Cruz, Barry Manilow, The Long Beach Symphony, The Modesto Symphony, California State University in Long Beach Steel Drum Orchestra, The Ricky Minor Band, Tribute to Donny Hathaway, The Temptations, Obie Bermudez, Tito Nieves, Pete Conde Rodriguez, with special Grammy performances with Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Rihanna and the Dave Matthews band.
King Princess
After teaching himself to play by watching his heroes on YouTube, Antoine was discovered on the internet in his early teens. Later, he was hired to produce videos and appear in advertising for KAT electronic drums. And, by the time he turned 18, Antoine had been featured at drum festivals and taken classes at Berklee College Of Music and Musicians Institute.
As soon as he finished high school, Antoine relocated from Paris to Los Angeles. Antoine’s drumming skills presented him with many opportunities to work with other LA-based musicians and producers. One of these projects led to an audition for singer/songwriter King Princess and, since then, Antoine has been touring almost exclusively with the rising star. He played on King Princess’ debut album, appeared in her videos and performed at clubs, theaters and festivals around the world, including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo, MoPop and Life Is Beautiful to name only a few.
Studio/Independent
Born in Mexico City, 5 time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sanchez began playing the drums at age five and performed professionally in his early teens in Mexico’s rock, jazz and Latin scene. He pursued a degree in classical piano at the National Conservatory in Mexico and in 1993 enrolled in Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in Jazz Studies. Antonio has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the international jazz scene. Following 18 years and 9 albums as one of the most revered collaborators with guitarist/composer Pat Metheny, he also has recorded and performed with many other most prominent artists like Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden and Toots Thielmans. Sanchez’s popularity soared when he scored Alejandro González Iñárritu’s which ended up fetching 4 Academy awards (including best picture) and for which Antonio won a Grammy award. Additional film/tv projects include EPIX network's Get Shorty and Hippopotamus among others.
Tony Macalpine, Hangar, Noturnall
Aquiles Priester was the only Brazilian in the history of Brazilian drumming to rank 5th best Prog Metal drummer of the world according to American Modern Drummer magazine. In 2015 Aquiles was nominated again and he was elected the best "Hard Rock" drummer by the readers of American magazine Drum! Aquiles Priester has taken part in some of the biggest drum festivals around the world such as Modern Drummer Festival, Montreal Drum Fest, Batuka! International Drum Fest, La Rioja Festival, Laguna Drum Fest, London Drum Show, Drummer Live, International Summer Drum Camp, Tam Tam Drum Fest, October Drum Fest, Thomas Lang’s Big Drum Bonanza, Frankfurt Musikmesse, and The NAMM Show. In 2010, he was one of seven drummers chosen from all over the world to take part of an audition to substitute Mike Portnoy in the North-American band Dream Theater. Currently he is playing with Tony MacAlpine, Hangar and Noturnall.
Independent
Asami is a multi-talented and world-renowned drummer, percussionist, singer-songwriter, and dancer. Her latest world music album A is filled with the essence of Latin, Funk, AOR and Japanese tradition and presented with a contemporary J-Pop.
Studio/Independent
Ash Soan is a UK drummer and percussionist, his recording credits include: Adele, Seal, Cher, Julian Lennon, James Morrison, Elton John, Robbie Williams, Billy Idol, Jeff Lorber/Paul Jackson Jr and Trevor Horn - Movie credits include: The Lion King Movie 2019 for Hans Zimmer, Mission Impossible Fall Out, Kung Fu Panda 3 and Terminator Genysis - Live credits include: Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Lewis Taylor, Squeeze, Faithless and 6 years as house drummer on The Voice UK.
Naked Rhythm - World electronica
Avi Sills- Los Angeles based Drummer / Percussionist / Producer, has worked with numerous artists Including: Naked Rhythm, Robert Downey Jr., Red Elvises, Stewart Copeland, Weezer, DJ Mark London & DJ Ravin (Buddah Bar).
In the Studio, Avi has recorded Drums & Percussion for many TV, Film and Commercial projects, In addition to various artist’s albums. Featured on TV & Film projects: Charlie Wilsons War, Six String Samurai, Oprah Winfrey, Melrose Place, VH-1 Behind the Music, Penn & Teller, 90210, Melrose Place.
A proud endorser of DW Drums, LP Percussion, Paiste Cymbals, Aquarian Drum Heads, HeadHunters Drumstick Creations.
Ayumania / Independent
Ayumi was born in Japan. She plays Latin percussion, Classic percussion, Marimba & Vibraphone.
She graduated from the Faculty of Percussion, Tokyo College of Music.At the college, she began to study percussion in earnest mainly with classic music and gained experience of ensemble in orchestras, brass bands, musicals, operas, etc. At the same time, she started to organize concerts and participate as percussionist ,keyboard percussionist or drummer. She has been also teaching eurythmics at a nursery school.
In 2015, she started her own band, “Ayumania” that features mostly her original compositions and arrangements, where she fuses Japanese atmosphere into Latin rhythm. Inviting both Japanese and foreign guests, she has been organizing live concerts in various places in Tokyo.
In July 2017, she released her first album “Oukagekka” in Japan. It has been promoted in overseas radio programs in Colombia, Puerto Rico and New York.
Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson
Bashiri got to hang out with percussionist and producer Mtume in the 1970s, learning drum and studio chops in the process. After playing on gold records like Luther Vandross' Never Too Much and Madonna's Holiday, Bashiri's career was up and running. Producers began calling because they wanted to use the guy who worked on all these hit records. Johnson now has his own production company Bashman Productions and recording studio, The Lab Brooklyn.
"My take on the contemporary percussionist," Bashiri says "is to get the calls you gotta be diversified and able to handle a multiple of different situations." Bashiri can be heard on recordings by Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Anita Baker, The Spice Girls, Maxwell, Gloria Estafan, Angelique Kidjo, Nicole Renee, Diana Ross, Peter Wolf, Aretha Franklin, Eagle Eye Cherry, Grover Washington, Boyz II Men and Dionne Farris. Beside recordings Bashiri's talent has led him to play on live television, commercials and movie soundtracks.
Bashiri has also complete percussion sample library of loops and sounds called "Supreme Beats," available from Spectrasonics, and "Ethno Techno" from Ilio.
Studio/Independent
Ben Satterlee is a drum instructor and session musician based in Nashville with his wife and two kids. After touring for a number of years all over the US as well as Mexico and Canada, he decided to step off the road to teach full time and stay in town for his family.
“My passion for teaching stems back to when I was a kid before the days of YouTube where I had to teach myself by trial and error. All of my students are working professional players who come to me with specific problem areas that they recognized in their own playing and feel that I can help with. I specialize in pinpointing issues like poor technique or over thinking in somebody’s playing and assessing how to fix it as simply as possible. As the Nashville Drum Coach, I’m in this with you and I want to see you succeed in your career. My philosophy is to make you the best player you can be without all the ego.”
Grouplove
Benjamin Homola is a drummer, percussionist, and multi-instrumentalist. He has played for acts past and present that include Brand New, Manchester Orchestra, Dashboard Confessional, and now a member of the band Grouplove. Throughout his years playing live and in the studio LP Percussion has played a pivotal role, helping him capture the true essence of the instrument.
Studio/Independent/Clinician
Billy has been performing professionally for nearly 30 years. He is the current drummer for the legendary Moody Blues. He has also toured, recorded, or performed with 'NSYNC, Pat Benatar, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Gloria Estefan, Britney Spears, and many more.
His experience has led to over 70 television appearances, including the Tonight Show (6 times), the Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Performance, Saturday Night Live, the MTV Video Music Awards, the Grammy Awards, and Rock in Rio 2001, where he performed for a crowd of 280,000. Billy is currently featured on The Moody Blues "Days of Future Past - Live DVD (featuring the Toronto Orchestra). Keep an eye out for him on the broadcast of the 2018 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with The Moody Blues.
Independent
Originally from Brooklyn NY, Iconic Percussionist, Producer, Writer and Vocalist has been involved in a dozen or more platinum albums with artists including Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Bon Jovi’s Ritchie Sambora, The members of Earth Wind and Fire and countless others. His percussion work has enhanced orchestras from the Tonight Show to the Academy Awards.
His work is featured on over 150 albums worldwide and for the past 20 years this L.P. Artist has performed with eight time Grammy award winner Jose Feliciano as his Producer and Percussionist and Godfather to his beautiful daughter Melissa.
Quarteto Ache’ & Educator
Multiple Grammy nominations as a bandleader and for numerous other projects as a sideman, Bobby Sanabria continues to make his mark as a drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, filmmaker, bandleader, and multi-cultural warrior. Sanabria has performed and recorded with such legends as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, Paquito D’Rivera, Ray Barretto, Candido, Larry Harlow, and Afro-Cuban jazz Godfather, Mario Bauzá. Bobby’s big band recordings, Live & in Clave and Big Band Urban Folktales were nominated for a Grammys and he was nominated for a Latin Grammy for, 50 Years of Mambo, A Tribute to Damaso Perez Prado. The Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra he directs at the Manhattan School of Music was nominated for a Latin Grammy for its majestic tribute to Mario Bauzá and Machito for Kenya Revisited Live!!!, a reworking of the music for Machito’s greatest album, Kenya, on its 50th anniversary as well as Tito Puente Masterworks Live.
A South Bronx native of Puerto Rican parentage is a inductee into the Bronx Walk of Fame where he has a street named after him, and he is a past winner of Jazz Journalists Association and DRUM! Magazine’s Percussionist of the Year.
Jamie Cullum and Tim Minchin
Brad Webb is a British drummer and percussionist who has been playing since he was old enough to wear shoes. In that time, he’s enjoyed making music both live and otherwise with Jamie Cullum, Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse, Tim Minchin, The Webb Sisters and Blue Man Group among many others. Aside from contributing to other artists’ projects, he forms one half of the production duo Arch Birds with bassist/producer Chris Hill.
Boz Scaggs
Branlie Mejías Sánchez was born in the city of Bayamón, Puerto Rico in 1988. We can't take for granted that his first teacher was his dad: worldwide known percussionist Paoli Mejías. From a very young age he has performed with Charlie Sepulveda, Dave Valentin, Héctor y Tito. He has also done several percussion clinics with his father and in the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, where he graduated at age twenty seven. At seventeen he went on tour with rapper Don Omar through Europe, South America, and United States, also featuring rappers Wisin y Yandel and the bachata group Aventura. He's also played with Puerto Rican rapper Ñengo Flow, Colombian Carlos Vives, the Peruvian singer Eva Ayllón, and with the salsa orchestras of Herman Olivera, San Juan Habana, Adonis Puentes, Conjunto Afro Son, and with his father Paoli Mejías. Through all these collaborations, Branlie has expressed himself as an artist and the world has gotten to enjoy his talent.
Shakira, Tegan And Sara
Brendan Buckley, at the age of 18, packed his car and moved to Florida to attend the University of Miami’s School of Music. There, he became immersed in the city’s diverse rock, latin, and jazz scenes. While in school, he released an album with the rock band Fulano De Tal (bmg), featuring the artist Elsten Torres. A year later, he played drums with Julio Iglesias for his “Tango” world tour. Brendan finished this tour and recorded an album for the Colombian popstar Shakira; “Dónde Están Los Ladrones”. That quickly led to Shakira’s “MTV Unplugged”, “Anfíbio Tour”, “Tour of the Mongoose”, and co-writing/co-producing her album “Laundry Service”. Also during these Miami years, Brendan spent time recording/performing with DMX, Spam All-Stars, Nil Lara, Gloria Estefan, Alejandra Guzman, Julio Iglesias Jr, Lauryn Hill, Pedro Suarez Vertiz, Natalia Oriero, Alicastro, Popvert, The Kind, Alih Jey, Zach Zisken, Monterosa, BD Lenz, María Bestar, Mariana Ochoa, Diane Ward, Raw B Jae, Clambake, Maria, and Sixo. LIn 2004, Brendan moved west to Los Angeles where he immediately joined the experimental rock band Pedestrian. Their work together can be heard on the album “Ghostly Life”.
Pink Martini
Brian Lavern Davis was raised in Portland, Oregon, and his musical studies have taken him to India, Japan, New York, Puerto Rico, Turkey, Jamaica and Brazil. His teachers include Jorge Alabe, Obo Addy, Yacub Addy, Jose Ricardo Santos & Ballet Folklorico do Bahia, Colin Walcott, Michael Spiro, Keith Terry, Los Muñequitos de Mantanzas, Bruno Moraes ( Mocidade Indepente de Padre Miguel), Jorge Martins (Maracatu Estrella Brilhante de Recife), Marcos Suzano, and Nana Vasconcelos. He has served on the faculties of Portland State University, Jefferson Performing Arts High School, and The Vancouver School of Arts & Academics, and conducted residencies at The Naropa Institute, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College, and many others. Brian is an original touring and recording member of Pink Martini ( 10 CD's, 1DVD, numerous world tours), is the founder and Director of the Lions of Batucada, a Brazilian dance and percussion ensemble, and formed and directs the “Ainsworth Jr. Escola,” a 123 member Portland youth samba bateria (Portland, OR, USA). He has toured and/or recorded with jazz legend Herbie Hancock, Kalapana, Upepo, Obo Addy, Dub Squad, McKinley, Nu Shooz, Dan Reed Network and the show “BataKetu” among many others. He has performed with a variety of symphonies across the U.S., Canada, and Europe - including the Boston Pops, The San Francisco Symphony, The National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, The BBC Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall,The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and The Oregon Symphony - at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to LA's Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Brian served as the conductor for the nationwide Oregon Big Beat event, 2010/ 11. His group the Lions of Batucada has shared the stage with David Byrne, Sean Lennon, and Fundo de Quintal among many others. The Lions have performed and collaborated with The Oregon Symphony, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Dandy Warhols, Obo Addy, and rock legends Aerosmith, among others. They have recorded with Pink Martini, and The Von Trapps. He has worked extensively with numerous dance companies in the U.S., including Do Jump Theater, Oslund & Co. , and Linda K Johnson. When not touring with Pink Martini, he teaches body percussion and samba throughout the Pacific Northwest as part of the Young Audiences of Oregon and Washington program, teaches each Summer at the California Brazil Camp (2005 - present), and conducts samba workshops for a variety of baterias, schools, and music stores across the U.S., Taiwan, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Recently inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame with Pink Martini (June 2014), he has contributed articles to DRUM Magazine (July 2013 ), and was featured in an interview/focus piece in Drumhead Magazine (issue #29, September/October 2011).
Poolside, Toro Y Moi, U.S. Girls
Brijean's upbringing in Los Angeles was heavily steeped in jazz, R&B and pop. She is a multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, touring musician and songwriter. Murphy’s musical talents are family heirlooms: her father, percussionist and engineer Patrick Murphy, taught her first patterns on a pair of congas that she inherited from the late Trinidadian steel drum legend Vince Charles (of Neil Diamond). Playing for over 15 years, she currently spends much of her time on back-to-back runs with a dozen different acts, performing on international stages, and most recently the Ellen DeGeneres show.
Leon Bridges and Independent
Born and raised in Texas, Brittni Jessie sang as a member of Calvary Church (Irving TX) Praise and Worship Team for nearly four years before embarking on her professional career.
In 2014, Brittni joined Grammy-nominated artist Leon Bridges’ group, touring the world over, from Texas to Tokyo as the only female member of the band. She has performed on Saturday Night Live, sang as Leon’s right-hand lady in countless private events, and made her on-screen debut with Leon in the Grammy-nominated music video, “River.”
With Natalie Cole as her idol, Jessie developed a musical style that was a mix of soul, gospel, and alternative R&B, and while writing her own singles, she began experimenting with beats as well. As a passionate musician, her soul shines through every note she sings.
2017 will be a big year for Brittni’s music - she is busy in the studio recording her first EP, and still touring with Leon Bridges.
Calixto Oviedo He has 44 years of career as a drummer and percussionist. He was Founder of Adalberto and Su son and he stayed there for 6 years. He was the first drummer of Arturo Sandoval and his group in Cuba. Later he played with one of the best Latin Jazz bands. of the world NG LA BANDA for 6 years, has played with Ray BARRETO, Chucho Valdes, Gonzalito Ruvalcaba, Bob Franceschini, Danilo Perez, Dave Valentin, Bebo Valdes, Giovanny Hidalgo, Ruben Rodriguez, Oscar Hhernandez, Justo Almario, Paoli Mejias, Pedrito Martinez,Tipica 73.
He has made recordings with: Adalberto and Su Son, NG La Banda, Isaac Delgado, Henry Quiroz(Ecuador), Omara Portuondo, Tata Guines, Brian Andres and The Afrocuban jazz Cartel (USA), Chuchito Valdes (USA), Afro Cuban All Stars, Soneros All Stars, Nils Fischer (Holland) Paoli Mejias and many more.
Eddie Palmieri, Los Pleneros de la 21
Camilo Molina-Gaetán is an accomplished Multi-Percussionist from New York City and is considered to be one of the most promising and versatile percussionists of his generation. Having knowledge spanning from Jazz to Salsa, as well as the folkloric music of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. In 2000, Camilo was selected as one of ten semifinalists to compete in the Thelonious Monk International Afro-Latin Hand Drum Competition. He went on to be selected third place winner, who, at age ten was the youngest finalist in the 14-year history of the competition. Camilo continues to make a name for himself early in his career, performing with acts varying in musical genres and styles. He is currently a member of Legendary Pianist Eddie Palmieri’s Orchestras and has toured, recorded and performed with artists such as Santana, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Grusin, Giovanni Hidalgo, Los Pleneros de la 21, Miguel Zenón, Teatro Pregones, Viento de Agua, John Santos, The Curtis Brothers, and many more.
Studio/Independent
Camilo Torres Chilean drummer with studies at the Drummers Collective of N.Y Author and clinician, he constantly participates in different Drum Fest in Latin America and the Caribbean. His latest publication Linear Drumming is distributed by Hudson Music.
Independent
A native of Havana, Cuba, Carlos Caro was musically educated throughout his youth, graduating from the ENIA (National School of Arts Instructors), after which he began his professional career with the group “Clave.”
He has performed on tour with and has recorded for some of Cuba's biggest names in music including Paulo Fernandez Gallo and Jackeline Castellano's best selling "La Dama Del Son"Caro immigrated to Mexico City in 1993 where he was commissioned to record and perform a work in the Danzon style with the Mexico City Philharmonic. He then appeared on the West Coast music scene in 1996 to quickly become one of the most sought-after Latin percussionists, simultaneously playing in the best Cubano, Salsa, and Latin Rock bands throughout the San Francisco bay area. He has performed with Rebeca Mauleón, Omar Sosa,Eddie Palmieri, Armando Perazza,Jorge Santana & Malo,Calixto Oviedo,QBA,Avance, Dr. Loco's Rocking Jalapeño Band,Ramon Romero & Cuerdas de Fuego, Danny Lozada,Jose Pepito Gomez and performed with the Cuban Singer Adonis Puentes at the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia.Carlos Caro released two albums with the group Vission Latina and two with the new sensational trio “VL Trio”.He just finish a 6 months tour with the legendaries “Tigres del norte” He won two Latin Grammies one with Pacific Mambo Orquestra and also with Los Tigres del norte.
Independent
Singer, songwriter, percussionist and band leader, Carlos Elizalde has developed a solid reputation as one of San Francisco’s top front men, leading one of the brightest and energetic groups, to come out of the Bay Area music scene with Rúckatan. Carlos’s dynamic style combines elements of Latin, Rock, Soul, Reggae and World music.
Carlos Elizalde has been surrounded by the best of the best in the percussion world. Armando Peraza, Pete Escovedo, Mingo Lewis, Shiela E, Karl Perrazo, Raul Rekow, Juan Escovedo, John Santos, Derek Rolando, and many more.
Carlos Elizalde and his band have shared stages with Latin Rock Royalty – Santana, Malo, El Chicano, War and many others. In 2011 Carlos was invited to tour with the nationally recognized Santana tribute band, Caravanserai. Carlos’s original band combines the influences of world beat musical instrumentation of Afro-Cuban “percussion” while incorporating Latin, Rock, Reggae and World influences to come up with their unique style of music.
Producer
Carlos Kanno was leader of Orquesta De La Luz from 1990 to 1995. After he left the band, he formed 17 pieces Latin jazz big band named “Nettai Tropical Jazz Big Band” in 1995. Carlos teaches Latin Music at Osaka University of Art as visiting professor, as well as Rhythm Training in Kunitati College of Music in Tokyo.
Mystère by Cirque du Soleil
Based in Los Angeles, Carlos’ style of playing and musicianship has enabled him to perform and record with some of the top artists of today. His unique style and rhythmic approach keeps him in demand. Whether playing in a small trio or big touring production, Carlos’ personality and great sense of humor add to his creative and rhythmic performance. Carlos is currently performing nightly with Mystère by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.
Dave Matthews Band
Carter Beauford is an American drummer, percussionist, and founding member of Dave Matthews Band. He is known for his ability to adapt to a variety of genres, and both his ambidextrous and his open hand drumming styles. He plays the drums and sings backing vocals in the band. For Carter, it all started when he was three years old. His father was going to a Buddy Rich concert, but he couldn't find a babysitter for young Carter. His only solution was to take Carter with him. From the moment Carter laid eyes and ears upon Buddy Rich, he was enthralled and fascinated with Rich. After the concert, the young Carter took up drums and wanted to emulate Buddy Rich. Upon hearing his son's playing, Carter's father was impressed and bought him a Roy Rogers drum kit made with paper heads and tin shells. During those young years, Carter's major influences were Tony Williams, Papa Jo Jones, and of course, Buddy Rich. Throughout his career, Carter has played with many different bands with various musical styles. Carter feels it is important to have an open mind musically and to expose oneself to different forms of music. One band, besides the Dave Matthews Band, that Carter is very proud of was called, Secrets. This band played the Richmond, Virginia area and was composed of many talented musicians, including Carter on the drums. After this band dissolved, Carter went to California to try out for the Arsenio Hall show. For whatever reason, the Show didn't want Carter, so he moved back to Virginia; which is where the next chapter of his life starts.
Bronx Conexion Latin-Jazz Big Band
Cascadu is a son of the Caribbean. Steeped in the traditions of his native Trinidad, he continues to explore and integrate the music and percussive elements of Africa, Cuba, Brazil, Latin-America, the Mid-East and India. A composer and vocalist, Cascadu's debut CD, Caribbean Odyssey, garnered rave reviews. He can also be heard on recent releases True Flight (Bronx Conexion) and Land of the Descendants (Chembo Corniel)
Independent Artist and Producer
Cassio Duarte, author of the DVD “Introduction to Brazilian Percussion” produced by LP and available through Alfred Music Publishing, was born in Brazil, where he started in Marching Bands and neighborhoods Samba Schools. In Rio, studied at the Villa Lobos School of Music and in Bahia with private teachers, where Afro-Brazilian roots are stronger.
On late 80’s he started working with Brazilian stars like Moraes Moreira, João Bosco and Djavan. In 1991, his search for knowledge of different styles, brought him to Los Angeles, where he became an active studio musician for movie's soundtracks and albums colaborating with artists like Toots Thielemans, Lee Ritenour, Sergio Mendes, Strunz & Farah, Brenda Russell, Angelique Kidjo, Googoosh, Paul Winter, Ivan Lins, Melissa Manchester, Googoosh and others.
After living a few years back in Brazil, Cassio is now performing live also as a DJ and with setups in Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX where he’s been producing local artists out of his recording studio. He has performed on hundreds of CDs and Soundtracks, and you can hear his compositions on the album “Tempo de Brasil” by Braziliando, released in 2003. His first solo CD should be ready soon.
Studio/Independent
Celio Gonzalez Jr. Is someone who has overcome what to others might have been the physical limitation of not having fully formed hands to be an outstanding all around percussionist. From Bata drum devotional to spicy-hot salsa. Celio plays a diverse range of musical styles. He began performing at a young age sharing stages across Latin America with his father Cuban Singer Celio Gonzalez Sr. (Whose performance credits have included working with Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Chico Ofarril)
Celio Jr. Has gone to perform with the legendary cuban bassist Israel Cachao Lopez as well as with Celia Cruz, Celio Gonzalez Sr. Francisco Céspedes, Sonora Matancera, Carlos PATATO Valdez, Ricardo Arjona, Aleks Sinteck, Alejandra Guzmán, Reik, La Quinta Estación, Christian Castro, Carlos Baute, Kalimba, Angélica Vale, Mariana Seoane, Amaury Gutierrez, Belanova, Fanny Lu, Kika Edgar, Pablo Montero, Pimpinela, Michael Stuart, Ednita Nazario, Giovanni Hidalgo, Aranza.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
As a member of the pioneering, award-winning superstars Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988, Chad Smith is widely regarded as one of music’s most accomplished drummers and articulate musicians. As a member of the Chili Peppers, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and has been awarded six Grammy® Awards. In addition, two of the band’s albums are among Rolling Stone’s 10 Greatest Albums of All Time. Additionally, Spin Magazine ranked him at #10 on their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music.
Musically prolific, Chad has recorded seven studio albums with the Chili Peppers and appears on a total of 22 releases with the band – including 23 Top 10 singles. Chad Smith has drummed for such diverse artists as Johnny Cash, the Dixie Chicks, George Clinton among many others and is a founding member of the supergroup Chickenfoot with former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar. Chad collaborated with LP to create his new signature Red Hot Ridge Rider Cowbell.
Anthrax
Charlie Benante is an icon in the music world, best known as the drummer for Heavy Metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death. A pioneer of double-bass drumming, he is credited with creating and popularizing the blast beat in thrash metal and praised for his lightning fast double kick technique. Also an accomplished guitarist, he contributed lead guitar to S.O.D.’s Speak English or Die album as well as composing the majority of the music throughout Anthrax’s discography alongside rhythm guitar player and band leader Scott Ian. In addition to his musician duties, Benante is also a graphic artist and has created many of Anthrax’s album covers and T-shirt designs. When he’s not making music or art, Charlie is probably drinking coffee. His love of the bean has led him to create three blends with Chicago’s Dark Matter Coffee.
Carlos Oliva/ Independent
Charles K. Santiago, better known as Charlie “Bongo” Santiago, was born on May 29, 1961 in Manhattan, New York. At age two, his family moved back to Puerto Rico, where he first showed talent in drumming. By age eight, he played bongos for the first time at a holiday celebration. Trumpet player Elliot Feijo gave him his first opportunity to play bongos professionally at a Durango y su Nuevo Tumbao rehearsal. Charlie was influenced and taught by Richie Ray’s bongo player, Manolito Gonzalez. Later tres player Nelson Gonzalez taught him the New York style of bongo playing and Frankie Rodriguez taught him Cuban rhythms. At age 16, Charlie played with the group, Rafaga. A few years later, he joined Nelson Gonzalez Band Revelation II. He performed and recorded with Ismael Miranda and Nelson on various television shows, dances and concerts. This exposure led Charlie to work with musicians like Roberto Anglero, Elias Lopes, Orchestra Panamericana, Poldo Castro, Andy Montanez, Tommy Olivencia, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, La Lupe and Tabin Pumarejo Trio. Charlie is a founding member of the group, Zaperoko. In 1983, Charlie relocated to Miami to perform with Luis Lefty Perez and Orchestra Fuego. Since then, Charlie has performed with Grammy Award winners and nominees including Celia Cruz, Nestor Torres, Willie Chirino, Hansel y Raul, Alex Leon, Roberto Torres, Rey Ruiz, Eddie Santiago, Tony Vega, Charlie Cruz, Cano Estremera, Tito Nieves, Conjunto Clasico, Michael Stuart, Giro, Edgar Joel, Hector Tricoche, Menique, Adalberto Santiago, Lalo Rodriguez, Ley Lejandro and Ricky Martin. Currently, Charlie performs and records with the founder of the Miami Sound, Carlos Oliva and the Judges Nephews, Issac Delgado, Frankie Vazquez, among many others. He also enjoys playing drum set at church along with recording and performing with various Christian Salsa groups.
Iamdynamite
Chris Philips is in the band IAMDYNAMITE and has toured across the US and Europe for years, headlining and opening for a number of artists. IAMDYNAMITE's song "Where Will We Go" from the album "SUPERMEGAFANTASTIC" spent 22+ weeks on the Alternative Top 40 radio chart, followed by another single "Hey Girl", charting as well. IAMDYNAMITE's current album "Wasa Tusa"is Out now. Chris regularly plays the Fusheki shaker, Click hi-hat tambourine, and the Raw series cans on his Drumkit.
Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre
Christian Moraga, originally from Santiago, Chile, has studied in Cuba with master percussionist “Changuito”, as well as various genres of percussion in Peru and Brazil, and the Harbor Conservatory of the Performing Arts in New York City. Based in Los Angeles, he has performed with artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Chaka Kahn, Poncho Sanchez, Harvey Mason, Bob Mintzer, Conrad Herwig,Gordon Goodwin, Oscar D’Leon, Nestor Torres, Bennie Maupin, “El Canario”, Tito Nieves, Ismael Miranda, Jimmy Bosh, and many others. Currently, he is working as the band director and multipercussionist player with his Latin Jazz Quartet “Conganas”. He continues to work with Oscar Hernandez and his band "Alma Libre", and is the drummer onEstrella TV’s “Noches con Platanito”.
Independent
Christo Karam Pellani is a versitile master drummer/ percussionist, recording artist, producer, instructor, and drum circle facilitator with extensive performance in film, theatre, and concerts. A featured performer at many cultural music festivals including World Festival of Sacred Music, Bhakti Fest, Lightening in a Bottle, Esalen, and Burning Man, among many others. Christo has drummed for various dance troupes including the esteemed Luna Negra Ballet Theater. He was co founder and Music Director for Sacred Dance Live, Red Musette, and Medicine Dance world music ensembles. He has performed at DISNEYLAND, with UDAYA Liquid Asana Live streaming yoga series, and at various Sacred Music venues worldwide. His interactive drumming/percussion curriculum “RHYTHMAGIC” offers unique instructional exercises and games promoting rhythm awareness & creative expression for schools, retreats, and conferences. Affiliations include TRAP, Rock the Classroom, Hearts Giving Hope, and US Dream Academy.
Santana, Another Lifetime
Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso drummer whose artistry spans the realms of jazz and rock. As a bandleader and as a musician, Cindy is a sound innovator with a passion for pushing creative boundaries and exploring movement and change. She is as known for the nuances and colors she brings to her beats and fills as she is for the sheer power of her soulful playing.
Cindy has been creating magnificent musical time and space since the beginning of her career as a busking street performer in New York City in the ’80s through the present day, touring the globe and making albums at the top of her game—including her acclaimed Another Lifetime. In addition to collaborating onstage and in-studio with her own group—also known as Another Lifetime—she has toured and recorded with artists including Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, Joe Henderson, Buckethead, Don Pullen, Hugh Masakela, and Angela Bofill.
From 1993 to 2007, she was also the drummer in Lenny Kravitz’s band, through multiple world tours and hit albums.
Currently, Cindy is the drummer for Santana and continues to build a body of work and artistic legacy that make her one of the finest drummers of this or any generation.
Blondie
At 18 yrs.old Clem Burke became a founding member of the group Blondie, member RnR Hall of Fame, Grammy winner for best rock song with Eurythmics, Dr. of Music from Gloustershire Uni U.K. , 4 USA # 1's, new Blondie album & world tour Apr 2017. Influences: Earl Palmer ,Hal Blaine, Ringo Starr, KeithMoon, Al Jackson Jr.
Palenke Soul Tribe, Studio, Independent
Clodomiro Montes Jr., was born in Cartagena, Colombia and is a multi-percussionist who specializes in Latin, electronica, salsa, pop and Colombian folklore.
He now resides in Los Angeles, California where he began working with internationally known artists Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Andy Montañez, Roxing Kafe, Johnny Rivera, Tony Vega, Eddie Santiago, Orquesta Guayacan, Justo Almario, Maelo Ruiz and Fruko y sus Tesos. He has also collaborated with A.B. Quintanilla's Cumbia Kings, Sonora Carruseles, Tito Rojas, Puerto Rican Power, Grupo Gale, Joe Arroyo, Sonora Ponceña, Caifanes and Stevie Wonder.
Clodomiro is the percussionist for Palenke Soul Tribe, which has performed at festivals like Glastonbury, Womex Budapest and SXSW. He is also M. D. of his own salsa band, Colombian Latin Soul. In 2017, he headlined Carnaval de Barranquilla's, Concierto de Carnaval with Carlos Vives and L'equipe Tambora in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Being as an Ocean, Emarosa, Beartooth
Connor is an independent drummer who primarily plays rock but is surely not limited to that. He grew up in South Florida in a Cuban household, naturally being inspired by the constant Latin music that surrounded his hometown. You can certainly hear the Latin influence in his playing even the hardest of rock settings.
Educator / Independent
Considered one of the leading Chilean percussionists for his musical performance, versatility and academic preparation. Author of the method "El Cajón AfroPeruano en el Mundo" (which contains more than 70 music genres and more than 300 rhythmic patterns). Founder and General Director of the first Percussion Conservatory in Latin America "PERCUSIÓN CHILE" where he has created a new approach to the traditional music education system, through new academic programs and curricula. Former academic of the Faculty of Arts of the "Universidad de Chile". He constantly performs Clinics, Workshop and Seminars, highlighting "La fiesta del Tambor" Cuba, "International Windward Percussion Festival" Venezuela, "International Festival of Peruvian Cajon" Peru, etc. He has worked with international artists such as Gustavo Ceratti, Marisela, Alvaro Torres, etc. and with all the most outstanding Chilean artists.
JCR Brazilian Jazz Trio, Quartet Equinox, Kimera Latin Trio
Born in Brazil, Cristiano Novelli has over 20 years of touring/recording experience & performed on several tv shows including The Latin Grammys in Los Angeles (2005). Some of the artists/musicians Cristiano has performed/recorded with: Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, Daniel Gonzaga, MPB-4, Miucha, Paula Morelenbaum, Bena Lobo, Carol Saboya, Peter Sprague, David Foster, Greg Porée, Patrice Rushen, Robert Kyle, Dawn Bishop, Dirk K, Alphonso Johnson, Quartet Equinox, Dorian Holley, Marcellina, Rique Pantoja, Gary Meek, Yeofi, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Keith Jones, Paul Cartwright, Clay Aiken, Mitchell Long, Jimena, Anais, Braziliando, Marco Tulio, Roger Espinoza, and many others.
Independent
Since arriving in the U.S. from his native Brazil, performer and bandleader Cyro Baptista has emerged as one of the premier percussionists in the world, bringing his unique charm and intense rhythmic drive to countless stages, performing on numerous Grammy-winning recordings, and collaborating with myriad luminaries such as Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo-Ma, John Zorn, Trey Anastasio (Phish), Laurie Anderson, Sting and many others.
Baptista’s many honors include DownBeat Critics Poll Percussionist of the Year, Jazz Journalists Association Percussionist of the Year, and Drum Magazine Percussionist of the Year.
Baptista leads four different ensembles. He has produced and released ten “solo” albums and tours continuously throughout the world.
He conducts master classes at major musical institutions, such as Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, Mannes College of Music, The New School, New World Symphony Orchestra, and the Kimmel Center Jazz Camp.
Dafnis Prieto, Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O’Farrill, Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdés, Bebo Valdés, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, and Andrew Hill.
From Cuba, Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the Latin and Jazz music scene, nationally and internationally. Various awards include a 2011 MacArthur Fellowship, “Up & Coming Musician of the Year” from the Jazz Journalists Association in 2006, a GRAMMY nomination for Absolute Quintet as Best Latin Jazz Album, and a Latin GRAMMY nomination for “Best New Artist” in 2007. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted master classes, clinics, and workshops throughout the world. He was a faculty member of Jazz Studies at NYU from 2005 to 2014, and in 2015 became a faculty member at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. Since his arrival to New York in 1999, Prieto has worked in bands led by Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O’Farrill, Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdés, Bebo Valdés, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, and Andrew Hill, among others. He has performed at many national and international music festivals as a sideman and as a bandleader featuring several of his own projects and music.
Independent
Damon is a professional percussionist and sideman who recorded an album produced by David Ryan Harris and features: Harris, Marc Broussard, Morgan James, Zane Carney, Stephen Kellogg The Mason Brothers, Bob Reynolds, Doug Wamble, Janek Gwizdala, J.J. Johnson, and many more. He has worked with Madonna on her 2012 MDNA tour and as a sideman with world class artists like Eric Hutchinson, Stefon Harris, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Richie Flores, Javier Colon and several others. He was also an original cast member of Blast! which won both an Emmy and a Tony award. Damon also teaches privately and at Umass Amherst with Thom Hannum.
Scott Stapp / Sonicflood
Dango is a drummer based in Nashville, TN touring with Grammy award winning artist Scott Stapp, from the band Creed. He also plays for multi-platinum selling worship band, Sonicflood. He has performed with artists worldwide since graduating from Belmont University studying under Chester Thompson. He’s a member of the punk band Amber Pacific, releasing four albums and having songs used on TV shows, movie soundtracks, video games, Monday Night Football, an album on Billboard Top 100, and music videos on MTV. He has played the entire Vans Warped Tour four times. He has also performed with the multi platinum selling band RED, Fireflight, Superchick, All Time Low, Manafest, Tommy Walker, Craig Campbell, and Deana Carter. He endorses DW Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Promark Sticks, Evans Drumheads, and Audix Microphones. He is an active session player, teacher and clinician, and is a member of DW Drums’ Clinician Roster. Dango released his first instruction DVD in 2009, Developing Your Own Sound.
Residente
Puerto Rican Daniel Díaz was born with rhythm in his hands. And it has been his rhythm and his hands that have made him a unique artist in his class; as unique as his musical creation known as "The Tripandero". This ingenious creation, devised by Daniel in 2010, combines the rhythm of three frame drums that produce the sound of the typical Puerto Rican Plenera as a single instrument.
With the help of René Pérez of “Residente”, Daniel has set foot in more than 57 countries, showing the world his ingenuity and the musical power of his Tripandero. This young percussionist, arranger and composer has also collaborated with a variety of musical stars such as Calle 13, Shakira, Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Ricardo Montaner, Mon Laferte, Bad Bunny, Giovanni Hidalgo, Diego El Cigala, The Great Combo of Puerto Rico, Ismael Miranda ... and has performed on global platforms, such as the Latin Grammys 2017, hundreds of festivals around the world, Austin Live (City Limits) and Cirque de Soleil by Leo Messi.
Imagine Dragons
Composer Daniel Platzman, a native of Atlanta, has played trumpet in a concert band, violin in a pit band, viola in an orchestra, guitar/vocals in a rock band, and bass in a Manhattan club. In 2006, he participated in the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
He is currently the drummer for the Las Vegas-based rock band Imagine Dragons, with whom he shared the 2014 Grammy award for Best Rock Performance. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Film Scoring from the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Hal Crook, Sheldon Mirowitz and Ian Froman (among others), played in the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra (led by Greg Hopkins), the Urban Outreach Jazz Orchestra (led by Lin Biviano) and the Berklee Rainbow Big Band (led by Phil Wilson), and received the Vic Firth Award for Outstanding Musicianship as well as the Michael Rendish Award in Film Scoring.
The Isley Brothers
Daniel Rodriguez was born in Bayamo, Granma, Cuba. At the age of 15, he began to play with one of the best bands from the city, Fiverson as a percussionist.
From 2002 through 2007 he was the band drummer for the Hotel Meliá Varadero and Paradice, Varadero, Cuba after that the next 7 years in Havana. He played, recorded and collaborated with many artists from Cuba, including Alain Daniel, Raul Torres, Haila Mompie, Yomo (PR), Waldo Mendoza, E Yonky, Willian el Magnifivo, Adriano Dj, among many others.
From 2012 through 2014 Daniel played with Alain Perez, Irving Lara and Gustavo Galindo in Mexico City.
Since 2014, he has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with, Arturo Sandoval, Karl Perazo, Carlos Santana, Eric Benet, Jose Feliciano, Carrie Underwood, The Brother Johnson, Cecilia Noel & The Wild Clam, Shadmehr Aghili, Willy Chirino, Becky G, Colin Hay, Alfredo Rodriguez and many more.
Currently, Daniel is playing percussion with legendary R&B artists, The Isley Brothers.
Josh Groban, Taylor Swift, Michael Brecker, Screaming Headless Torsos, The Roots, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton
Daniel Sadownick grew up in the South Bronx and went on to earn his Master's Degree in Music at New York University. After graduating, Daniel toured with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra for two years. It was here that he made numerous contacts that would lead to tours and recordings with jazz greats such as: Michael Brecker, Dennis Chambers, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride, Richard Bona, Nat Adderley, Pat Martino, Dewey Redman and many others.
A versatile percussionist that does not limit himself to one genre, Daniel has spent the last few years touring and recording with such diverse artists as Josh Groban, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Steely Dan, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Idol, Tony, Toni Tone' and Al Jarreau. Daniel is also a member of the New York based cult band the Screaming Headless Torsos, who were listed as one of the top ten bands in America in Musician Magazine.
Daniel’s album “There Will Be A Day” won a SESAC award for being one of the most spun records on national Jazz Radio.
Childish Gambino/Independent/Studio/Educator
Dani Markham, a Louisville, Kentucky native, initially discovered her love for rhythm bangin' on pots and pans in the kitchen. By the age of 8, Markham was gigging regularly with the Louisville Leopard Percussionists. She received her degree in Music Performance from The University of Miami's esteemed Frost School of Music. Her recent collaborations include indie-rock band, Tune-Yards, and Grammy nominee, Childish Gambino. She has appeared on Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien, Jools Holland, and has been featured in Modern Drummer and Tom Tom Magazine. Markham is currently based in Brooklyn, New York.
Independent
Danny is a Grammy Award winning Percussionist and Interactive Business motivator using music to inspire and build trust amongst employees, communities, schools, youth groups etc using various percussion instruments and Djembe drums for his drum circles. Danny is a Master drummer who’s largest Interactive Djembe drum circle was more 1500 people in one room. He performed on various albums which include Israel Houghton and New Breed and Bill and Gloria Gaither to name but a few.
Jack White | Pete Rock | DMD the Vibes< | Th1rt3en
Daru Jones is one of the most respected drummers of his generation. The 2X Grammy-winning musician is known for his work on Lazaretto (Jack White) and Testimony (Gloria Gaynor), and his list of collaborators includes Bootsy Collins, Kanye West, Pete Rock, Rag 'n' Bone Man, Slum Village, Jamie Lidell, Talib Kweli, Dwight Yoakam, Nas, Pee Wee Ellis, Lorenzo Jovanotti, Queen Latifah, Black Milk, Salaam Remi, Pharoahe Monch, Liam Bailey, Rance Allen, Black Violin, Ski Beatz & The Sensei's and Jon B. (Partial List)
Jones is also a sought-after producer and boutique label owner who develops talents and releases music through his imprint, RUSIC RECORDS. More recently Jones formed a supergroup with legendary Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish and guitar wunderkind Marcus Machado, DMD The Vibes. In 2018, Jones teamed up with hip-hop producer, Pete Rock and serves as music director for his new live band, The Soul Brothers. Jones also recently joined forces with Pharoahe Monch to co-found the rock-hop trio Th1rt3en.
Stevie Wonder
Seasoned percussionist Munyungo Jackson possesses an ever-increasing collection of instruments with which to execute his craft. In his over 50 years of playing, he has performed with Greats such as Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Karen Briggs, Kenny Loggins, the Zawinal Syndicate, George Howard, Ronnie Laws, The Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, and dozens of others, including numerous ethnic music and dance troupes.
Munyungo was born in Los Angeles, California and is the nephew of the legendary jazz, pop, and blues singer, Capital Records Nellie Lutcher. In addition to his concerts, tours and recording work, Munyungo is one of the Co-Producers of the Watts Towers Day Of The Drum Festival, which brings together master drummers from all over the world to present their expertise, and the Watts Towers Jazz Festival, which presents Great Jazz musicians performing music from many different musical genres.
Munyungo is currently working with Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis Bitches Brew Remix, Lao Tizer, and many others.
Cats
Dave Roth is a percussionist in the current revival of Cats on Broadway. He has been performing for over 25 years and has appeared in over 200 cities worldwide. His most recent performances were in Finding Neverland, Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, Evita, and over 30 Broadway productions. He has performed in over 30 productions on Broadway and throughout the world including the North American and Asian tours of West Side Story the national tour of Mamma Mia and the national tour and European tour of Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Also as an accomplished orchestral percussionist, he has freelanced with orchestras throughout the Midwest and East coast. He has appeared onstage with Sir Paul McCartney, Gladys Knight, Patty Lapone, The Temptations, Doc Severinson, Henry Mancini, The Chieftains, Pincas Zuckerman, Susan Anton and many more. Dave trained at Kansas State University and also at Northwestern University where he received his Masters of Music degree in percussion performance.
Elle King, White Rabbits
Dave got his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studied under Steve Houghton and the late Dr. David Baker, graduating with the “Performers Certificate” honor. In 2010, he was selected to attend the prestigious Ravinina Steans Institute for Jazz. Dave is now based in Brooklyn, working as a session and touring drummer, producer and songwriter. He has worked with internationally renowned, Grammy Award winning and multi-platinum recording artists, as well as underground and experimental musicians. Live performance and studio work includes artists Elle King, White Rabbits, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Theo Katzman, Joey Dosik, Sky Ferreira, A Great Big World, Darren Criss and Dev Hynes. He has worked with many well-known Jazz artists including Frank Glover, Marquis Hill, Claude Sifferlin, Maurice Brown and The BWJO. He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Sesame Street, The Voice, The View, Kelly and Ryan, The Graham Norton Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and The Late Late show with James Corden. As a touring drummer, Dave has performed in over 23 countries at iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Glastonbury Festival, Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Festival, Summer Sonic Tokyo, and Coachella. He is currently touring with Elle King with her second album, “Shake The Spirit” for which he is credited as a drummer, co-producer and co-writer.
Barbra Streisand, Chuck Mangione, Michael Bublé, Cheryl Bentyne, Jack Sheldon, Maynard Ferguson, Steve Allen and so many more!
Dave is a 30-year veteran of the jazz and studio scene in Los Angeles. He is also a sought-after jazz educator/clinician, jazz singer and songwriter. When Dave isn't on tour with world-class acts such as Barbra Streisand, he is often on tour in support of his celebrated solo vocal jazz CD, "I Just Want To Get Paid". Dave teaches drum set at Pasadena City College.
Modest Mouse
Born in Seattle, Brozowski was became a founding member of garage punk band The Catheters at 16. Drawing on the raw energy of groups like the Stooges and the Misfits, the group released two albums for Sub-Pop and one for Empty Records, all while touring with acts like The White Stripes, Motorhead, Pere Ubu and Mudhoney. Brozowski has enjoyed an extensive career as a musician, drum technician and now serves as the "drummcusionist" for Grammy-nominated American rock band Modest Mouse.
Independent
Born and raised around the Philadelphia area, Davey Chegwidden has numerous credits for film, television, video games, and commercials. He has branched out into other aspects of the music landscape including production, management, musical direction, songwriting and promotion.
His band the Rhythm Roots Allstars have gained a reputation for their skills as a backing band, performing high-energy concerts where they do their own set of music and then back up an artist for their set. The band (with Davey as the musical director) has had the pleasure to perform with such artists as De La Soul, Macy Gray, B.O.B., Barrington Levy, Rakim, Redman, Talib Kweli, and others. Davey produced and co-wrote some tracks with Rhythm Roots Allstars for Ghostface Killah’s “Big Doe Rehab” and they also were a driving force behind De La Soul’s recent release “And The Anonymous Nobody” which has been nominated for a Grammy this year. Davey has co-production and writing credits on 16 of the 18 songs.
David joined the legendary Tower of Power in 1970 and became one of the most influential funk drummers in history.
He has worked with such artists as Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, Boz Scaggs, Gino Vannelli, Talking Drums, The Buddy Rich Orchestra, Wishful Thinking, Poncho Sanchez, and many others.
In 1998, after an eighteen-year "break", he rejoined the group for some "unfinished business" and is currently performing and recording with the Tower of Power.
David is an eight time Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll Winner, a DRUM! Magazine Readers Poll winner, and named one of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine.
As an educator, David has been a clinician since 1980, a featured columnist for Modern Drummer and the author of numerous books including “Future Sounds” which was rated one of the 10 greatest drum books. He has been featured in numerous instructional videos as well as the creator of The Code of Funk app for iPhone and iPad.
Al McKay Allstars/David Leach Project
Creativity is best displayed when one is sensitive to their surroundings, which is what David Leach brings to every project. Be it a Singer/Songwriter or an International Artist, the approach is always the same…Play what is needed!
David brings a combination of East Coast grit and West Coast cool. The result is a percussionist who can take control of the groove or caress it with simplicity and care.
This approached has enhanced the music of Al McKay, Be Be Winans, Boy George, Earth, Wind and Fire, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, Chris Pierce, Ben Harper and many, many others.
Barry Manilow
Currently Barry Manilow’s percussionist, David Rozenblatt has worked with some of the finest talents in pop, jazz and classical music. He has performed to sold out concert halls and arenas all over the world and recorded Grammy nominated, Emmy winning and chart topping albums and DVDs.
David has performed with Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Michael Buble, Andrea Bocelli, k.d. Lang, Leslie Odom Jr., The Killers, Paul Simon, Usher, Baby Face, Joe Zawinul, Paquito DíRivera, Ornette Coleman, Pierre Boulez, Dimitri Hvorostovsky and Vladimir Spivakov. David received two Grammy nominations for Kristjan Jarvi’s “Absolution” and Barry Manilow’s “In The Swing of Christmas” featuring The Matt Herskowitz Trio, a group he co-founded over 20 years ago. Their albums “Forget Me Not” and “Jerusalem Trilogy” were nominated for the Felix and Juno Awards for Best Jazz Album(s) of the Year.
As drummer, producer and composer for Grammy nominated and German Record Critics Award winning Absolute Ensemble, David can be heard on the group’s seven albums. David composed five critically acclaimed ballets; “Three Point Turn”, “Othello”, “Dirty Wire”, “Chronicle” and “IMPRINT MAYA”, currently in the repertoires of the Mariinsky Ballet, Charlotte Ballet and Complexions Modern Ballet where he is resident composer.
Al Dimeola, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin
David Silliman has played with artists such as Mariah Carey, Cassandra Wilson, Blossom Dearie, and Colombian Harpist Edmar Castaneda.His performances on percussion and drums at the "Umbria Jazz Festival", in Orvieto & Perugia, Italy garnered praise from critics and audiences alike. "David's unique setup allowed him to move seamlessly from the Cajon, to Drum Set and all the percussive "toys" in between, creating the rhythmic sound and energy of two or three percussionists. Highlights of David's past work include concert tours with Al DiMeola, Cassandra Wilson, and Aretha Franklin.
Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience dā-kə-bro̵̅o̅-dā Sometimes Y
David Stanoch has drummed professionally since age 12. He has an eclectic musical reputation including work with recognized jazz, rock, R&B, Broadway, motion picture and television artists, including Hiram Bullock, George Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Richard Davis, Stanley Jordan, Keb' Mo, Minnesota Orchestra, New Kids On The Block, Bonnie Raitt, Doc Severinsen, Ben Sidran, Timbuk 3, Butch Vig, and The Supremes' Mary Wilson. He is currently musical director for Emmy-winning vocalist, Shaun Johnson's Big Band Experience.
A 25 year faculty member of the McNally Smith College of Music, in St. Paul, MN, Stanoch is a member of Modern Drummer’s Educational Team, author of the book, Mastering the Tables of Time, Vol. I (Winner: #1 Educational Book," Modern Drummer 2009 Readers Poll), co-author, with Elliot Fine, Walfredo Reyes, Sr. and Mark Powers, of The 2 in 1 Drummer (nominee, DRUM! Magazine 2014 Drummie Award) and also serves on the PAS Drumset Committee. Stanoch conducts masterclasses at events including PASIC and NAMM, and performs with college ensembles, dedicated to inspiring young musicians with the same passion he drives bands with from his drumset. David proudly endorses the fine products manufactured by Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, Vic Firth, and LP.
Nasty Cherry, James, Charli XCX, Honeyblood
Drummer and clinician Debbie Knox-Hewson began her professional career in a whirlwind playing for popstar Charli XCX, who she has toured the world extensively, appearing on various television/festival slots such as: Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Reading & Leeds, Saturday Night Live, The David Letterman Show, Radio 1 Live Lounge and the Official Olympic Opening Ceremony in London. In addition to her Charli XCX work, Debbie’s economical style has graced records and tours with bands such as James, Honeyblood, Clean Bandit, Rae Morris, Betsy and CuckooLander. Debbie also spent time in Los Angeles, filming a Netflix Original documentary about the formation of her own band, Nasty Cherry.
Nick Jonas, Jonas Brothers
Drummer and Percussionist Demian Arriaga was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2004, his first professional gig was with his favorite singer growing up: Gary Cherone from the legendary band Extreme. Since his move to LA in 2007, he has had the privilege of playing, recording, and/or touring with: Richie Kotzen, Nick Jonas and Victoria Justice as their drummer, and as a percussionist with: The Jonas Brothers, Iggy Azalea, Streetlight Manifesto and many more. He has played at The Grammys, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, Ellen, iHeart Radio Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards, and more. He recorded songs featuring David Ellefson (Megadeth) and Venezuelan legendary singer Yordano.
His biggest passion is teaching, and has worked with countless students. He currently produces and hosts The Music Mentor Podcast, which he uses to motivate, inspire, challenge and empower all listeners to help them make their musical and artistic dreams become a reality.
Dende & Band, Ologunde
Dendê Macêdo is a percussionist, singer, composer, bandleader, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. He’s been a professional musician since the age of 14, touring and recording as a member of Timbalada. Since 2001, he’s been working with his folkloric group Ologundê, his flagship band Dendê & Band and his latest project Recycled Sounds. Dendê & Band have performed throughout the US, Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. His folkloric group Ologundê has performed at major performing arts centers and festivals throughout the US and toured Greece as part of the Cultural Olympiad. He has provided workshops, clinics and residency programs throughout the US and Brazil at such esteemed institutions as Lincoln Center, the Juilliard School, the Eastman School of Music and the Peabody Conservatory among many others. Dendê endorses Latin Percussion© and developed the RAW Series Trash Snare in collaboration with them.
The Louisville Leopard Percussionists
Diane Downs is the founder and artistic director of The Louisville Leopard Percussionists. Some of the Leopards’ performances include appearances at the Atlanta International Band & Orchestra Convention, the Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida State Music Educator's conventions, WGI Percussion Finals in Dayton, The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, The International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Chicago, New Orleans, and New York City, The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, DC, twice at the Jazz Education Network Convention, at a TEDx Convention, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and 4 times at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
Drum set, Timbal, conga, bongo, Aux Percussion
Didi Negron is a powerful and versatile drummer with a strong music theory background and impressive improvisational skills. The Cirque Du Soleil world wide touring show ‘Amaluna’ keeps Didi pretty busy by playing 8-10 shows a week! Fortunately for the world, she seems to have an endless supply of energy and enthusiasm. Her fierce, self-motivated personality, demonstrates her passion for music. Didi has been a performing musician for more than seventeen years. Today, she is a very compelling drummer and has influenced drummers of both genders to pursue their dreams and passions as professional musician. Currently, Didi is endorsed by Vater Drum Sticks, Sabian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Kickport, Gretsch Drums, and Cympad. All of these endorsees from the moment they discovered her, knew she will not just be any drummer that goes by un-noticed, for the potential that this young musician has is truly inspiring.
Studio/Independent
Diego "El Negro" Alvarez master cajón player born in Venezuela. He lived 16 years in Spain where he developed his career alongside the most prestigious flamenco dance companies such as Joaquin Cortez, Antonio Canales, Sara Baras, Nuevo Ballet Español and Paco Peña among others. With more than 12 nominations to the Latin Grammys, winner of a Latin Grammy in 2010 for best Rock album of the year for "Sera" by La Vida Boheme. Promoting El Cajon as a universal instrument, showing its main roots the Peruvian and the flamenco. Now lives in Los Angeles California, where he continues working with different musical projects between flamenco and jazz.
J.D. & Affiliates/Independent
At the age of 5, the self‐taught drummer played for different churches throughout Long Beach, California and the greater Los Angeles, California area. Funk, Gospel, Rap, Jazz and Jazz Fusion Music and Artists influenced his drum playing and Love for music, including: Sly and the Family Stone, The Hawkins Family/Love Center, Clyde Stubblefield, Gaylord Birch, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, James Brown, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, The GAP Band, Run‐DMC, The Fatboys, Cameo and countless others and of course, his mentor, teacher and friend–the incomparable, Joel Smith. His mastery and mature‐beyond‐his‐years style in his early childhood led to his first REAL gig with the legendary Andrae Crouch.
His recording career started once he connected with Andrew Gouche, one of the most prolific Music Directors and bass players in Gospel music. From their partnership, D*LOC recorded albums, toured, performed and did shows with Artists like Yolanda Adams, The L.A. Gospel Messengers, L.A. Mass Choir, Daryl Coley, Kurt Carr, Tramaine Hawkins and MANY others. D*LOC was later hired by his longtime childhood friend Snoop Dogg and was the original drummer for the Snoopadelics. This lead to him becoming the Hip Hop Drummer/Percussionist of many of the West Coast classics and Death Row Records hits of the mid‐ to late 1990’s. He is a Multi‐Instrumentalist, Arranger, Composer, Producer, Music Director, Grammy
Arizona State University Jazz Department
Dom grew up on the east coast where he studied with Studio great Bernard Purdie and Jazz great Alan Dawson. He began his college teaching career at University of Maine at Augusta in 1972. While living in Maine he played with Jazz greats, Clark Terry, Herb Pomeroy, Dave mckenna to name a few. In 1978 he moved to Reno Nevada where he was house drummer for MGM Grand Show Hello Hollywood and played with acts like , Joan Rivers, Don Rickles, and Tony Orlando. In 1988 moved to Phoenix Az. started teaching at Arizona State University in 1990 and is still there as a Lecturer in the Jazz Department. While in Phoenix Dom has played with many of the west coast greats, Don Menza, Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Joe Lovano.
Widespread Panic
Born in Texas in 1952, Domingo ‘Sunny’ Ortiz started playing drums at age 12 in conjunto and tejano bands. In 1971, he became interested in congas after listening to Santana, Earth Wind & Fire, War, Kool & the Gang, and Tito Puente - to name a few. In 1986 he moved to Athens, GA and joined Widespread Panic as percussionist full time. Road warriors for the last 30 years, Widespread Panic are known for their live performances and intensely loyal fan base, touring across the U.S annually. Sunny resides in Athens, GA with his wife and two children.
Independent
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Doremi was advised to go to Cuba to study music and its culture profoundly by her first percussion teacher, Yoshihiko Miza “Mizalito”. She persistently studied the root of Cuban music from the very basic to the applicative level with legendary masters, Oscar Valdés, José Luis Quintana “Changuito” and José Pepe Espinosa to name just a few. Her career as a professional musician started in 2004, when she started playing in Tokyo Disneyland. After belonging to BLUESKY label during 2008-2011, she independently plays various kinds of music such as Funk, Pop, Gypsy Jazz etc., while also teaching percussion. She is the leader of Doremita (Cuban Salsa), Bombalita (Latin Pop) and Doremi Trio (Afro Cuban Jazz), where she writes songs, occasionally sings and plays mainly the congas, timbales and cajón. As a sideman, or a side woman, she played in Dominique Fillon Japan Tour; Son Reinas Europe Tour (salsa band in Japan) and Women’s Power in Salsa, (international group formed in USA).
Broadway musicals, NYC sessions, Bobby McFerrin, Burlap To Cashmere, Roger Sanchez, Giada Valenti
Doug Hinrichs is the inventor of LP’s One-Handed Triangle. Perhaps best known for his work on the Broadway musical “In The Heights,” Doug remains very active in the New York theater scene. He is an in-demand session player in the New York City area, working frequently in local recording studios and doing remote recordings from his own studio. His percussion tracks can be heard on commercials for ESPN, Miller Lite Beer, PowerAde, and the New York Knicks.
Doug’s original compositions have been heard on television shows on the USA, CBS, and ABC television networks. He also composed and recorded several Brazilian pieces for promotions for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Lee Towers, Massada, Rosa King, Stevie Wonder, Tristan, Wolter Kroes, Danny Malando Orchestra
Dwight Muskita, of Dutch and Moluccan heritage, has been performing and playing percussion since 1985 As an allround percussionist Dwight worked with many bands and artists such as: Stevie Wonder, Lee Towers, Rosa King, Wolter Kroes, Frans Bauer, Tristan, Danny Malando Orchestra, Mark Dakriet, Danjil Tuhumena & friends, Rene Engel Band, Will Nuruwe and Friends, Massada, Brown Hill, Sonny's Inc., Dancing with the Stars, Iwan & Rebekka Praiseband, etc. Dwight has also performed as a guest with international artists like: Kenny G, Mamborama, Jocelyn Brown, Caravana, Luther Allison, Ken Garcia band.
Independent, Educator & Clinician
Ed is an author and educator with over 40 years of experience. He is a published author of 11 instructional books and CD packages. He is also a master clinician and lecturer, utilizing original content, engaging students from elementary to university level; Recording and performing musician for influential artists including Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample; Composer for TV and Film including Fox Sports, ESPN, Disney, Saturday Night Live, WWE and The History Channel. Ed’s steady immersion in the music industry continues to inform his teaching repertoire as he consistently incorporates his up-to-date professional experience, keeping his teaching current and relevant to today’s music marketplace and student.
Rubén Blades
A Grammy nominee and frequent collaborator with salsa crossover star Rubén Blades, conguero Eddie Montalvo was born and raised in the Bronx. Growing up a fan of salsa music, Montalvo started on the bongos, but switched to the congas when he joined Julio Romero & the Latin Jazz All-Stars. With the congas, he would play in the bands of superstars like Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, and Johnny Pacheco before joining the Fania All-Stars in 1979. In 1995 he released his first solo album, On My Own, while in 2001 he joined Joe Madera in his Big 3 Palladium Orchestra. In 2012 Montalvo released his second solo album, Desde Nueva York a Puerto Rico. It would be nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award in the category of Best Tropical Latin Album.
Montalvo's first conga was the LP Original Conga and we are proud to have worked with Eddie to develop the unique, colorful artwork featured on his signature series congas.
Edgardo & Candela, LaTiDo, California Jazz Conservatory"
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Edgardo started his professional career at the ripe age of nine, singing Tangos on public Television. He has performed and toured throughout South America, Europe, Africa and since 1986 he is a much in demand musician in the U.S.A. An LP endorser since the early 90’s, Mr. Cambón has performed or recorded with artist such as Jesús “Chucho” Valdés (Irakere,) Eddie Palmieri, Carlos Santana, José Luis “Changuito” Quintana, Orestes Vilató, Jerry Rivera, Eddie Santiago, Keith Terry and “Crosspulse,” Omar Sosa, Andy Narell, Sovosó (formerly Bobby Mc. Ferrin’s “Voicestra”) Mike Spiro, Karl Perazzo, Rebeca Mauleón, Manny Moka, Kaweh, Jackie Rago and the “Sol y Luna Band,” among many others. Edgardo presents workshops on Afro-Cuban Percussion and Vocals in many Universities throughout the U.S.A, Europe and South America. For the last 30 years, Edgardo has led his Salsa Band “Candela" in which he doubles on Conga and Lead Vocals. Edgardo has released 4 Cds: “Ilusiones”, “Madre Rumba, Padre Son”, “Celebrando 20 Años” and the most recent “Tatuajes Del Alma”, all of them featuring his original compositions and lyrics. His videos on Conga drumming and other percussion instruments have reached thousands of viewers.
Lila Downs, Angelique Kidjo, Claudia Acuña
Born in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, Yayo Serka is one of the most influential drummers of Latin American folklore. His unique approach to music is the result of four years of music studies in Havana, Cuba along with his twenty two years as a career percussionist based in New York City. His collaborations with the African singer Angelique Kidjo have also enriched his knowledge and vocabulary of world music.
Yayo has recorded several records that have won the Latin Grammys and a Grammy with Mexican American singer Lila Downs, with whom he has been collaborating for the past 15 years.
Yayo has also performed and recorded with The Chieftains, Gato Barbieri, Claudia Acuña, Susana Baca, Mercedes Sosa, Sofia Rei, Juancho Herrera, the Dhol Foundation, Gilmar Gomes, Aquiles Baez and Jason Linder among others.
Independent
Born in Havana, Cuba. He is percussionist, drummer and producer, graduated from the Conservatory of Music Amadeo Roldan of Havana.
From an early age, he performed with many Latin American folk, popular, and classical groups. He performed with Calle Rumba, Blanco and Negro, Juan Pablo Torres Orchestra, Juvenile Orchestra and the Havana Lyric Orchestra, among others.
Since his arrival in Brazil in 1996, he has worked with several major artists, recordings and performances: Jota Quest, Fabio Venturini, band Kiss, Saul Barbosa, Margareth Menezes, Kiko Loureiro, Angra, Daniela Mercury, Marília Mendonça, among others.
He also works as an Afro-Cuban percussion teacher and has his own solo work: "Eduardo Cubano Latin Jazz Quartet", and performs, master class, concerts, percussion workshops in Brazil and at various national and international festivals.
Independent
Efrain Toro had been recognized as one of the most versatile percussionist in the world. Having been a studio musician in Los Angeles, he has worked on countless award winning films, commercials, TV shows and albums with top artists and musicians. Living in many countries around the world where he has a recorded and performed with many artists gives him a unique perspective and knowledge of many styles of music. Efrain has developed a way to learn rhythm in a universal way so to accommodate for all these different perspectives of the subject. Author of 18 books and countless educational videos Efrain’s commitment to education is unquestionable. In 2019, Efrain was featured on the new Raul Midon’s album with the Metropole Orchestra that was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. He has a signature LP Cajon and will be releasing a new book and videos called RHYTHM IN ESSENCE. Efrain will also be part of an educational campaign to be presented at key universities and educational centers around the planet.
Independent
Ekendra Das is a multi-percussionist and drummer who made his first professional recording with Harry Belafonte. Ekendra has performed and recorded with several artists and toured the world with the jazz group Fertile Ground and released his first solo recording Ethnomusicology. Live performance, studio, clinics, music production, slong with film scores, gives Ekendra plenty of opportunities to use his LP gear.
Ozuna
Elí Bonilla was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. A self-taught drummer who began playing at local churches at the age of 12, also had ability to train with one of Puerto Rico’s most accomplished drummers, Hector Matos. Elí started in the musical scene with metal bands: After Omega and Pacto de Sangre. He then shared the stage with several contemporary Christian Music artists including Onda Sagrada, Samuel Hernandez, and internationally renowned pianist Adlan Cruz. Soon after, he transitioned to the pop scene and excelled behind the drums with Marshmallow Supernova, Karmapop, Juan Luna, Robert Avellanet ex Menudo, and Sí Señor. Elí was the musical director & drummer for Jae Cruz’s (Univision's La Banda Finalist) tour, performing at numerous major theaters in Puerto Rico. Shifting his focus to the Urban/Latin Scene, Eli began working with Latin Star Ozuna in 2016 and is currently touring with him World Wide. You can follow Eli in all social media platforms at @elidrummer
Ingrid Michaelson, Elle King
Toured and recorded with Ingrid Michaelson for over 12 years and Elle King for over 4 years. Sessions for The Vamps, A Great Big World, and many others. In 2010 he was voted #1 Up and Coming Drummer in Modern Drummer's Reader's Poll and #5 Pop Drummer in 2015.
Paquito De Rivera, Angela Bofill, Gloria Gaynor
Emedin has a unique and creative ability to incorporate and blend his latin Caribbean african influences into a vast array of musical styles. Emedin has developed his own system of playing drums and congas simutaneously, (sounding like three people), calling it "Percussion Kit". Emedin is well known for his sound effects, many of which are hand made by him. They can be heard on some of the National Geographic shows. Emedin has also won five Emmy Awards - The America Experience (PBS) and Picture Perfect (PBS). Emedin has performed live with Harry Belafante, Gregory Hines, Paquito De Rivera, Vicky Sue Robinson, Angela Bofill, Gloria Gaynor, Ben E King, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentine, Andy Narell, Latoya Jackson, David Broza. Emeline Michel and Bernie Williams just to name a few.
Odysseo by Cavalia, Clinician, Session Musician
Eric Boudreault's drumming journey took off at the age of 3 years old. In 1999 when he was in college, he got selected to be a part of the Yamaha Rising Stars showcase at the Montreal Drum Festival. He has become one of the busiest international touring Canadian drummers with 15 years on the road and more than 4000 shows with different projects. In 2006, "Inizio", the first album of his jazz band Waza, was released in stores. It featured Alex Acuña, John Patitucci, John Beasley, Michel Donato, and Ronal Di Lauro. In 2012, Eric released his educational book titled Drumming Language. Eric has appeared in Modern Drummer, Drums Etc., and DRUM! Magazine - as well as major TV shows such as Jay Leno, KTLA Morning, The Today Show, and many more… He is currently on tour with the biggest touring production in America, Odysseo by Cavalia.
Jordan Rakei, Waaju and a timba /Salsa Band Eli y la evolución
Ernesto Marichales obtained his BA Honours in Music at the London Centre of Contemporary Music, Middlesex University. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he studied percussion and classical guitar. Ernesto taught at London City Academy and LCCM, has written music for films and commercials and was the MD for the London Cabaret Club and percussionist for Motown the musical. To date, he is a multi-instrumentalist and producer based in the UK and holds a degree in journalism. Has Played with: Larry Harlow, Jordan Rakei, Sigala, Craig David, John Newman, Natalia Lafourcade, Maite Hontelé, Tony Vega, Maelo Ruiz, Rafael ‘Pollo’ Brito, Osvaldo Román, Cheo Feliciano, Hermán Olivera, Luisito Carrión, Nella Rojas, Javier Limón, Moncho Santana, Hnos. Rodríguez, Ska Cubano, Loyle Carner, Tom Misch, Armando Manzanero, Simón Díaz, Soledad Bravo, Laura Guevara, Ashley Henry, Roberto Pla, Dele Sosimi (Fela Kuti), Plastilina Mosh, Los Tetas, Sur Carabela, Chucho Avellanet, Danny Rivera, María Rivas. Winner of Musician of the year in the UK Latin American awards.
Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Daryl Hall and John Oates
Everett Bradley's vocal, percussion and keyboard work have included playing and recording with Bruce Springsteen’s famed E Street Band, and Bon Jovi and Hall & Oates, Carly Simon, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Bobby McFerrin, and renowned producers Snarky Puppy and Quincy Jones and many more. Theatrically, he starred in and co-wrote the Broadway musical SWING, was a featured performer in the broadway show AFTER MIDNIGHT, was NY director of the off broadway show STOMP, and has more shows in the works. Recently, Everett finished a stint as musical director/bandleader for NBC’s Meredith Vieira Show, for which he also wrote the show’s theme song as well as all the other music included in the program. Now Everett is in the midst of his 11th year of touring his cult funk holiday show HOLIDELIC!
Studio/Independent
Fausto Cuevas III recently completed Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life World Tour 2014 - 2016. He began touring with Stevie Wonder as a Percussionist in the summer of 2007 and since has gone on to perform with him for the 25th Anniversary of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden, 2009. Artists performing with Stevie include Smokey Robinson, Jeff Beck, Sting, John Legend, & the Late Great B.B. King. In 2008 Fausto performed with Stevie live at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Fausto has also recorded and toured with the likes of legendary artists such as: Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, Kim Burrell, Tina Marie, Cheo Feliciano, Al Jarreau, Tito Nieves, Nestor Torres, and Britney Spears. Fausto also completed The Sugarwater Festival with Queen Latifah in 2005 & 2006. In 2009, Fausto performed at the White House for The President and Mrs. Obama in Fiesta Latina with an All-Star Latin Band led by Sheila E. Fausto also performed at the World Music and Lady of Soul Music Awards with Sheila E. and Amerie; the Tobago Jazz Festival with the Rickey Minor Band performing with Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Patti LaBelle, Najee and Johnny Gil.
Farofa / Independent
Felipe began playing percussion when he was nine years old in his hometown of Curitiba. He went on to study at the Fine Arts and Music School of Paraná (EMBAP). After moving to Chicago, Felipe quickly became one of the busiest percussionists in town. He was the featured percussionist for Robert Irving III's "Sketches of Brazil" project that debuted at Millennium Park, played prominent shows and events, including the Chicago World Music Festival and the Oprah Winfrey Show, founded and directed Unidos do Quilombo Brazilian percussion ensemble, and taught in Chicago Public Schools, the Music Institute of Chicago, Capital University's Conservatory of Music in Ohio, and DePaul University's School of Music. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2013, Felipe has performed with Ricky Martin, Aloe Blacc, recorded for Janelle Monae, Stanley Clarke, and Disney. He was hand picked by composer John Powell to record on the Rio 2 soundtrack as both a featured percussionist and vocalist.
Cirque Du Soleil
Based in Los Angeles, Fernando Diez has been playing percussion for over thirty years and has never been limited to one style of drumming. Raised in France, he was not only influenced by the Latin music of his Spanish parentage, but also by the African, Middle Eastern and world music scenes in Paris. He has worked all over the globe and has taken all of his experience to create a wide range of sound! It takes you on a magnificent journey, which transcends all boundaries! His creativity has evolved over the years, putting him in a class of his own!
Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz, Sabado Gigante
Fofi Lancha was the drummer for the no.1 tv show Sabado Gigante International for the past 30 years since its end on Sept 2015. That experience led him to do other shows, including The Peter Fernandez show that lasted 5 years on the Magic City Casino in Miami and Dania Casino. At the moment Fofi plays with The Bobby Nathans band and other projects.
Erykah Badu, Zapp Mamma, Chris Dave and the Drumhead, Rc and the Gritz, Dos Negros
Frank Moka is a Dallas Texas based drummer/percussionist. This native of Pine Bluff Arkansas uses his Nigerian roots to create a cutting-edge sound that has taken him around the globe. His early influences stem from his mother and grandmother who were both staunch songstresses that dutifully trained his ears for melodic perfection. His desire for growth led him to Dallas, Texas where he would immerse himself on the music scene and inevitably become a student of Moussa Dibate and S-Ankh Rasa, both masters of West African folklore. Frank tours the world with stellar artists such as Erykah Badu, and Chris Dave & the Drumheadz. He has also played with a host of other top recording artists such as Kirk Franklin, Common, Mos Def, Marvin Sapp, Layla Hathaway, Tamela Mann, Mumu Fresh, The Funky Knuckles, and many more. As a musical director, Frank led Zap Mama’s U.S tour and is currently musical director of Felabration Dallas, the musical tribute show honoring the life of Afrobeat creator Fela Kuti. In his own band Dos Negros, Frank is able to push the boundaries and bridge the gaps between the musical genres of jazz, hip hop, soul, and traditional West African rhythms unapologetically. Being a self-proclaimed orchestral sound junkie has made Frank one of the most captivating percussionists to listen for in our times.
Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro
Frank “El Matador” Oropesa is both the administrative director and percussionist for Cuba’s national treasure, the Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro. He has performed with some of Cuba’s top legendary bands such as: Conjunto Casino, Orquesta Neoson and Los Naranjos. He has collaborated with percussionists such as: Tata Guines, Ray Barreto, Pedrito Martinez, Jose Luis “Changuito” Quintana and more. He has performed at world-renowned venues and festivals such as: Carnegie Hall, Monterey Jazz Festival, Cempech Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s, International Film Festival of Dubal, Lehman Center, and more. Septeto Nacional have been nominated for the Latin Grammys twice and their 2016 album, “Lo Mas Grande y Universal” was nominated for the American Grammy. They are winners of the Cubadisco Award and are presently producing their 90th Anniversary album.
Sum 41, Krewella & Street Drum Corps
Frank Zummo was born on Long Island, New York, and began drumming at age three, when he discovered his dad’s drumkit. By the time he was seven he was an award-winning drummer, taking home the top prize in Long Island Drum Center’s Battle of the Beats. In 2004, Zummo helped found the drum ensemble Street Drum Corps with his partners Bobby and Adam Alt. Over his long career—before becoming a member of Sum 41—Zummo performed with Mötley Crüe (he filled in for Tommy Lee during a hand injury), Dhani Harrison’s project thenewno2, Gary Numan, Scott Weiland, and most recently Krewella.
Carrie Underwood
Garrett Goodwin began his career playing in the backdrop of worship movements across the country and has since transitioned fluidly through the musical world. Most recently, Garrett has spent the last decade as the drummer for Carrie Underwood. He's also performed live with Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith; on Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The People's Choice Awards, Billboard Awards, among others.
Garrett resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where you'll see him co-leading KMLM.org, a non-profit organization with the mission of sending bags that give hope to children in need. For every bag purchased, another bag full of educational materials is sent to a child.
Throughout his career, Garrett has played for over 1 million people... for each tour he's been on, and was named #1 up and coming drummer in Modern Drummer Magazine. All this, and he's just getting started.
Vampire Weekend
Garrett Ray is an LA native and second generation drummer and percussionist best known for his live and studio collaborations with Vampire Weekend, Cass McCombs, Sky Ferreira, Big Search, Foreign Born and Fool's Gold. As a studio musician, recording with the likes of Sia, Rostam, Poolside, Ra Ra Riot, Blood Orange, Best Coast, Amen Dunes and We Are Scientists.
In 2017, Garrett began sessions with Vampire Weekend on their 2019 release, Father of the Bride. Shortly after, he was asked to join as percussionist and second drummer with the touring group."
Tom Jones, Mike & The Mechanics, Schiller, Helena Fischer
Gary Wallis is a British drummer, percussionist, drum programmer, producer and musical director. He has worked with a wide range of artists and bands including Nik Kershaw, Style Council, 10cc, Il Divo, Westlife, Paul Carrack, Dusty Springfield, Bonnie Tyler, Jean Michel Jarre, Helene Fischer and Schiller. He played percussion on the Pink Floyd tours from 1987-1994 and has recorded and toured Mike + The Mechanics since 1995 through to present day. Gary has been Tom Jones go to drummer since 1991 and is musical director for Tom’s band.
Peter Gabriel, Afro Celt Sound System, Birdy
Ged is a UK based freelance Drummer/Percussionist/Composer. He's played with Peter Gabriel live and in the Studio for 12 years and writes music for TV.
The Mambo Legends Orchestra
George Delgado Born July 19 ,1965 in The Bronx N.Y, to Puerto Rican parents. George is a self taught multi percussionist who’s musical career and performing started in the late 70’s in Puerto Rico with Tito Rojas y El Conjunto Borincano continuing in the mid 80’s in N.Y. performing and recording with Santiago Ceron, Manny Oquendo’s Conjunto Libre, La Sonora Matancera, Tony Vega, Jose Alberto, Celia Cruz,Tito Nieves ,India,Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri and many other artist. George released his first solo project in 2005 titled Mi Ritmo LLego.
He also worked as a music teacher in public schools throughout the Bronx as well as in Spanish Harlem’s Johnny Colon’s Music School Boys Harbor Conservatory For Performing Arts and Manners College For music. George has performed in every major Jazz Festival both foreign and domestic.
Currently a member of 3x Grammy Award Winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra The Mambo Legends Orchestra.
Planeta Azul Trio, Michael Miles Trio, Paulinho Garcia Samba Trio
Geraldo de Oliveira was born and raised in Brazil. He started playing percussion professionally at the age of 14, in his hometown, Belo Horizonte. After moving to Chicago in 1976, he has recorded and/or appeared with Aretha Franklin, Stevie & Eddie, Barbara Eden, Ramsey Lewis, Judy Roberts, Jerry Butler, Tyrone Davis, Walter Jackson, Linda Clifford, Bobby Lewis and many others. He was also a guest artist on the last album recorded by world famous drummer Buddy Rich. Geraldo is an educator and instructor , he has conducted Brazilian percussion clinics and master classes at numerous high schools, colleges, and music organizations in the USA, and abroad. He has been a featured presenter on Brazilian Percussion at PAS events, and received the 2013 Dal Segno Recognition for Professional Achievement. Geraldo keeps busy in the Chicago area performing and recording with different groups including Trio Copacabana, Paulinho Garcia, Planeta Azul, and the Lake Side Singers.
Sergio Mendes
Gibi dos Santos also known as Marco dos Santos is a percussionist born in Salvador, Bahia, the capital of Afro-Brazilian culture. From a young age Gibi was exposed to the rich heritage of capoeira and traditional music. He followed on to study many other Brazilian styles and art forms, receiving recognition for his work in Brazil. He relocated to the United States in 1998 after his brother Meia Noite, also a very talented percussionist, introduced him to Sergio Mendes, whose band they played in together for years. He travels worldwide with Sergio Mendes and has contributed to all his albums since 2008 including Grammy-winning album “Bom Tempo”. He has performed and toured with Airto Moreira, as well as Viver Brazil Dance Company. He has played and recorded with artists such as Kanye West, Enrique Iglesias, Alex Acunha, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Kendrick Lamar. He also appears on the Oscar-nominated soundtrack of motion picture “RIO” and the mobile game “Angry Birds.”
Marilyn Manson/Wicked Beats/Sessions/Clinician
Los Angeles native, Gil Sharone, is highly regarded as one of the most versatile session & touring drummers in the world. He is a multiple-time industry award winner, educator/clinician, and an active member of the bands, Marilyn Manson, Stolen Babies and Team Sleep. His work further extends into film and television scores.
Possessing a unique skill set, Gil came to notoriety in the rock world as a fill-in member of +44 and a member of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Puscifer and currently Marilyn Manson. However, he is widely known as an expert in several other genres. Reggae, ska and rocksteady were part of his earliest influences along with jazz, funk, hip hop and fusion. Gil established himself in the Jamaican styles playing with legends like Eek-A-Mouse, HR of Bad Brains, and Dave Wakeling of The English Beat, which inspired him to author an award-winning DVD and book, Wicked Beats, and recent featured performances with Slightly Stoopid and the Grammy Award winning Morgan Heritage.
Enrique Iglesias
Gilmar Gomes is a Brazilian percussionist, singer-songwriter, international recording artist, producer and Visual Artist. Though predominantly known as a musician, this Brooklyn-based creative marvel is a natural artist who defies genre. Gilmar Gomes is currently a member of Enrique Iglesias’ band, having performed with him since 2001. Gomes has toured and recorded extensively with wide-ranging and renowned artists and bands such as Harry Belafonte, Shakira, Rihanna, Meshell Ndegeocello, Richard Bona, Jovanotti, Gilberto Gil, Daniela Mercury, Angelique Kidjo, Esperanza Spalding, Prince and Yerba Buena. Gomes has performed at prestigious music festivals across the globe, including the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Free Jazz Festival, MTV Music Awards, the Grammy Awards, the American Music Awards and Rock in Rio, to name a few. He has appeared on numerous television broadcasts including The World Music Awards, Top of the Pops, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Concert for America.
Altın Gün, Jungle by Night
Gino Groeneveld is an Amsterdam based percussionist. With roots in Indonesia he started out playing gamelan at an early age but switched to latin percussion at 10 years old and played with his dad in jazz bars at the age of 14 He started his professional music carrier at the age of 18 playing in Jungle by night with whom he organised the Felabration in Amsterdam for 6 years in what time he had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a wide variety of African musicians like Seun Kuti, Ebo Taylor, Tony Allen and Malatu Astatke. He studied Percussion at Codarts world music department in Rotterdam where he studied under Nils Fisher, Martin Verdonk, Lucas Van Merwijk, Bart Fermie, Jan Hartog and Abel Marcel and had classes with Eliel Lazo, Orlando Poleo and El Panga. Sinds 2016 Heʼs been part of the Anatolian Funk Rock band Altin Gun with whom he is currently touring the world.
Pavlo
Gino Mirizio is a major talent who has become recognized as a highly accomplished musician/percussionist. Gino is exceptional in demonstrating a remarkable level of skill in a wide range of instruments, which include the congas, bongos, timbale, cajon, djembe, dumbek, udu, as well as the traditional drum kit. Toronto’s Humber College gave him a solid musical base to build on, and since his graduation in 1993 he has worked hard to hone his skills to their present level. Though he began his musical career with a jazz bias, over the years he has added latin, rock, funk and classical styles to his diverse repertoire. He has nonetheless developed a style which is uniquely his own; his charismatic stage presence engages his audience and carries them along in many exciting new directions, where they are only too happy to join him.
Independent
Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest percussionists of all time, Giovanni Hidalgo, began playing percussion at the age of five. Born into a family of musicians, Giovanni first played on a set of congas handcrafted by his father, the great Jose "Maneñgue" Hidalgo. Giovanni first became in the early eighties when traveling to Cuba to work with the group Batacumbele whose debut album has become a cult favorite. Featuring his incredible hand-drumming technique, the album shot Giovanni to instant prominence. His incredible technique and style was the foundation of the hybrid musical style called Songo. He has worked with Eddie Palmieri, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Mickey Hart, Freddy Hubbard, Paul Simon, Dave Valentin, Paquito d'Rivera, and Carlos Santana. His collaborative effort with pianist, Michel Camilo,”Hands of Rhythm” was nominated for a Grammy award in The Best Latin Jazz category. A number of innovative products bear Giovanni's name including the LP Galaxy Giovanni Congas, Bongos and Djembe, LP Giovanni Compact Conga, the vintage style LP Giovanni Palladium Congas as well as the LP Prestige Series Giovanni Timbales. The Giovanni Compact Conga won a 2003 Musikmesse press award (MIPA), receiving top votes in the percussion category by representatives of musical instrument magazines from around the globe.
Holy Wars/Independent
From Morro Bay, CA, Greg Garman relocated to Los Angeles to attend the Musician’s Institute (MI) in Hollywood, CA where he received a Stanley Clark Scholarship, graduating with an Associates Degree of Arts. Since graduation, Greg has worked with a multitude of artists including; Selena Gomez and The Scene, Zella Day, Kirstin Maldanado, Grace Vanderwaal, Christina Grimmie, Anastacia, Becky G, Greyson Chance, Pentatonix, Cardiknox, Holy Wars and Filter. He has toured nationally and internationally performing in sold out stadiums, theaters, amphitheaters, arenas, and numerous radio and television shows including The Today Show, Americas Got Talent, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Teen Choice Awards and a performance for President Obama at the Kennedy Center Honors. Greg has been featured on The Drum Chanel, ads in DRUM! and Modern Drummer Magazine.
Ringo Starr All Starr Band/ LA studios
Gregg Bissonette is one of the most versatile drummers in the business. Since 2008, Gregg has had the “honor and thrill” of performing in the All Starr Band with his drumming hero, Ringo Starr, at concerts around the world.
Bissonette has played with David Lee Roth, James Taylor, Santana (on his Grammy-winning album Supernatural), Don Henley, Joe Satriani, Andrea Bocelli, ELO, Maynard Ferguson, Spinal Tap, and countless others. Gregg has recorded for numerous films (including The Bucket List, Finding Nemo, Best in Show, The Bourne Supremacy, The Devil Wears Prada, The 40-Year-Old Virgin), TV shows (all ten seasons of the NBC se-ries Friends), and the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert and video.
Bissonette recently recorded video lessons for Kennan Wylie’s Drum-set Method books (Hal Leonard) and has three solo CDs: Gregg Bissonette, Submarine, and Warning Will Robinson. He also has an award-winning 2-disc DVD, Musical Drumming in Different Styles (Hudson Music).
Dawes/studio
Griffin Goldsmith is a professional Drummer/Percussionist/Vocalist, hailing from Los Angeles California. After retiring from a possible career of extremely amateur middle school baseball, at age 13, he was sucked into the family business of music. Goldsmith, along with his elder brother Taylor, and rhythmic counterpart Wylie Gelber, formed the band Dawes. He has been honing and harmonizing his skills ever since. Although Dawes is very much considered his primary concern, Goldsmith has had the pleasure of playing alongside such greats as Jackson Browne, John Fogerty, Robbie Robertson, Elvis Costello, world renowned drummer Jim Keltner and countless other contemporaries, both live and on record. He has been featured by such publications as: DRUM! Magazine, Modern Drummer and Drumhead Mag. Goldsmith is frequently seen playing C&C drums, Paiste cymbals, Ahead sticks, LP percussion and many other pieces of custom rhythmic paraphernalia built for him by Dawes bass player Wylie Gelber.
The Allen Carman Project
Gumbi Ortiz a 30 year veteran of The Al Di Meola Group, was born and raised in The South Bronx, Gumbi has Recorded, performed, and/or Produced, some of today’s most diverse and acclaimed musicians on the Planet including : Phillippe Saisse, Jeff Berlin, Steve Vai, Nat Adderley, Joel Taylor, Cyril Neville, Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers, Armand Sabal-Lecco, Senri Kawaguchi, Chick Corea, Gato Barbieri, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, The J.U.S.T.I.C.E League,Jeff Lorber, Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal, Brandon Field ,Jay Beckenstein, Barry Miles, Joel Rosenblatt ,The Black Honkeys, Nick Brignola, Jim Pepper, Ted Shumate, Fred Johnson, Irene Cara, kamau kenyatta, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Rachel Z, Lenny White, kei Akagi,Leonid Agutin, Roman Miroshnichenko, Rick Braun, The Allen Carman Project, Tom Brechtlein, Luis Alicea, New Groove City, The Electrik Rendezvous, Marc Quiñones and Sammy Figueroa, to name but a few.
Peter Maffay, Zarbang, Studio/Independent
Born in Kabul, Afghanistan with classical training on Tablas with his master Sufi Lahli, Hakim Ludin began his professional career with a classical education at the conservatory of Karlsruhe, Germany.
Hakim has established a new level of percussive work that is well-appreciated by an international audience and has worked with stellar jazz musicians such as Jeff Hamilton, Lenny Castro, Steve Smith, Luis Conte and Terry Bozzio.
His collaboration with one of Germany’s leading singers Konstantin Wecker has brought a wider public attention to Hakim within Germany. He has also been a member of ZARBANG ensemble since 1998, performing at international festivals. Hakim has become an internationally demanded percussion tutor & also a musical director of “The mother of international drum camps” in Bavaria.
He has published a series of DVD’s worldwide by Hudson Music and is currently on tour with one of the biggest German artists, Peter Maffay on his MTV Unplugged Tour.
Maná
Héctor Quintana was born and raised in Navojoa, Sonora. Proudly Mexican. In 2007, he began touring around the world with “rock en Espanol” legends Maná. Maná is considered the most successful Latin American band of all time with over 40 million albums sold worldwide and accomplished sold-out shows. Hector is not only the main percussionist but also the backround vocalist. To this day, since he joined the band, he has performed over five hundred concerts. Some of them in mythical places such as Festival Rock & Rio and also Viña Del Mar International festival, in the Chilean community of Valparaiso. He has performed at major world-class forums like the Staples Center and the legendary Forum in Los Angeles, California. As well as presentations in Mexican and foreign TV programs; the Grammy awards and very high-level events such as the one at The White House and inaguration Day with Barack Obama. In 2014, Hector produced his first album named Presente Perfecto (present perfect), a tribute to the great voices of latin american popular music of the 1970’s and the 1980’s.
Henry Brun & The Latin Playerz Orchestra/ Independent
Henry Brun, “Mr. Ritmo” to his fans, is hailed as one of the most talented and hardest working professional musicians and band leaders in Southwest U.S.
Brun has recorded over 780 albums, including numerous Grammy and gold / platinum-award winning productions.
In 1989, Henry Brun formed The Latin Playerz, a popular group noted for its blend of Latin, Rhythm and Blues, Swing and straight-ahead Jazz. The group regularly performs throughout the U.S. and abroad, including Cuba’s Festival Internacional Del Caribe, Puerto Rico’s Heineken Jazz Festival, Mexico’s Festival International de Jazz, France’s Jazz a Vienne, Switzerland’s Montreaux Jazz Festival, Taiwan’s Taichung International Jazz Festival, to name a few.
Brun’s professional discipline and dedication to musical excellence has earned him the opportunity to perform and record with Arturo Sandoval, Vicki Carr, Charo, Los Lobos, Texas Tornados, Little Joe y La Familia and Los Super Seven, amongst others.
Villa Locura
Henry Cole is a shape-shifting drummer whose versatile, multicultural style positions him at the forefront of a growing wave of jazz innovation and cross-cultural 21st-century rhythms.
A Grammy award winner, master drummer and skilled arranger, he draws inspiration from a long line of highly skilled Boricua Pioneers and his sonic roots come together to create a unique, mestizo sound.
A native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Cole is taking Puerto Rican "sabor" (flavor) to new, unexpected heights. He has worked with The Miguel Zenón Quartet, David Sánchez, The Gary Burton Quartet, Quincy Jones, Fabian Almazan Rhizome, The Ben Wendel Quartet, and the the all-star quartet “90 Miles”.
In 2018 Henry released, "El Diablo" from the upcoming album, "Simple" with his new group Villa Locura, where he combines a wide variety of musical influences such as Puerto Rican folklore, funk, R&B, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. He defines Villa Locura as "Raw, Spiritual, Interstellar, Puertorican Funk!"
Randy Crawford, Lamont Dozier, Quincy Jones
Hilko Schomerus was born in Hannover, Germany, in 1964. He began his autodidactic studies in percussion at the age 17. Numerous trips during his music studies took him to Venezuela, Indonesia, and West Africa (amongst other places), where he learned and collected musical instruments and culture of these countries. His openness and curiosity have kept Hilko traveling, trying to find and discover extraordinary traditional percussion instruments from all over the world. He spends most of his time trying to adapt these various styles into a unique combination that has become his own. He works regularly for the Hannover University for Music and Drama and the University of Music in Cologne and gives guest lectures at University for Music in Detmold, Bremen, Hamburg and Osnabrück. He has also presented various international seminars.
Hans Zimmer
Commander of rhythm, goddess of groove, Holly has been a key part of London’s music scene for the past decade. She tours internationally with Hans Zimmer Live, recorded that iconic bongo part in the soundtrack for Mission: Impossible - Fallout and performed on the 2019 soundtrack for The Lion King.
She has enjoyed an Ibiza residency with Idris Elba, recorded drums on Frank Turner’s top 10 album No Man’s Land and has joined scat/jungle duo The Correspondents ripping up their international festival sets. She was invited to Kenya by the British Council to perform at Nairobi Jazz Festival and regularly works with international contemporary circus company Strut & Fret to create interdisciplinary performances, such as a drum & contortionist duet.
Her upbringing in big band jazz, funk and fusion has gifted her a focused listening ear; a love of 60s and 70s rock and soul has kept her playing uncluttered and with something to say and the addition of latin percussion in recent years has deepened her understanding of groove and interaction, creating a unique style with musicality, simplicity and groove at its cornerstones. You’ll rarely see Holly without a smile on her face and her trusty Black Beauty™ Cowbell® in hand.
Independent / Educator, Madonna, Cesária Évora Orchestra, Selma Uamusse, Loosense, Criatura, They Must Be Crazy
Authentic and eclectic, Iúri Oliveira is a professional percussionist flowing between styles, like World Music, Latin Jazz, and Fado, among others.
Iúri Oliveira is a sideman percussionist, and a studio & tour musician. He has dedicated himself to music studies with many masters from Cuba, Angola, Brazil, and Argentina. He is now part of the Madonna Madame X Tour. He also continues to work with national and international acts. With his versatility he has become a reference among artists, producers and composers. With Portuguese and Angolan influences, he became a musician at the age of 14. His interpretation of music and his approach of different setups with instruments allow him to build the perfect atmosphere, and embodies the passion for each artist and context. His musical universe is inspired and created through elegance, passion, color and vocabulary with the main purpose of serving the music.
Ivan Llanes & The Cuban Way, Matthew Whitaker, Educator
Ivan Llanes was born on December 30, 1985 in Camaguey, Cuba. He made his way to Havana in 2008 and joined Ricardo Leiva y Sur Caribe, and Grammy-nominated Orlando “Maraca” Valle y Otra Vision.
After a U.S. tour with Maraca in 2011, he relocated to New York to expand his musical career with world-renowned musicians. Since then, Llanes has become an indispensable member of the Latin and Latin Jazz communities. Also the versatility on his playing has made him a very successful musician, collaborating with Great Artists from different scenes. He has performed/recorded with Katreese Barnes, Colin Hay, Arturo O’farril and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Nella, Carlinhos Brown, Descemer Bueno, Mario “Mayito” Rivera, to name a few.
Llanes is currently working on his own project, the Cuban Way. It is an effort to reflect the wide variety of Ivan’s musical influences, while incorporating elements from Cuba and US, in a creative setting that showcases his energy and passion.
Usher
4x Grammy-Award winning songwriter, producer, drummer and DJ, Mexican-American IZ Avila was born into a musical family in the Inland Empire, just outside of Los Angeles. At the age of 14, IZ was signed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis… and the rest is history. With selling over 40 million records to date in pop music… IZ Avila has also traveled the world as Usher’s official DJ for the last 11yrs and Musical Director for the past 5 years capturing numerous memorable performances such as Americas Got Talent, Good Morning America, Obama’s 2013 inauguration and 3 Sold Out world tours. IZ has produced and written songs for superstars such as Janet Jackson, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Anthony Hamilton, Trey Songz, and Earth, Wind & Fire to name a few. The goal has always been to push the needle forward in culture through music supported by a foundation of timeless creativity. In 2019, IZ became one of the first Fender Play Foundation board members and began to work on educational initiatives solely targeted at putting instruments back in the hands of kids and classrooms. Although very much has changed in the world and in live music since 2020, IZ will be focused on arranging one of the biggest live shows to come out of the pandemic… Ushers 2021 residency at Ceasars Palace.
Bonobo, Alice Russell, Andreya Triana, Lea Lea
Jack Baker is an internationally renowned drummer, record producer and songwriter from London, UK. Known as an exceptionally gifted live performer, as a studio musician he benefits from surgically precise timekeeping and a legendary pocket, underpinned by a deep and abiding musicality that enhances each and every recording he plays on. As the rhythmic bedrock of Grammy-nominated electronic live act Bonobo, Jack has spent the past decade clocking up headline tours and festival performances around the globe, gracing many of the world’s most prestigious stages along the way. As well as acting as trusted timekeeper for Bonobo, Jack is also a long-time cohort of UK soul sensation Alice Russell, having recorded, toured and co-handled writing and production duties with her since 2004. When off tour Jack is often to be found at the helm of his own recording studio in London. Jack is a prolific writer and music producer who has worked with many artists and high profile projects.
Michael McDonald , Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys
Jackie Bertone he has been an endorser with LP for 27 years specializing in all styles of music! LP has been with Jackie throughout his career every step of the way! Jackie's musical history goes deep with Brian Wilson, the Beach boys, Michael McDonald to name but a few! Whether recording in his studio for the Who's Who in the music industry along with film and television recording, be assured that LP is there with him!
David Byrne/Victory Boyd/Jeremy Pelt/Flor de Toloache
Jacquelene is an exciting multi-percussionist known for her musicality, sensitivity, power & passion. She was awarded a Latin Grammy in 2017 for her genre-bending work with Flor de Toloache adding percussion & funk to Mariachi music. She is featured in Spike Lee's 2020 Emmy-nominated film adaptation of American Utopia. She is a 2021 TONY award recipient for the stage production of the critically-acclaimed broadway show by the same name. She currently performs with David Byrne acting, dancing, and singing in addition to playing 10 percussion instruments. Working on the Jazz scene since 2017 Jacquelene was hailed as a "force to be reckoned with." Recordings with Jeremy Pelt have garnered praise in reviews which describe her playing as "compelling," "kinetic," and "room temperature-altering." Her Dad & Mentor, Memo Acevedo, made a huge impact on her musical understanding from an early age. Jacquelene has performed on Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon, The View, PBS & she's opened stages for Lauryn Hill, Patti Smith, & Stanley Clarke. Jacquelene loves traveling, recording, & performing live. Her unique showmanship, beloved by audiences and band leaders alike, has made room for her on a great variety of stages.
Independent -CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, LION KING , QUEEN -WE WILL ROCK YOU etc...
James Mack has been a highly regarded professional percussionist for 17 years. He studied Music at the Guildhall School of Music in London for 4 years where achieved AGSM Diploma. Here he studied Orchestral and World Percussion After completing his studies in 1994, he has toured with many high profile artists, playing in stadiums and arenas in cities all over the world, appearing in live DVD concerts and television shows. He has recorded albums for very well-known pop artists and has been widely interviewed for many music magazines internationally.
Overkill, Shadows Fall, Clinician
Jason Bittner is the drummer for New Jersey Thrash Pioneers –OVERKILL. He is mainly known for being a member of the Massachusetts metal band Shadows Fall, with whom he recorded and toured with from 2001 -2014 (on hiatus since 2014). To this day, the band the band has a catalog of over 1.5 million records sold. He has also been a member of Phoenix’s Flotsam and Jetsam (2014-2017), a fill-in touring member of the “Big 4’s” ANTHRAX (2006, 2008, 2012) and has also recorded and/or toured with numerous other projects and side bands. Bittner is also recognized worldwide as an instructor/clinician for his expertise with double bass technique, rudimental applications, as well as numerous other styles of drumming including Latin, Afro-Cuban, and Jazz. This expanded educational vocabulary also allows Bittner to be an “in demand” session drummer who has worked with various other artists outside of his “Rock/Metal “comfort zone.” Lastly, Bittner is also a 2-time Grammy Nominee, multiple Drum magazine reader’s poll winner, and a Berklee College of Music Alumni.
Ted Nugent/Session Drummer
Jason Hartless is a Touring/Session drummer that has performed with legendary artists such as Ted Nugent, Joe Lynn Turner & Mitch Ryder. Jason has over the years toured as the support act with Motley Crue, God Smack, Ted Nugent, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool, Rev Theory, Mountain and Warrior Soul just to name a few. He has worked in some of the finest recording studios in North America while working with world renowned producers such as, Dale Penner (Nickelback), Paul Orofino (Millbrook Recording Studios), Tom Morris (Kamelot, Less Than Jake, Destiny's Child) and Chuck Alkazian (Pop Evil, Asking Alexandria, Soundgarden). Jason has been mentored by drummers such as Corky Laing, Tommy Clufetos, Eric Singer, Todd Sucherman, Anton Fig and many more. Jason started drumming at the tender age of 6 months and created a buzz in the music industry when at age 8 years old he recorded his first album with rock legends Corky Laing, Richie Scarlet and Jim McCarty.
On Your Feet! Broadway Musical, American Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard School Faculty
Javier Diaz is a percussionist that has played with David Sanborn, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Pedro Martinez, Michel Legrand, Sean Kingston, Edmar Castañeda, Lázaro Galarraga, The New York World Music Institute, Ara Oko Folkloric Group among others. Javier has performed in several Broadway productions including The Lion King, In The Heights and Tarzan. Javier is also well versed in the classical percussion genre and has appeared with several symphony orchestras along with chamber music groups. Javier has lectured on Afro-Cuban percussion at The Juilliard School, Rutgers University, Paws Music Institute in Los Angeles, the Peabody Conservatory, the Boston Conservatory and at New York University. He currently is Professor of Percussion at the University of Connecticut. He received his B.M. from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and his M.M. from The Juilliard School, New York.
Waylon Jennings, Tony Joe White
Jeff has received recognition from Modern Drummer magazine for “Best Country Drummer” and through the years has shared the stage with many artists, but he maintains his ever-humble attitude by summing up his credentials with “You’re only as good as your last show.”
Willie Colon, Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz,
Jeffrey Lopez has been playing professionally for over 35 years and is considered to be one of the most talented Timbaleros in the New York and New Jersey area playing with today's Hottest's Latin bands . Jeffrey has also recorded with many top producer such as Grammy award winner Sergio George, lsidro lnfante, Ricky Gonzalez, Efrain Davila, and many more .
Kevin Griffin, Jen Lowe & The Sensitive Dudes
Jen Lowe is a singer/songwriter, percussionist, inventor and a public speaker. She has two solo records out, tours frequently with some of the top artists in the world and is a multi-instrumentalist.
Studio/Independent
Born in Perú and raised in New York, Jhair Sala spent his formative years studying intensively with Pedrito Martínez whom he met at just ten years old. He’s now in high demand as a session musician and bandleader in his own right, but there’s an uncanny magic when he plays with Pedrito. Jhair’s touch, timing, and feel, are truly remarkable and with literally thousands of hours of studying, performing and jamming together, the two drummers play as one.
Independent/Artist/Producer
Aponte is versatile recording artist, composer, and producer with more than 10 years of professional experience. He has performed for live audiences at the legendary Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico, Sofar Sounds, Alegria Magazine 5th Year Anniversary, L Fest, The Floor Improv, and around the world. His artistry has also led him to teach music and dance workshops, most recently with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Aponte has worked with many Grammy and Latin Grammy winners like Wisin y Yandel, Tego Calderon, David Sanchez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Gilberto Santarosa just to name a few. Aponte hails from Puerto Rico and earned his B.A in Music with an emphasis in Jazz and Afro-Caribbean genres from the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico. He has a passion for uniting cultures through his music and message and is also an accomplished event producer such as Flowers: Rhythm Delight Music, LA’s premier Afro-Caribbean party at Los Globos.
The Bill Hopkins Rockin' Orchestra, The TV Show Band, The Steve Throop Group
Jim Greiner is an internationally acclaimed, multiple award-winning percussionist, clinician and recording artist. Jim is a seven-time winner of Drum! Magazine's Readers Poll awards for his clinics and instructional DVDs, and has been featured on PBS, NRP, the Discovery Channel, and many other media. Jim has presented over 35 clinics at prestigious Percussive Arts Society International Conferences, has conducted over 100 clinics for LP at music stores and music camps, and has demonstrated instruments for many years at LP events and trade shows. Jim has also recorded tracks on hundreds of CDs and jingles, as well as on movies staring renowned actors such as Susan Sarandon, Willem Dafoe, Sam Rockwell, Dana Delaney, and others. Jim has performed hundreds of shows worldwide with one of America’s top corporate and special events bands, and with festival headliners such as Jazz/Rock icons Quicksilver Messenger Service, Blues/R&B “Lioness” Sista Monica Parker, and Rock legend Jerry Miller (on Rolling Stones’ list of the top 100 Rock guitarists of all time). Jim is also the designer of the LP Jim Greiner Shekere (LP484), and has field-tested LP instrument pro-types for many years.
James Robinson Latin Music Ensemble John-Carlos Perea's Creation Story Lewis Jordan's Music At Large Michelle Pollace Latin Jazz Ensemble Jorge Alabe's SambaMasterClass.com California Brazil Camp Villa Montalvo Arts Education Bloco Do Sol San Jose Brazilian Percussion and Dance
Jimmy Biala is a music educator, performing and recording artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Jimmy also conducts workshop classes in Cuban and Brazilian percussion in Europe and Asia. He currently resides in San Jose, California
Keiko Matsui, Doc Severinsen, Bob James
Jimmy Branly is a Cuban drummer living in Los Angeles California. Jimmy has record and tour around the world with : Carol Welsman, Doc Severinsen, Keiko Matsui, David Garfield, Jimmy Haslip, Otmaro Ruiz, Abraham Laboriel, Colin Hay, Lia Branly, Rebeca Mauleon, White House Latin nights at the White House, John Novello, Arturo Sandoval, Oscar Hernandez, Adonis Puentes, Pat Senatore, Bob James, Bill Conliffe, etc.
New Swing Sextet, Cubanoson
Born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Jimmy Figueroa began his musical career at age 9 being influenced by timbaleros Tito Puente, Endel Dueno and Orestes Vilato. They were the major influence for him to pick up the timbales, among other percussion instruments. His unique style on timbales, bongos and tambora enabled him to play and sing Coro professionally at the age of 12 and he gained the respect and admiration of his peers. Jimmy has performed in several Salsa Congresses in Siberia, England, Greece, Italy, Germany, Amsterdam, Mexico, Colombia and New York. As his percussion techniques develop throughout the years, he continues to evolve as an accomplished musician. Jimmy has recorded on many productions and continues to perform with various bands including, The Grammy nominated New Swing Sextet, Cubanoson, and 7 Con Calle. His natural talent is creative and limitless. His style and technique are unique and he’s always evolving musically in keeping with today’s sound.
João Caetano, Incognito, Chaka Khan
João Caetano, born and raised in Macau to Portuguese parents, is a world-class drummer, percussionist, singer, songwriter and producer. At the age of 18 he moved to the U.K, to study music at Chichester University and today still provides support to educational music projects. At the beginning of his career, João Caetano joined the legendary band Incognito at the age of 21. He has since completed six world tours and four albums as a core member of the band. He has collaborated and recorded over 30 studio albums and worked with global artists such as Chaka Khan, Mario Biondi, Anastacia, Leona Lewis, Jessie J and Dionne Bromfield. Additionally gifted with unique lyrical and vocal ability, his solo career reflects his Portuguese roots including a variety of sounds from Asia and Europe. He carries a musical genre combining elements of Jazz, Folk, World and traditional music - encompassing Fado (traditional Portuguese music inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists) and regional / folk Portuguese traditional music, as well as percussion. João is constantly reinventing tradition through his playing, with vivid dynamism, energy, intensity and technique.
Independent / Educator / Tromboranga Salsa Orchestra
Joaquin Arteaga, venezuelan musician based in Barcelona Spain; educator, creator, bandleader, author and timbalero of Tromboranga salsa orchestra. Recognized internationally by his own compositions (music and lyrics) "Humildad", "Sentimiento Caleño", "Adios que te va bien", "Palo pa la campana", "Como la marea" “A Caraj” “Mi china colombiana” “Otro ladrillo en la pared” and many more.
He has recorded and backed up latin artists such as Andy Montañez, Larry Harlow, Andres Cepeda, Cano Estremera, Jimmy Bosch, Herman Olivera, Frankie Vazquez, Jhon Lozano, Gerardo Rosales, Gabino Pampini, Kanabayen Orchestra, La Sucursal SA, Venezuelan Masters Orchestra, Bloque 53 among others.
As an educator, Joaquin organizes and teaches percussion salsa workshops and also musicality for salsa dancers in english and spanish, all around the world, and in his private studio. He has taught in Spain, Japan, Australia, Colombia, U.S.A., France, U.K., Marroco, Lebanon, Thailand among other countries.
4Front, Happy the Man, Broadway shows, independent
Joe Bergamini is most well-known for his progressive rock drumming in the bands Happy the Man and 4Front, and is a fixture on the New York scene. He has performed in over a dozen Broadway shows including School of Rock:The Musical, Beautiful (The Carole King Musical), Movin' Out, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, In the Heights, Million Dollar Quartet, The Lion King, and others.
As an educator, Joe has appeared in clinic at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), the Ultimate Drummers Weekend (Melbourne, Australia), the Cape Breton Drum Festival (Nova Scotia, Canada), KOSA (Vermont, USA), the Sonny Emory Drum Camp (Atlanta, USA), and did two US retail store clnic tours for Tama Drums. A sought-after private instructor for over 25 years, among Joe’s many private students who have gone on to pro careers is world-renowned jazz drummer Mark Guiliana. Joe is the director of the Sabian Education Network for drum teachers, the Senior Drum Editor for Hudson Music, a founding partner of Wizdom Media LLC and WBH MusicWorks (two independent publishers) and participated in developing the Drum Guru app.
As an author, Joe has won four Modern Drummer Readers Poll awards for his drum books, including best drum book of 2013 for Neil Peart: Taking Center Stage.
Independent
Of Cuban-American descent, Joe began playing music at the age of 13, in the heavily Latin influenced cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. With a professional career spanning nearly three decades, Joe has performed many different styles of music from jazz to country to rock and recorded on numerous projects, both live and in-studio. Joe’s professionalism and engaging personality have earned him a stellar reputation in the music business and he is “first-call” with many bands and recording artists. Joe leads his own jazz and Latin jazz quartet, Joe Garcia & Friends.
The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band
Joe is the Latin Grammy® Award Winning founder, leader, producer and drummer of The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, winner of the 2008 Latin Jazz Album of the Year and nominated in the 51st Grammy’s® for “Afro Bop Alliance” featuring Dave Samuels. Their latest release is entitled “UPWARDS”. As an educator, Joe created an online platform entitled “BASIC Training” and has done clinics and masterclasses throughout the world. He has recorded and/or performed with Paquito D’ Rivera, Conrad Herwig, Slide Hampton, Eddie Daniels, Wayne Bergeron, Poncho Sanchez, Arturo O’ Farrill, Linda Oh, Oscar Stagnaro, Samuel Torres and countless others. Joe was a Chief Petty Officer with The United States Naval Academy Band, where he served as Chief in Charge/Drummer of the Next Wave Jazz Ensemble- one of the Navy’s two premier big bands. He proudly endorses Latin Percussion, Zildjian, Yamaha, Remo, and Vic Firth, featuring Joe’s signature drumstick in the Modern Jazz Collection Series, MJC2.
Modest Mouse, The Shins, Cold War Kids, Mister Heavenly
Joe Plummer has played drums and percussion, both touring and recording, with Modest Mouse, The Shins, Cold War Kids, Mister Heavenly for over 12 years. Joe also produced and co-recorded an all drum project (inspired by Max Roach's Mboom) called Hew Time, released on Joyful Noise in 2014. Between The Shins and Cold War Kids releases in 2015, Joe produced, recorded and played all instruments on a "solo" debut called Built In Sun. He continues to do session work and coloborate with various artists in Los Angeles and Seattle/Portland. Currently, Joe is working on a largly percussion film/tv project and starting a second Hew Time recording.
Pancho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band / Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
Born in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City from a long heritage of musicians, Joey De Leon Jr. is an amazingly diverse artists. He holds a bachelor’s degree in classical percussion from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music and currently is a member of Grammy award winning bands - Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.
Joey has performed or recorded with artists of almost every genre including: Queen Latifah, Al Jarreau, Dave Valentin, Hilton Ruiz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Juan Gabriel, Joao Sebastian, Jennifer Lopez, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Tan Dun and Arturo Sandoval as well as many film and TV scores.
In addition to music, Joey is a member of SAG and can be seen in national commercials and programs. Most recently he appeared on the McDonald’s commercial “Hay Un Big Mac For That.”
As an educator, Joey teaches privately, conducts clinics and workshops as well as being a faculty member at California Institute of the Arts. His mission is to reinforce the power of unconditional love and equality through music.
Independent
Joey Heredia is a remarkable drummer who blends a multitude of styles, timing, and unbelievable skill to achieve a unique level of playing making him one of the best in the business.
Though some may say that he is a Latin percussionist who added his drumset to the mix, Joey disgrees, "I was always primarily a drumset player. I played my share of timbales, but I was a kit player raised on seventies funk, like Parliament Funkadelics and Sly and the Family Stone." Heredia's work on a hybrid drum/percussion setup is amazing. While keeping solid drum grooves, in the tradition of his mentor Jeff Porcaro, he calls up images of complete percussion sections, teasing us with rhythmic snippets - little "reminders" of clave or traditional cowbell patterns. As a teen in East LA, Joey performed with Tower of Power-style horn bands. He felt the kinship between the clockwork precision of funk and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Joey's list of recording credits includes Dianne Reeves, Stevie Wonder, Billy Childs, Tribal Tech, Strunz and Farah, Tania Maria, and songwriter Michael Ruff.
A perfect sampler of Joey's work is the CD "Mendoza Heredia Neto: Live in L.A."
Paramore, Halfnoise, Louis Prince
Joey Mullen, from Los Angeles CA, began playing in punk rock and indie bands in the Southern California area at the tender age of 16, before quickly landing jobs touring the world. Cursed with an appetite for spreading love through live performance, he continued his journey across lands far and wide. In 2016, he arrived in one of the greatest cities that has ever been discovered… some say it’s where music was actually invented— Nashville TN. In Nashville, he began playing percussion for Paramore, Louis Prince, among many others in the Nashville area. But soon, his rhythmic love could not be restrained to just Music City, but has now burst into many cities. Mullen now currently lives in the second greatest city that has ever been discovered— Los Angeles, CA where he continues to play percussion for Paramore and Louis Prince as well as a drummer for Halfnoise.
Roger Waters, Ultraista, Jomoro, Atoms for Peace, Beck
Joey Waronker is a veteran drummer and percussionist of session and live renown with the likes of Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, Adele, Beck, Roger Waters, Air and R.E.M., and full fledged member of Ultraista, Atoms for Peace, and, most recently, Jomoro. Waronker started playing drums professionally in his teens, playing in clubs around Los Angeles in the 1980s with such artists as John Doe of X andDave Alvin of the Blasters . He was the youngest member of a Western swing band called the radio ranch straight shooters, along with long time collaborator Smokey Hormel. He and Smokey would go on to play live and record with Beck off and on from the early nineties onward. Other highlights include recordings with Brandon Flowers, Yoko Ono, The Who,, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, David Byrne, Nora Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Thurston Moore, Daniel Johnston, Doobie Brothers, Bat For Lashes, Pete Yorn, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Richard Thompson, Gnarls Barkley, Brett Dennon, Tracy Chapman, Leona Ness, Sia, John Doe, Five For Fighting, Nelly Furtado, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Willie DeVille, The Vines, Badly Drawn Boy, Rufus Wainwright, and R.L. Burnside.
Robert Plant, Seal, Paolo Nutini
John Blease grew up in Prestwick on the west coast of Scotland and started his musical life playing in ceilidh bands. At the age of 17 he moved to London and since then has enjoyed performing and recording music with a vast array of eclectic artists including Robert Plant, Seal, Paolo Nutini, Goldfrapp, Goldie, Tim Minchin, Pete Tong, Giorgio Moroder and Mose Allison. John keeps himself busy at his own studio as well as recording on numerous film, TV and library sessions around London.
Dharma Allstars, Clinician
New York-based John Favicchia has performed and/or recorded with such greats as Special EFX, Steve Khan, Eddie Money, Tony Levin, Chieli Minucci,Charlie Daniels, Lonnie Plaxico, Robbers, John Benitez, Gary US Bonds, Harvie S, Larry Coryell, Dean Brown, Rachel Z, Joe Butler-Love And Spoonful, The Tokens, Felix Cavaliere, Kerry Kearney, Chris Geith, Laco Deczi, Long Island Music Hall Of Fame Band, Mike Pope, and Bob Malach just to name a few. Known for his extreme versatility, in the course of a week John can be seen drumming from NYC Jazz Clubs to Rock Concert halls to International Drum Festivals as well as the top Music Festivals around the world.
Elton John
Percussionist, drummer and vocalist John Mahon has been playing with Sir Elton John since 1997. He has performed over 1600 shows with the superstar, in over 70 countries in front of millions. John was voted #3 Percussionist by Modern Drummer Magazine 2010 Readers Poll. He has recorded numerous albums with Elton John, achieving both Gold and Platinum success and played on BB King’s Grammy Award winning record, “80 BB King & Friends”.
As a member of Sir Elton’s band, John has had the honor of playing with such noted artists as Billy Joel, Leon Russell, Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Tina Turner, Cher, Michael McDonald, Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, George Michael and many others.
As a writer and producer John has composed for Jose Feliciano and Ray Charles, and soundtracks for TV’s LA Ink & HBO Vice.
Playing and recording with Elton John for 20 years has given me the opportunity to play amazing music night after night all over the world. Elton’s love of music is contagious and showed me that music has no limits. My passion for all things rhythmic and melodic has led me to explore playing percussion, drums and electronics as well as becoming a composer.
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Critically acclaimed performer, author and teacher, John Riley has worked with the world's leading Jazz musicians for over 30 years. A three time GRAMMY award winner and 14 time nominee, John has played on hundreds of recordings and at major venues with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and many others. John has a BM in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, 1975, and an MM in Jazz Studies from the Manhattan School of Music, 1985. He is on the faculty of Manhattan School of Music and SUNY Purchase, an Artist in Residence at the Amsterdam Conservatory in Holland and has given master classes around the world.
Gary Clark Jr for Johnny Radelat
Johnny Radelat was born to Cuban immigrants in Union City, N.J., came of age in Miami, FL, and calls Austin, TX 'home'. Prior to teaming up with Grammy award winning Gary Clark jr., he honed the skills and subtleties of playing/touring with: reggae, rhythm n blues, soul, and funk bands. Johnny embraces a simple yet bombastic approach to drumming and quests not to play with technical perfection, but with honest, heartfelt emotion. Johnny has toured extensively (North America, Europe, South America, Australia, and Japan), sharing the stage and supporting the likes of Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, The Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews band, Kings of Leon, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant...
Johnny Radelat plays: Gretsch Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Pro-Mark Sticks, Evans Drum heads, and LP percussion.
Tito Puente, Mambo Legends Orchestra
At 17 years old John earned a place playing bongos in the Tito Puente Orchestra and thus began his career and a lifetime association with the King of Latin Music. John spent over 30 years with the Tito Puente Orchestra, also working with Tito Rodriguez, Ray Barretto as well as his successful ‘Tipica 73’ band. Following Tito Puente’s death in 2000 John got together with Jose Madera and Mitch Frohman and they formed the Latin Giants Orchestra in 2001. The band has released two albums which have been recognized internationally.
Today, John refuses to rest on his laurels and continues to work tirelessly to promote Latin music and further its progression worldwide. He is very active with the Mambo Legends Orchestra, which features the stars of the former Tito Puente Orchestra. The band performs the famed Palladium days music of Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, and Machito, and also recorded The Giants Play the Music of the Palladium.
In 2009, John entrusted LP's with developing the LP Legends Series John "Dandy" Rodriguez, Jr. Bongos. The drums have sound and visual features that John is proud to have his name on.
Dirty Heads
It was Christmas day when Huntington Beach, California native Jon "Jon" Olazabal received a set on hand drums from his father. Inspired by accomplished percussionists’ like Josh Freese and Alex Acuna, Jon says that most of what he learned about hand drumming came from mimicking kit drummers. “I loved to try and figure out the crazy patterns of guys like Mickey Hart, Mitch Mitchell, Santana, Keith Moon and Stewart Copland,” says Jon. “As I got older, I grew to love more contemporary drummers like Danny Carey and Jimmy Chamberlin.” Jon admits there’s nothing like playing on the road every night, not having to worry about anything except playing the best show possible. And playing the best possible show not only depends on Jon, but his equipment too. “I play LP because I want to play with the best,” he says. “I play hard, and I need drums that I can take out on the road and beat up, bring home to the studio and still have them sound like the day I got them.”
Queens of the Stone Age, One Day as a Lion
Jon Philip Theodore is an American drummer that is best known as a former member of The Mars Volta & as the current drummer for Queens of the Stone Age. He is also a member of One Day as a Lion.
Theodore first started playing drums at the age of 15 and was soon involved with his high school concert band. It was at this point that he studied percussion and learned how to map arrangements. He later studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio.
Theodore draws inspiration from many different forms of music but those most prevalent in his playing are jazz, fusion & rock. He has also touched upon another factor which adds to his individual style: "My dad is Haitian and my favorite Haitian drummer is this guy called Azor. The music that moves me has the drumming from the Haitian voodoo rituals because the patterns are connected to different spirits; it's a spiritual thing that is interconnected with dancing, sacrifice and devotion. It's fully passionate. There is nothing contrived about it."
Independent, Educator
Puerto Rico native Jorge Ginorio is a professional percussionist, educator, and clinician. A graduate of the prestigious University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Throughout his performing career, Jorge has had the honor to perform, tour, and record with artists such as: Tom Braxton, Brave Combo, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, Aretha Franklin, Carlos Guedes, Mark Harper, Israel Houghton, Airto Moreira, Andy Narell, One O'Clock Lab Band, Dave Samuels, Poncho Sánchez, Lou Marini, Michael Spiro, Najee, among others. As an educator/clinician, Jorge keeps extremely active conducting lessons, clinics and workshops. He has presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, as well as in universities, colleges, and cultural centers. Currently, Jorge is integral part of the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area musical scene where he perform, record, and teach.
Spanish Harlem Orch, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon
Four time Grammy Award winner & LP Artist, Jorge Gonzalez has played profesionally for over 30 years and has recorded over 150 albums, Four which were grammy winners and Five Grammy Nominated. He has had the privilege of performing & recording with Latin Legends such as Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Juan Luis Guerra , The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Paul Simon, Bernard Lavilliers & Many Others.
Independent
As the son of the legendary leader of the Cuban orchestra Fajardo y sus Estrellas and "Flute King" Jose Fajardo, Jose Fajardo, Jr. has stood the test of time as a musician, bandleader and now singer. After more than 35 years of experience in the music industry, and after countless shows, Jose Fajardo, Jr. continues to maintain his father's legacy and spirit alive. Jose began at the age of 3 with his father playing percussion and since then has performed alongside and/or has recorded with some of the best and iconic Latin artists and musicians of all time. Some of these artists/musicians are Jose Fajardo (his father), The Fania All-Stars, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Alfredo De La Fe, Tipica 73, La Sonora Matancera, Luisito Carrion, Tito Puente, Sheila E. among others.
The Suffers
Jose “Chapy” Luna is a percussionist born and raised in Houston, Texas. He grew up
surrounded by a family of musicians and began putting on shows in his grandmother’s garage
alongside his cousins, using buckets and broomsticks.
In the 19 years of his career, he has played countless styles of music including soul, ska, jazz,
and latin. He currently forms part of the 8 piece band, The Suffers, with whom he has performed in over 15 countries and has made a number of TV appearances including Late Night with David
Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and NPR’s Tiny Desk.
In addition to professional accomplishments and talents, Chapy is well known throughout the
Houston community for his warmth, kindness and humility. When he is not on the road he
spends his time playing with local Houston legends and playing instruments with his two year
old daughter.
Studio/Independent
Born in New York City, son of Jose “Pin” Madera, who was the first arranger for the Machito Orchestra, Jose spent 31 years with the Tito Puente Orchestra. While there, he served as a percussionist and later went on to become a musical arranger and the musical director of the orchestra. He has written hundreds of arrangements for countless commercial Latin artists and has recorded or worked with many of them as well. Some of them include: Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Chico O’farrill, The Lincoln Center Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Celia Cruz, Tito Rodriguez, Fania All Stars, Willie Colon, Joe Farrell, Machito, Graciela, Mario Bauza, Willie Rosario, Earl Klugh and Eddie Palmieri, just to name a few. Jose has also worked and recorded with many Pop, R&B, and Jazz artists. Some of them include Diana Ross, James Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D’Rivera, George Benson and Lionel Hampton among others. Mr. Madera has performed on over 500 recordings and has written musical arrangements for and/or performed on over 20 Grammy nominated and at least 12 Grammy winning albums. With a recognized and distinct style of his own, Jose continues to assist in promoting Latin Jazz music as he educates others, writes musical arrangements and performs internationally.
Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Aymée Nuviola, Oscar De León
Jose ’’Majito’’ Aguilera is one of the most versatile drummers in the South Florida area and Being originally from Venezuela, his influences are immense and eclectic. He currently Tours with the virtuoso and Grammy and Latin Grammy winner Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Grammy Award Winning Singer Aymée Nuviola and Iconic Salsa and Latin Grammy Singer Winner Oscar De León.
Jose (Majito) Aguilera has performed with the legend Celia Cruz, Isaac Delgado, Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santa Rosa, La India and Tito Nieves among many other relevant artists in the industry. He has appeared on countless recordings, including Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Aymée Nuviola “Viento y Tiempo” live at the Blue Note in Tokyo, Ernesto Fernández “Pa’lante” with Pedro Martinez, Kemuel Roig “Genesis” with Chris Potter, and many more.
As an educator, he has taught clinics in his native Venezuela at the Tecnológico de Música Valencia and in Madrid Spain at the Academic Institute of Creative Music. He is also the author of a book entitled: “New approach to Afro-Latin rhythms in contemporary music”.
Known for his versatility in different musical styles, Jose Pepe Jimenez musical journey has taken him to the most prestigious stages around the world. He is a product of the Escuela Libre De Musica (Puerto Rico Performing Arts School), Musicians Institute of Technology and Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music.
He has performed and recorded with Santana, Paul Shaffer, Mamma Mia, Baz, The Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity and Criss Angel Believe, Greg Howe, Jason Robert Brown, Alan Menken, Disney’s The Lion King, Latin Grammy Awards, Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, Luis Fonsi, Mark Anthony, John Lucien, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jerry Gonzales, Olga Tañon, Elvis Crespo, Ilan Chester, Ricardo Arjona, Armando Manzanero, Luis Perico Ortiz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jerry Rivera, and The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra to name a few.
Pepe keeps an active schedule working as an independent artist, based in Las Vegas Nevada. He is currently performing with his solo project “The Groove Culture Band”, which is dedicated to promote Afro-Puerto Rican folklore with contemporary music. In addition to performing, he is also a drum instructor for the Division of Jazz and Commercial Music at the University of Las Vegas Nevada
Plan B, Friendly Fires and Tom Misch
Born in Slovakia, Jozef began his career in playing world percussion amongst a wide range of artists and ensembles. His first international tour in 2006 paved the path to a further musical career.
Since arriving in London, performing and recording with groups and artists across a wide range of genres, diverse music environment has reshaped his eclectic sound of the modern percussionist.
As an independent percussionist, Jozef has performed with Grammy and multi-award winning artists such as Sean Paul, Plan B, Tom Misch, Lethal Bizzle, Krept & Konan, Friendly Fires, Shola Ama, Fuse ODG and Sarkodie among many others.
As an educator and music accompanist, Jozef has been working for British and International leading dance conservatoires and institutions such as The Royal Academy of Dance, English National Ballet, Trinity Laban Conservatoire and Drum Works-Barbican Centre Artistic Associate with the Guildhall School of Music.
Pete Escovedo Sheila E. The E. Family
As a child, Juan taught himself to play bongos, congas, trap drums, timbales, percussion, and other instruments. When he turned 14, he went from studying his father, Pete Escovedo, to proudly performing with him.
Juan has toured, performed, and recorded with many artists, including Prince, Tony Toni Tone, Patti LaBelle, Amerie, Chingy, Jody Watley, Lou Bega, MC Hammer, Lionel Richie, En Vogue, El DeBarge, Freddie Hubbard, Barry White, Herbie Hancock, Teri Lynn Carrington, Bobby McFerrin, Tito Puente, Cheryl Lynn, Raphael Saadiq, Bobby Womack, his sister Sheila E., and, still, his father, Pete Escovedo. Juan tours, writes, and records as a solo artist, with his father's Latin Jazz Orchestra, and with the E. Family: his father, his brother, Peter Michael Escovedo, and his sister Sheila E. The E.Family's latest CD, Now & Forever, which features guest artists Prince, George Duke, Raphael Saddiq, Gloria Estefan, Joss Stone, Israel Houghton, and Earth, Wind & Fire, includes three songs co-written and produced by Juan.
Independent/Ana Barbara
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Internationally renowned Grammy and Latin Grammy Award Winner as a supporting Musician Julio Figueroa, begun playing music at the age of ten. In 1993 he moved to Los Angeles, California, and since then has performed live with an incredible list of International artists such as Cirque Du Soleil, Donna Summer, Jennifer Lopez, Andrea Bocelli, Baby Face, Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Trevi, Diego Boneta, RBD, Cristian Castro, La 5ta Estación, Thalia, Joan Sebastian, Juan Gabriel, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Alejandro Sans, Chayanne, Emmanuel, David Pack, Los Enanitos Verdes, Paul Baloche, Ron Kenoly, Michael W Smith, Salvador, and Kirk Whalum amongst many other great artists.
As a recording session artist, Julio has played in hundreds of recordings including sessions for BB King, Michael Jackson, Jose Feliciano, Patti LaBelle, Juan Gabriel, Joan Sebastian, The Gypsy Kings, Cristian Castro, Ana Barbara, RBD, Diego Boneta, Gloria Trevi, and many others.
Studio/Independent
Junito Castro was born in Bayamon Puerto Rico. Since 1988 he has toured around the world and has worked on and recorded with over 75 albums throughout his career. He has also worked as a musical director with Michael Stuart Y Luisito Carrion, Orchestra Querubin Y Ezequiel Colon. He is a humble and well respected percussionist to all the salseros in the world
Rocky Dawuni, Pharalle Williams, Kendrick Lamar
Kahlil Cummings is an acclaimed drummer and has played with numerous reputable groups including Ballet Folclórico Do Brasil, Sona Sané, Abalayé, Debbie Allen Dance Company, Les Amazones, and Viver Brasil. Kahlil honed his rhythmic gifts with noted teachers including Mestre Amen Santo, Jose Ricardo Sousa, Kobla Ladzekpo, and Mabiba Bagne. His compositions can be heard on his debut album Iniké Baba, recorded live in Guinea, West Africa. Kahlil was the musical director for opening numbers for both the NAACP Image Awards and the Choreographers Awards in 2004. Since then, he has performed with several renowned artists such as Janelle Monae (American Idol), Shakira (music video “Waka Waka), and R. Kelly. In addition, Kahlil performed with Pharrell Williams and Kendrick Lamar in the 2015 and 2016 Grammy Awards, respectively. His prolific abilities have even taken him as far as Japan, where he produced and recorded music for Takarazuka, an elite Japanese theater ensemble, and for Pomba, a well-known fitness company. Currently Kahlil plays and tours with international recording artist Rocky Dawuni, and can be heard on the album “Branches of the Same Tree,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album of the Year in 2016. He is now the musical director for Viver Brasil, Los Angeles’s premier Afro-Brazilian dance company.
Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Feeder, Ed Sheeran, Ward Thomas, Passenger
Karl Brazil’s precision, power and impeccable feel have established him as one of the UK’s most respected and busiest drummers. Known for his ambidextrous ability of drumming opposite to his own opposing set up - using a right handed drum kit with his left handed and footed style of playing - he is a versatile musician and clinician. Karl has recorded and toured with a long list of high profile artists, most notably, Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Take That, Jason Mraz, Starsailor, James Morrison, Olly Murs, Leona Lewis, One direction, Westlife Girls Aloud, Alison Moyet, Natalie Imbruglia, Paloma Faith and Welsh indie-rockers Feeder. He was voted best pop session drummer in the world on the MusicRadar 2015 poll.
Santana
Every musician has an idol, a performer or group that embodies what they wish to become. From his childhood in San Francisco, Karl Perazzo wanted to play with Santana. "I used to play with the band when I was younger," he jokes, "but then the needle broke." However, young Perazzo did have considerable talent, and had played with Cal Tjader, Malo, Ray Obiedo, Prince and Andy Narell by the time he was 12. His life-long dream was realized in 1991 when he joined Santana to play timbales. Perazzo has also performed and recorded with Mariah Carey, Dizzy Gillespie, Phish, The United Nations Orchestra and John Lee Hooker. He also has several side projects which he leads, including the popular Salsa band, Avance. In addition to performing and recording, Perazzo teaches percussion. Along with former Santana conguero Raul Rekow, Perazzo starred in LP's popular instructional video From Afro-Cuban to Rock, which breaks down the complex musical rhythms of Cuban percussion. Because of their unique chemistry and infectious teaching style, Perazzo and Rekow are a sure-fire hit with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Karl has teamed up with LP to create the LP Karl Perazzo Signature Series Timbales.
GORILLAZ & DAVID SANBORN
Karl Vanden Bossche’s family originally from Ghana, came to London in the early sixties. Karl who was born in London where he and grew up listening to reggae and soul because of his older brothers. Karl’s first instrument was bongos, congas, timbales, assorted percussion and then drumset. He went to gigs and met other musicians, asking questions about how they got started, where to go for jam sessions, etc. Karl was always in some kind of reggae or funk band, but his first break was joining a band called King Salsa were he meet some musicians who recommended him to more popular bands. Today, Karl is one of the leading percussionist in Europe who has played for such artists like, Pasadenas, Lighthouse Family, Robert Palmer, Incognito, Brand New Heavies, John Martin, Des’ree, Mark De Clive Lowe, Simply Red, Joss Stone, Sade, Ms. Dynamite, Basia, Blur, Natasha Bedingfield, Steve Winwood, Gorillaz, Mark Ronson, Jon Lucien, Frank Mccomb, Nigel Kennedy and more.
Spice Girls
Karlos was born in London, from a young age he attended a Pentecostal church where his love for music began. Eventually he took up percussion more seriously by the age of 12 and started playing with bands from the age of 16. Karlos was heavily influenced by records from the 70s and 80s, EW&F, Headhunters etc and pop songs on the radio in the 80s.
His style could be described as more funk, groove based and incorporated drum kit later in his career. Karlos is known for playing both kit and percussion and has had a long and successful career playing for several artists touring the world many and playing on several #1 records in the UK. He also teaches in schools with an emphasis on timing and a greater understanding of the role of drums and percussion in popular music. Karlos is currently touring with the Spice Girls and also is working on a solo album under his artist name of ‘Karlito’ which features his ability to play several other instruments as well as percussion & drums.
Post Modern Jukebox, Beat Mosiac, Session Musician, Independent
Kassandra Kocoshis has been playing percussion since she was eleven years old.
She received her BM in Percussion Performance from DePaul University and her
MFA from the California Institute of the Arts, where she studied with Randy
Gloss. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA, where she specializes in
pop, R&B, soul, new music, rock, and flamenco.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Kassandra has performed with Carlos Vives, Young
the Giant, Vahagni, Mickey Hart, Shaherah White, Adam del Monte, Hamed
Nikpay, and many more. She is a member of California soul band Beat Mosaic
and Las Chikas.
Kassandra has recorded with artists from a diverse array of genres, including
Meghan Trainor, Vahagni, Soul Scratch, Beat Mosaic, and many others. She has
recently contributed percussion to the Grammy nominated album Love Language
by South African flutist, Wouter Kellerman and can be seen in Postmodern
Jukebox's video "The Prayer" featuring American Idol stars Pia Toscano and
Stefano Langone.
Josh Groban
Kaz Rodriguez is a professional drummer/clinician, music director, educator, musical programmer, producer.
Originally inspired by musical heroes such as Stewart Copeland and Simon Philips, Kaz has become a much in-demand drummer with the world of contemporary music.
He began working with a range of pop artists including Jessie Ware, Sinead Harnett, Rita Ora, Plan B, Jay Sean and Cirque du Soleil. Currently on tour with multi platinum Selling artist Josh Groban.
His musical career went into the stratosphere once he started creating backing tracks for other drummers, with YouTube lit up by players jamming to workouts such as his ‘7 To The Power of 6’ and ‘Fusion Shed Vol. 2’, and his current gold selling album 'THOUGHTS' vol.3.
Since then, Kaz has made fans in a range of musical legends such as Travis Barker, Aaron Spears, Tony Royster and Chris Coleman, Jonathan 'Sugarfoot' Moffett (Michael Jackson) and continues to go from strength to strength using the latest tech to enhance his playing and compositions.
Steely Dan
Keith Carlock has recorded and/or toured with such musical luminaries as John Mayer, Sting, Steely Dan, James Taylor, TOTO, Christopher Cross, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Diana Ross, Faith Hill, The Blues Brothers Band, Mike Stern, Leni Stern, David Johansen and the Harry Smiths, Richard Bona, Chris Botti, Wayne Krantz, Rudder, Harry Belafonte, Oz Noy, Larry Carlton, Clay Aiken, Rascal Flatts, Paula Abdul and Grover Washington, Jr, to name a few. Keith was voted number 1 Pop drummer, number 1 Fusion drummer, and number 1 Best All-Around drummer in Modern Drummer’s 2009 Readers Poll.
Independent, Educator & Clinician
Kenny Aronoff is one of the world’s most influential and in demand session and live drummers. Rolling Stone Magazine, in fact, cited him as one of the “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” and Modern Drummer named him #1 Pop/Rock Drummer and #1 Studio Drummer for five consecutive years. The list of artists he’s worked with on the road and/or in the studio reads like a who’s who of the music industry, and includes: John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, The Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Gibbons, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Bob Seger, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Steven Tyler, Dave Grohl, Chris Cornell, Garth Brooks, Don Henley, Melissa Etheridge, Keith Urban, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Beyonce, Mick Jagger, Slash, Bonnie Raitt, Ricky Martin, Santana, Crosby Stills and Nash, Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, Vince Gill, The Buddy Rich Big Band, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, Hans Zimmer and many others.
With a style of playing that combines power and finesse, his unique and versatile sound has been instrumental on over 60 Grammy-nominated or awarded recordings representing over 300 million in sales, with more than 1300 that were RIAA certified Gold, Platinum or Diamond.
In addition to performing and creating amazing music, Kenny is an inspirational speaker and author. His book Sex, Drums, Rock ‘n’ Roll! The Hardest Hitting Man in Show Business was released in 2016. This is not about sex; it is about the same passion that drives us all to be the best we can be doing what we love with those with whom we want to share our talents.
Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, Fuego Tropical World Music Ensemble, Soulsa De Fargo
Dr. Kenyon Williams has worked throughout the United States as a professional performer, educator, arranger, and clinician. He has performed as a guest soloist and section member for numerous orchestras throughout the country and currently serves as Principal Percussionist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony. Dr. Williams is a Professor of Music at Minnesota State University Moorhead where he directs the acclaimed “Fuego Tropical” Percussion and World Music ensemble as well as the MSUM Percussion Ensemble. His interests have taken him abroad which led him to found and direct three professional ensembles: “Poco Fuego” steel drum quintet, “Soulsa de Fargo” salsa band, and the "Varying Degrees" percussion trio. In 2013, he released his first solo album, "Homage," which features a wide variety of newly commissioned works for percussion.
American Idol, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Kevin Ricard’s versatility and musicality are the most important things he brings to each recording or performance. He brings a sense of groove to Rock, Jazz, Pop, and R&B styles, and adds authenticity to Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian styles. Whether it’s the Brazilian groove of Sergio Mendes, the timeless music of Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie, or playing with legends like Steve Winwood, Kenny Loggins, or the late, great Celia Cruz, Kevin shows he can move smoothly between diverse styles and why he’s in constant demand. Kevin's long list of recording credits includes Joe Zawinul, B.B. King, Natalie Cole, Wayne Shorter, Marc Anthony, Kenny Loggins, Juan Gabriel, Queen Latifah, Enrique Iglesias, Jill Scott, Take 6 and numerous others.
Kevin has also performed on a number of movie scores including The Hangover, The Pink Panther 1 & 2, The Great Debaters, Traitor, Speed, The Adams Family Values, A Bugs Life, Woman On Top and many more. Kevin's professional television career includes being a member of the house bands for Dancing with the Stars, America's Got Talent, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and American Idol.
LP is proud to offer Kevin’s innovative, patent-pending, top-tuning Signature Cajon (LP1424) that allows the player shape the tone to their exact specifications.
Steve Tyrell, Diane Schuur, Tom Scott
For the past 11 years Kevin Winard has toured the world with singer Steve Tyrell. He's recorded on numerous CDs of Steve's as well as played on recordings which Steve has produced. The most recent are with artists Neal McCoy and Kristin Chenoweth. His drumming and percussion talents also led him to perform and/or record with artists such as Sergio Mendes, Doc Severinsen, The Captain & Tennille, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra Jr., Rosemary Clooney, John Rowles, Delaney Bramlett, Roger Williams, Carol Burnett, Hal Linden, Ray Anthony, Les Brown, Billy Barty, Patty Andrews of The Andrew Sisters, Mavis Rivers, Captain Jack McDuff, Jim Nabors, Téka, Joyce Partise, Dolores Scozzesi, Lauren White, Mark Winkler, Marylyn Horne, Marilyn Maye, Christine Ebersole, Gloria Loring and Debby Boone. Kevin has also been working with studio legend Tom Scott and with the legendary Diane Schuur. In addition, Kevin has produced projects for other artists.
M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, Kehlani, Krewella, Amber Coffman, TV on the Radio
Kiran, who performs as Madame Gandhi, is a Los Angeles-based musician, activist and music industry thinker, listed as Forbes 30 Under 30 music class of 2019. She has toured professionally drumming for M.I.A and Thievery Corporation and currently DJs, drums and produces music under her own name. Her song “The Future is Female” climbed to #8 on the Viral US Top 50 Spotify Charts following the 2017 Women’s March and her solo EP Voices has received critical acclaim from outlets like The New York Times, Vogue, FADER, Billboard and Paper Mag. Kiran holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, Political Science and Women’s Studies from Georgetown and an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2015, she ran the London Marathon free-bleeding to combat period stigma around the world, sparking a global viral conversation about how we treat menstruation in various cultures. She now travels often to perform and speak about modern gender equality, and is also working on her full-length album. Madame Gandhi’s mission is to elevate and celebrate the female voice.
Sangbarala Percusion
Born into a family of musicians, Kristian Díaz was introduced to music at an early age by the music of his grandfather and father, which included the traditional rhythms of southern Mexico. Kristian and his brother studied oriental African percussion as teenagers. In 1995, they formed the group, Sangbarala Percussion. Kristian has accompanied several musicians from Mexico and the United States including Emmanuel, Kit Holmes, Romulo Castro, Guillermo Anderson , George Voland, Azul Violeta , Grant Maloy Smith to name but a few. Among the highlights of his career are the performance at the National Auditorium, the Miguel Covarruvias Hall, the National Arts Center (CNA), among others. You can hear him play at the famous Antone's Nightclub with local groups and at different Jazz Club in Mexico.
O" by Cirque du Soleil
Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Kurt has been a part of the Latin and Brazilian scene in Los Angeles for years, performing Latin and Brazilian artists like Poncho Sanchez, Clare Fisher, Fred Ramirez, Montuno, Bien Suave, Susie Hansen and Bobby Redfield, L.A. Samba, Embra Samba, Feijoada Completa,Katia Moraes, Carlos Castro Neves, Moacir Santos and Kleber Jorge. After years of touring and performing with Sergio Mendes, Paul Anka, Quincy Jones, Kenny G.,David Foster, Tania Maria, Diane Schuur, Natalie Cole, Diana Ross, Marilyn McCoo he is currently the percussionist for "O" by Cirque du Soleil. Kurt has been traveling to Brazil to perform with Escola de Samba “Portela” in Rio and with “Vai-Vai” in Sao Paulo. Kurt Is also the Director of World Percussion at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. "I’ve had a long and successful career in music and could not have done this without the support of everyone at LP and the finest percussion instruments. in the world.”
Independent/Broadway Shows - Come From Away
Larry is known as a "musical chameleon", making him one of the top-call freelance drummers in NYC. His eclectic resume spans all genres including major pop/rock artists, jazz, country, symphony orchestras and for the past 20 years, he’s made his home on Broadway, where he is currently playing the hit Broadway musical, "Come From Away".
His resume of Broadway shows is extensive, including performing on over 30 different shows, including the 12-time Tony Award winning hit Broadway musical, "The Producers", as well as the rockabilly runaway hit “Million Dollar Quartet”. He also maintains a busy schedule filled with studio recording projects for artists, film and TV jingles, along with live gigs around New York, major artist tours, and masterclasses across the globe. He can also be seen frequently on TV, performing on all major TV variety shows based in NYC. Larry is thrilled to call NYC home, and to be making music with LP. Recordings/Performances with: Sebastian Bach, Melissa Etheridge, Nick Jonas, Vanessa Williams, Daniel Radcliffe, Heather Headley, Anika Noni Rose, Doug Stone (Multi Platinum Nashville Recording Artist), and the legendary 1960's band, The Mamas & The Papas. His impressive resume also includes performances with jazz piano virtuoso Geoff Keezer, Indie hard rockers SuffraJett, Latin trombonist Andre Stephani, and the Minneapolis based, nationally acclaimed Cedar Avenue Big Band.
Leon began to play African drum rhythms in 1967 and studied for ten years with Nigerian master drummer Babatunde Olatunji at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Leon has had theatrical training and appeared regularly on the PBS daily television show Zoom. He is an accomplished musician and performs regularly in numerous musical genres including jazz, reggae, and rock. Leon has appeared on the works of many recording artists and has self-produced four CDs and cassette tapes of djembe rhythms and songs.
In 1977 Leon studied under the directorship of Senegalese master drummer Ibrahim Camara (former drummer for the National Ballet of Senegal) while a member of the Bokan-Deye Dance Company.
Leon studied and performed from 1979 to 1981 in Surinam, South America and Trinidad Tobago, and the West Indies. He continued his studies during 1982 in Senegal and Gambia. He traveled to South Africa in 1991-1992 where he performed with returning exiles Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya, and Hugh Masekela. From 1993 until 1997, Leon toured the world with Ben Harper.
Mobley is the founder and artistic and musical director of Da Lion and Djimbe West African Drummers and Dancers. He founded these two groups in order to help preserve African cultures, and present authentic traditional West African-American dance and music. Through these two groups, Leon continues his mission of educating others about the West African people, their customs, history, and cultural arts as well as their influence and ties with people in the USA.
George Benson
Lilliana is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, percussionist, and actress living in the Los Angeles. Born into the legendary De Los Reyes family she has a natural inclination for rhythm making.
Originally a self-taught musician, Lilliana honed her skills at the prestigious Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. In addition to performing in the Los Angeles area, she is currently touring throughout the world with ten-time award winning artist, George Benson.
Faithless. Brand New Heavies. Tony Hadley. Nik Kershaw. Belinda Carlisle.
Lily is percussionist & vocalist for a host of artists, most recently with Faithless. She tours the world playing LP instruments because "they're the best". She also writes & records original material & is looking to release a new album of original music in 2017.
Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D Rivera, Dave Valentin
At the age fourteen, Little Johnny joined Orquesta Colon, the youngest Latin band in New York City and recorded two albums with them. Johnny then moved to Puerto Rico with his parents and joined La Sonora Ponceña. After playing bongoes with the band for a year a half he switched to congas, which rekindled the love affair he had begun with this instrument as a small child. During the sixteen years Little Johnny played with La Sonora Ponceña, he traveled the world and recorded eighteen highly respected albums with them. Currently, Little Johnny is touting extensively with the winner of ten Grammy awards, Eddie Palmieri. In addition, Johnny continues to work at studio sessions and perform with many of the biggest and most respected acts in latin music including his own bands. Johnny's first solo salsa album effort "Paso Gigantes Remix" has been very well received by critics and music fans like. Johnny also wrote and produced every song on this CD, showcasing his arranging and playing abilities.
Juan Luis Guerra 440
Luis Alberto Mojica Almon, better known as Luis Mojica, from Santo Domingo started his studies of music at the age of 5. His professional career started in 1994 with Manuel Jimenez, whom he worked for 5 years. He then worked with the several merengue groups such as "Los Potros del Caballo", Raffy Matias, Angelito Villalona, Ruby Perez, and renowned songwriter Jandy Feliz, composer of “Amor Narcótico". Luis also recorded for artists such as Juan Luis Guerra, Joseph Fonseca, Eddy Herrera, Daniel SantaCruz, Adalgisa Pantaleón, Gisselle, and Milly Quezada to name just a few. In 2001 he started his tenure with Juan Luis Guerra y 440 and continues to work with him. He also collaborates as a producer with Milly Quezada as well as recording with notable arrangers Manuel Tejada, Victor Waill, Juan Valdés, Leo Pimentel, Armando Oliveros, Ramón Orlando, Luis del Rosario, Junior Cabrera, and Richard Marcel.
Angelique Kidjo
Magatte Sow, or as many people know him Magatte Fall, is a two-time Grammy Award winning percussionist that represents the best of both worlds. Coming from a long line of musicians and griots (oral historians), Magatte was raised as an African with a strong connection to his culture in Los Angeles, CA; and it is these two dynamics that has created the vibrant artist he is today. Debuting in his parents' West African Drum and Dance company at the age of two, Magatte would later work with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Kirk Franklin, Rob Thomas, Baba Maal, Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, Akon, and Angelique Kidjo; which he has been her official percussionist for over nine years. Magatte continues to also travel back to Senegal to restore keeping that connection alive through music. Though he has experienced so much at such a young age, Magatte Sow's future is very bright; and he will continue to be a trailblazer in every style of music that he approaches.
Carmen to Havana & Back, Pedrito Martínez , Rumberos del Callejón
Manny Marquez was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela where he began his thorough musical study at a mere four years of age. Manny is known for his excellence in percussion thanks to his certification in Music from the Simón Bolivar Musical Conservatory and rigorous training. He excels in the instruments of the timbal, the tumbadora, the bongo, drum kit, and traditional Venezuelan instruments. Manny’s mastery of various genres and a reputation for creativity, precision, and perfectionism as a recording artist has lead him to work, perform and record with an extensive variety of internationally renowned artists such as Eric Clapton, Kenny Garret, Paquito D’Rivera, La India, Chino y Nacho, Pedrito Martinez, , Gilberto Santa Rosa, Oscar De Leon, and many more. Other noteworthy accomplishments in Manny’s quickly expanding career include both Latin and American Grammy nominations, and participation in both Broadway and off Broadway musical productions.
Ben Vereen
Marc is the Dean of the College of Performing Arts at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, & Professor of Drumset. He’s performed with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Pat Martino, Tom Kennedy, Robin Eubanks, Stanley Clarke, Christian McBride, Tom Jones, Mel Torme, Stevie Wonder, Lee Ritenour, Natalie Cole, the Boston Pops, & the Dallas, San Diego, Buffalo, Missouri, Honolulu, Nashville, and Philadelphia Orchestras. Now touring with Ben Vereen, he is also a regular contributor to Modern Drummer Magazine and a member of their International Education Team.
Snarky Puppy, Banda Magda, Sofía Ribeiro
Marcelo Woloski is a Latin-Grammy winning percussionist, drummer and composer from Buenos Aires based in New York City. His broad array of sounds, versatility, masterful skill, charismatic personality and unique approach to percussion setups and orchestration has made him the to-go person for recording artists, producers and arrangers throughout the globe.
While very active in the NY scene, the Berklee College of Music graduated percussionist, is also constantly touring the world with different artists and groups like Snarky Puppy, Banda Magda, and the group of Sofía Ribeiro. Performing and recording credits include grammy winning artists such as Ruben Blades, Susana Baca, Marta Gomez, Lalah Hathaway, The Kronos Quartet, and Arturo O´Farril. Marcelo’s most recent work as a composer can be heard on Snarky Puppy’s last release Culcha Vulcha - Grammy nominated for best contemporary instrumental album 2017 - that includes his composition Palermo, and more to come in his upcoming debut album to be released on 2017.
Studio/Independent
Marco Iannetta started playing the drums at 14 years old and few years later won important competitions: "Drummer United" in 2003 and "Perc Fest" in 2005. In 2007 he made the educational DVD entitled "10 Pedals" which is a faithful description of Marco's percussive intuitions. Adams called him to play in the "World Drum Festival" in Holland where Marco worked on stage alongside the artist of the caliber of Steve Gadd and Todd Sucherman. In 2009 and 2013 his mentor Terry Bozzio called him to play in Los Angeles to record two episodes of "the art of drumming" for the dedicated channel "Drum Channel". In 2016, in collaboration with the DW drums, he created his own invention, which is marketed with the name "Pancake Gong Drum". In 2017 the Axis Percussion, created the hi-hat (arm h.h.), based on Marco's original drawing. In 2019 Marco Marco presents the didactic book dedicated to the development of the single pedal technique and entitled: “Studies relative to the Pedal Technique”.
Thalia, Lila Downs, Gilberto Santa Rosa
Marcos J. Lopez is one of the most promising multi-genre percussionists breaking out of his native Puerto Rico. He made his path known with salsa group N’Klabe. He currently tours with superstar Thalía, Multi-Grammy award winner Lila Downs and Plena Libre. Marcos has performed with the Max Weinberg Orchestra, Issac Delgado, Wisin & Yandel and salsa veterans like Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santa Rosa, La India and Tito Nieves. Marcos has appeared in Good Morning America and the Late Night Show with Seth Meyers along pop duo Karmin. He has appeared in countless recordings, including two major studio albums: ‘Ceremony’ with jazz legend Dave Liebman and ‘Maldades’ with Grammy winning artists Humberto Ramirez and Oskar Cartaya. As an educator, he has given clinics at The Montreal Drum Fest, PASIC, Berklee and the Percussion Festival in The PRCM. Influenced by family, like his grandfather Sammy Ayala, one of the founders of Cortijo y su Combo, Marcos began playing percussion at age two. He won a full scholarship from Berklee College of Music and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Music Business Management in 2011.
La India, Tito Nieves, Ismael Miranda and more
A versatile percussionist, producer, and Grammy Award-Winning engineer, Marcos has been at the forefront of creating a fresh new sound within the Salsa genre for over a decade. Born into a musical family of Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, Marcos was gifted a bongo at the age of three, and never looked back. He has since turned into one of his generation’s most respected and sought after percussionists, performing with salsa superstars La India, Tito Nieves, Ismael Miranda, Jerry Rivera, Obie Bermudez, and the legendary Issac Delgado among many others. He is currently working out of New York City in varied roles as a percussionist, producer and engineer with rising artists from across Latin America. You can also catch his hours of intimate bongo instruction on the Congachops.com platform.
World Percussionist, Independent Grooversity
A contemporary percussionist and educator, Marcus Santos has performed for the president of Brazil, TEDx, Montreal Drum Fest and with the “One World Band” produced by MTV. He has been honored with the KOSA Recognition award, Outstanding Arts Performer Award by the Brazilian Immigrant Center as well as Outstanding Percussionist Award by Berklee College of Music. Marcus has lead workshops on Afro-Brazilian percussion and music for Social Change in universities and conventions around the world such as Carnegie Hall, PASIC and Harvard. He’s currently the director of the Grooversity Global Drumming Network project that includes twenty four drumming groups in the US, France, Germany and Canada.
Maia Sharp, Linda Tillery, Ann Hampton Callaway
Maria is originally from Camaguey, Cuba, raised in New Orleans. She began her musical career playing various night clubs in the New Orleans French Quarter. She conducts workshops, master classes, concerts and clinics at schools, International Music Conferences, Colleges and Universities. She has traveled the globe to perform at major venues where she shared both stage and studio with artists such as Barry White, El Chicano, Klymaxx, Rita Coolidge, Nell Carter, Angela Bofill and others. As the recipient of the “Outstanding Player of the Year Award” from the Percussion Institute of Technology. She joined the Musicians Institute faculty and later authored the Latin core curriculum for the Brazilian and Afro-Cuban classes. Maria’s educational articles have appeared in Modern Drummer, Percussive Notes, Drum Magazines and LP Drum Instructors Only.
Lord Huron
Mark Barry is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, and founding member of, and drummer for, the Los Angeles-based band, Lord Huron. He studied drums and percussion at Michigan State University with Gerald Cleaver, Randy Gelispie, and Francisco Mora-Catlett. His playing uniquely blends world percussion and rock drumming to create a distinctly layered sound.
Jono Manson, John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours, Manzanares
Since the mid- 1980s, Mark Clark has maintained a touring presence nationally and globally with The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West (1986-90), Ottmar Liebert (1992-2002), Jono Manson (1995-2015) and John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours (2011- ). Representative of his numerous television appearances are performances with Ottmar Liebert (Jay Leno, The Today Show, Regis and Kathy Lee, Univision Mexico) and John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours (Lopez Tonight). He has appeared on more than 50+ recordings with those by Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor and Ben Taylor, Ottmar Liebert, John Popper, Jono Manson, Cat Stevens, Crystal Bowersox, Kip Winger and the 2011 debut of John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours representing his most notable work.
Studio, Independent, Clinician
As an all-round percussionist Martin worked with many of the leading bands and artists in the Netherlands and has also played, recorded or performed as guest with the following international artists: Steve Winwood, Incognito, Prince, Lila Downs, Andy Narell, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Snarky Puppy, George Benson, George Duke, Donna Summer, En Vogue, Santana, James Taylor, Zucchero, David Sanchez, Shaggy, BBC big band, Alex Acuna, Rich Wyman, Demis Roussos, Candy Dulfer, Golden Earring and many more. He teaches at the World Music Department of the Rotterdam Conservatory and at the ArtEZ Popacademy in Enschede. In 1995 he received the award for ‘outstanding service to Jazz education’ in Los Angeles and a lifetime achievement award from the president of Curacao in 2014! U.S. Magazine ‘Drum’ awarded Martin as one of the 4 best clinicians worldwide! Martin hosts his own YouTube channel ‘Martin Verdonk Master Sessions’ and records percussion tracks from his home studio MV Percussion.
University of Missouri-St. Louis, Studio/Independent
Matthew Henry is in his sixteenth year as Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Specializing in the drumming of the Malinke ethnic group of West Africa and Afro-Cuban styles, he has presented numerous clinics, master classes, and residencies focused on these topics. Performance credits include the Who, Michael McDonald, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Muny Orchestra, Musica SLESA, Black Magic-The Santana Experience, Funky Butt Brass Band, and Dave Grelle’s Playadors. Having played LP instruments in the pits and on stage for broadway shows On Your Feet, Kinky Boots, The Wiz, Billy Elliot, Cinderella, and Anastasia to sell out crowds, Matthew is a proud member of the LP Family.
Independent
Grammy Nominated Drummer and Percussionist Mauricio Herrera Tamayo is from Holguin, Cuba. By 14 he began studying percussion and graduated from the Jose Maria Ochoa Conservatory in Holguin. In 1994 he moved to La Habana to broaden his horizons, where he played, toured, and recorded with Cuba’s greatest artists. He is currently based in New York City pursuing numerous recording and performance projects. He has played, recorded and toured with: David Sanchez, Stefon Harris, Nicholas Payton Christian Scott, Lila Downs, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Richard Bona,Manuel Valera and the New Cuban Express, Alfredo de la Fe, Bryan Lynch, Luis Perdomo, Ignacio Berroa, Steve Coleman & Five Elements, Jacky Terrasson, Lew Soloff, Marc Ribot, Candido Camero, Yerba Buena, Robby Ameen featuring Ruben Blades, Yosvany Terry Afrocuban Roots and many others. Mauricio has been an educator at multiple Music Conservatories and has taught Master Classes in several prestigious universities like Berkley and Harvard.
Mauricio Zottarelli Group
The brazilian-born and New York City–based drummer and composer Mauricio Zottarelli has been on the forefront of the Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music circles for many years. He has worked with many important and notable artists of today, crossing over many musical styles: Hiromi, Eliane Elias, Prasanna, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Esperanza Spalding, Keiko Matsui, Richard Bona, Paquito D’Rivera, Richard Galliano, Chuck Loeb, Chico Pinheiro, Cláudio Roditi, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Mike Pope, Eldar, Ivan Lins, Carmen Souza, Rosa Passos, Dom Salvador, Jovino Santos Neto, Oriente Lopez, Gustavo Assis Brasil, Hendrik Meurkens, and many others. In 2012 he won the most important music award in Brazil, the “Brazilian Music Awards”, with legendary pianist Dom Salvador. Mauricio has 4 albums out as a leader/co-leader: Dig Trio (2003), 7 Lives (2009), MOZIK (2011), & Glasses, No Glasses (2014).
George Benson, Incognito, The Brand New Heavies
Max Beesley is an actor and musician from Manchester UK. At 11 he won a scholarship to the prestigious Chethams school of music where he studied percussion piano and composition. As well as being a classically trained musician he developed a strong connection to jazz Rand B and soul. Sighting Herbie Hancock Steve Gadd Bill Evans Nana Vascocellos and Giovani Hidalgo as his main inspirations. At 18 he won 5 scholarships to The Royal Academy, Trinity college of music, The Guildhall school of music and drama The royal Colledge of music and The Royal Northern colledge of music. Tuned percussion and Latin percussion being his foremost strengths. He worked with Leonard Bernstein and Michelle Le Grand during this period. At 19 he joined Paul Weller's band as a session musician recording and touring for the next 2 years. He became one of the most sought after multiinstrumentalist in the session business playing with diverse artists ranging from Red Rodney, Charles McPherson, Bobby Shew, to Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Earth Wind And Fire, George Benson, Mr James Brown, George Michael, Jamiroqui and Robbie Williams. Currently scoring films and writing his own album and doing sessions on either percussion piano or drums.
Paradigma, Mussorgsky College Of Music
One of Russia’s leading drummers, Max Klots is an authoritative jazz/fusion performer, teacher, clinician, session player, and the author of a popular series of drumming books and instructional DVDs. Max’s deep knowledge of drumming, natural artistry and exceptional communication skills make him an in-demand teacher and clinician with a fresh and unique approach to his methods and concepts all of which are recognized and approved by such master educators as Jim Chapin, Steve Smith, Dom Famularo, Bill Bruford, Peter Magadini, and others.
Independent
Drummer/ percussionist/ composer Meg Thomas has performed in musical realms that range from rock to calypso, avant-garde to spoken word, Latin-jazz to punk, and dance ensembles to percussion ensembles. Her drum and percussion set-ups range from the traditional ideas to unique set-ups that incorporate a vast range of percussion instruments. She received her degree in Music from Millikin University and she founded and runs the Chicago Women’s Drumming Group. Meg is a Vic Firth Private Drum and Percussion Teacher, teaches lessons out of her studio in Chicago, and has been a panelist for education seminars and panels. In Meg’s solo music project she composes and records using percussion instruments exclusively, weaving together world flavored percussion pieces. In addition, she plays recording sessions, performs with an array of bands and ensembles, and has toured the U.S. and Europe. Meg won a Drummie in Drum! Magazine's 2010 Drummie Awards as runner-up "Rising Star Percussionist," was named “Musician of the Month” for January 2013 by the Chicago Music Guide, and is endorsed by Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Evans Drumheads, LP Percussion, PureSound Percussion, and Humes & Berg Cases. www.MegThomasPercussion.com
Independent
Melena, born in Havana Cuba is a multi-talented percussionist and educator on Afro Cuban music history. She studied ethnomusicology at UCLA, where she received her B.A. and M.A. degrees, graduating with honors. She has toured and recorded with legendary artists such as: Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Julio Iglesias, Macy Gray, Chucho Valdes & Irakere, Francisco Aguabella, Ray de La Paz, Chino Nunez, Peru Negro, Eva Ayllone, Oscar Hernandez and more. Melena conducts master classes nationally and internationally. In 2016, Melena recorded with Cuba’s national treasure Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro, making history to be the first female instrumentalist to ever record and perform with the Septeto Nacional since their founding in 1927. Melena also fronts her own Afro Cuban Jazz and Salsa band performing at festivals worldwide. Melena is rightfully recognized as one of the most accomplished and proficient female percussionists in the Latin music community.
Lake Street Dive
Mike’s parents first met in a rock band outside Philadelphia in the early 70’s. Throughout his formative years, this auspicious family unit supported all of his stagebound aspirations by letting him join whatever kind of band he could find, inside school and out. It all eventually culminated in a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where Mike had the privilege of studying with drum heavyweights Bob Moses and Billy Hart. In addition to the profound education he received during his time there, his future career unwittingly began in collaboration with three fellow students; friends who would go on to form Lake Street Dive, a band that has been together now for fourteen years and tours full-time around the U.S. and abroad. Their journeys have taken them to gigs at the White House, NYC’s Town Hall with T. Bone Burnett, and Stephen Colbert’s comfy couch.
FIREHOUSE
Born in Richmond, VA Michael started playing drums at age 5. He played in school bands from 5th grade thru high school marching band. We started our first garage band at 14 and by 16 were playing the club scene in RVA. A few years later I auditioned for a band called White Heat which is now FireHouse. We played for years up and down the east coast trying to get a record deal. Finally in 1989 we landed a deal with Epic Records. Our debut album sold over 2 million copies and spawned 4 Billboard Hot 100 hits. Firehouse has gone on to record 9 albums selling over 7 million worldwide, 7 Hot 100 hits and winning an American Music Award. We just celebrated our 25th Year Anniversary together and are still going strong as ever, playing all over the world. It's truly been a dream come true and an amazing career. I'm very proud and honored to say I have been with the LP family since the early 90's. Big thank you to LP for all their support over the years. It's been and still is a great ride!!!
University Of Texas At San Antonio, Ritmos Unidos
Michael Mixtacki is an active performer and educator at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Michael has directed the Percussion Ensemble, Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz Ensembles at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. He has also performed with several ensembles, including Ire Elese Abure in Chicago, IL, Ritmos Unidos in Bloomington, IN, and Grupo Balança and the Madison Symphony Orchestra in Madison, WI. He can be heard on two Grammy nominated recordings with Wayne Wallace and Michael Spiro, and on two CDs with Ritmos Unidos.
Michael & The Rockness Monsters, Rockness Music
Michael Napolitano has created a blend of family music that is intelligent, full of humorous hooks, and drops slamming drum beats that will get your hips moving. The shows are packed with props, special effects, video and oodles of limitless energy. Michael is also the founder of Rockness Music who visits thousands of children a week inspiring the next generations of music makers with their educational music programing for parents and schools.
Wayne Wallace, Latin Jazz Quintet, Conjunto Karabali
Michael Spiro is a ten-time Grammy nominee, and has produced seminal recordings in the Latin music genre such as “Canto América”, “BataKetu”, “BataMbira”, and “Grupo Ilu-Aña”. His performing and recording credits cover an array of internationally known artists: from such pop artists as David Byrne, Carlos Santana and Charlie Watts, to Latin music icons Eddie Palmieri, Israel Lopez (Cachao) and Richard Egues, to such jazz luminaries as Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Hutcherson and McCoy Tyner. He also has an extended film score resume, and wrote several arrangements for the Tony award winning Broadway show BLAST! In addition to his academic position at Indiana University as Associate Professor of Percussion, Michael remains an extremely active performer and recording artist. His most recent CD “Canto America” is currently nominated for a Grammy in the Latin Jazz category. He co-leads one of the only remaining charanga groups in the United States, “Orquesta La Moderna Tradición”, and holds the conga drum chair in the internationally acclaimed and 2011, 2014 and 2015 Grammy nominated “Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet”.
James Taylor, Studio/Independent
World renowned Percussionist Michito Sanchez has performed on multiple Grammy Award winning and nominated recordings and has toured the World throughout his extensive career as a “Freelance” Multi-Percussionist in Los Angeles. Working with some of the biggest names in the Music Industry in Live, Studio and TV situations including…The Rolling Stones, Daughtry, Marcus Miller, Joe Zawinul, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Caetano Veloso, Michael Bubble, Juan Luis Guerra, Luis Miguel, Jaunes, Eric Benet , Apocalyptica, Train, Ricky Minor, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, The Grammy’s, The Latin Grammy’s, Kennedy Center Honors, Alan Silvestri and Don Henley, Glen Frey & Joe Walsh of the Eagles.
Now living in Europe, Michito is extending his talents and creative mind working in new musical situations while continuing to tour around the world. Michito will be touring with James Taylor on a North American tour in the summer and fall of 2021.
La Santa Cecilia
Miguel “Oso” Ramirez is the percussionist and one of the four founding members of the Grammy award-winning band La Santa Cecilia. LSC has placed Miguel at the forefront of a new “Bi-Cultural” movement in Latin music that has become a voice for new generations and the current music scene, a result of the hybridization of musical styles, language, and culture. With a total of seven records, 4 Grammy nominations, and several tours across the U.S. and Latin America, this local band from LA has quickly become a strong player in the international scene.
He has also performed, recorded, and shared the stage with Elvis Costello, Changuito, Ng la Banda, Neon Indian, Los Lobos, Fito Paez, Enrique Bunbury, Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Pepe Aguilar, among others. “Oso” as his friends and family call him, is also a member of the soul/funk band S.L.A.N.G Soul’love’n’Groove.
Educator, Performer & Composer
Miguel Miguelo Valdés was born in Havana, Cuba and comes from a highly musical family. He is a graduate form the Cuban National School of Art Instructors. After extensive training, Valdés soon found himself with a flourishing career and was performing all over Cuba with many talented musicians of different styles such as: Richard Egues, Emiliano Salvador, Raúl Planas, Xiomara Laugart, Afrocuban All Stars (Buena Vista Social Club),Celia Cruz, Israel Cachao López, Chocolate Almenteros, 'Patato' Valdes, Willy Chirino, Albita Rodriguez, Cotton Club Big Band, John Faddis big band, Mc Coy Tyner all Stars, Rachel Ferrer, Terell Stafford, Frank Owens, Ty Stephens, Debbie Sledge, Steve Turre, Chucho Valdés, Abdou Mboup, Matt Dilon and many others.
He has three of his own CD's and has recorded in more than forty different artists.
Monsieur Periné
Miguel’s musical journey began when he was 5 years old with his father Jairo Guerra and his uncle Dalmiro Guerra, percussionists, who taught him Colombian folklore. Miguel continued his studies in Havana, Cuba and when he returned to his hometown, Bogotá - Colombia, he began working with the well-known salsa orchestra called "La 33". Miguel currently plays in the band "Monsieur Periné", where he has developed as a percussionist and composer, the band has had the opportunity to participate in some of the most prestigious festivals in the world. They also have two Grammy nominations and they are Latin Grammy winners for "Best New Artist". Miguel has participated in several recordings such as the "Tite Curet Alonso Tribute", among others, as well as in films and musicals, and has collaborated as a musician and percussionist with various bands in his country. In addition to being a musician, he has a strong passion for the studies of Latin American folk rhythms where he has also become a teacher doing workshops in different countries around the world.
Independent
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Miguel "Papilon" Alvarez became interested in music at an early age, so his parents enrolled him in the Concervatorio De Musica in Santo Domingo. Papilon rapidly progressed and was invited to perform with the Orquesta Sinfonica.
When his family moved to New York City, Papilon, with his extensive knowledge of music, chose to join musical groups that were distinguished by their method of playing Merengue. In 1989, Papilon formed Orquesta of Madda Lake, and in 1990, he created the successful The Street Band, which played a popular style of Merengue. Papilon performed with international groups like the Zafiro Y Su Orquesta.
He also performed with orchestras like Ramon Orlando Y La Orquesta and with the Salsa band, Dominic Y Orquesta. More recently, he has also performed and/or recorded with many international artists including Angelo Y Su Conjunto, Madera Fina, Kiko Franko, Raulin Rosendo, Victor Wail, Rey Reyes, Jose Bello, Alex Matos, Miriam Cruz, Anthony Cruz, Ismael Rivera, Jr., Lalo Rodriguez, La Sophy, Chuchito Valdez, Venezuela, Hidemaro and Quarte to name just a few.
CALI2CUBA
Miguelito is currently traveling the globe recording his debut solo project as well as touring with PBS star and Emmy Award Winning Artist BENISE and Balkan World Band Moara Dulce. Performing around the world in diverse locations such as China, Romania, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba as well as across the United States.
Miguelito has had the pleasure to perform/record with world renowned artists such as: Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center Band, FOX Networks GLEE, Ozomatli, Brenda Navarrete, Septeto Nacional de Cuba, Bob Reynolds, Conjunto Chapottin, Los Rumberos de Cuba, Oscar Hernandez, Bob Mintzer, Luis Conte, El Son del Indio, Kenny Loggins, L.A. Impromptu Orchestra, Roni Benise, Moara Dulce, and more!
La Charanga Pachá
Considered one of the great Guiro players, Miguelito "Pachá" Pozo was born in Oriente, Cuba and came to the U.S. in 1958, at the age of three. In 1976, Pachá began to play with Orquesta Realidad. In 1980 Pachá started playing with the great flute player Jose Antonio Fajardo’s group Fajardo Y Sus Estrellas, until Fajardo’s death in 2001. Pachá rejoined the band playing guiro in 2002 under the direction of Fajardo, Jr. Pachá has shared the stage with many greats in Latin Music including Tito Puente, Machito, Larry Harlow, Tipica '73, Orquesta Broadway, Hector LaVoe, Charanga America, Tipica Novel, Adalberto Santiago and his Orchestra, Conjunto Libre, Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto, Pupi Lagaretta, Alfredo de la Fe, Dave Valentin, Javier Vasquez, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Conjunto Clasico, Grupo Facinacion, Hector Casanova, and many others during his long career.
Pacha is currently out there keeping the Charanga tradition alive as the bandleader of La Charanga Pachá.
Richie Kotzen, Steve Stevens, The Sayers Club
Mike Bennett is an internationally recognized drummer, percussionist, producer and composer for many of today’s top stars as well as legends of the music industry. His tremendous musicality and high energy performances has led DRUM! Magazine to call him, “a full fledged chameleon, showing restraint or blasting chops when called for, with a clean sound, metronomic feel and a distinctly melodic soloing style.” Modern Drummer Magazine agrees saying that Bennett is, “on the fast track… a versatile drummer who has built a reputation as one of L.A.’s finest.” Crossing many contemporary and world genres, Bennett has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Hilary Duff, Richie Kotzen, Andra Day, Mary Mary, Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, Common, Slash, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and many others. TV appearances include The Tonight Show, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America and The Today Show. Off stage, Bennett is a composer for networks including NBC, ABC, FX, HISTORY, DISCOVERY, MTV, VH1, HGTV, DISNEY CHANNEL, A&E, BRAVO and LIFETIME. Co-Owner of Music Evolutions Studios, Mike actively records and composes for projects around the world in his Los Angeles recording studio.
The Avett Brothers
Mike Marsh is a Grammy nominated drummer originally from Miami, FL. At 13 Mike received his first drum set as a gift from his Mom. He got his start in the Miami punk rock scene in the early 90’s which led to his 11 year journey in the Florida based band Dashboard Confessional. Being a Miami native, Mike has always had a love for Latin music and particularly Latin rhythms. In 2008 Rick Rubin hired Mike to play on The Avett Brothers major label debut and certified gold record “I & Love & You”. He’s been the full time recording and touring drummer for The Avett Brothers since 2013.
Janet Jackson
Renowned drummer, Mike Reid from Baltimore, Maryland began playing the drums at the early
age of 3. Mike’s professional drumming career dates back to over 16 years and has allowed him
to travel the world.
In 2009, Reid was asked to fill in for the drummer who played with Pharrell Williams & N.E.R.D.
It was during this gig where he knew he had to be professional as well as serious about what
he was doing and where his career was getting ready to go.
Since then, Reid has had the opportunity to travel the world and play for artists such as Janet
Jackson ( Vegas residency 2019 and SOTW Tour), Rihanna (2015-2016 Anti World Tour),
Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Patti Labelle,
Smokey Robinson, Pharrell, Alicia Keys, Ne-yo, Eminem and many more. Mike has also been
the house band drummer for many television and award shows such as, The Four on Fox
(Season Two), March For Our Lives, 2015, BET Awards, 2017 & 2018 Soul Train Awards among
many more.
Shawn Mendes, Camilla Cabello, Conor Maynard, Francesco Yates, and Cody Simpson
Toronto native Mike Sleath is one of Canada's brightest rising musicians touring the world with the likes of Shawn Mendes, Camilla Cabello, Conor Maynard, Francesco Yates, and Cody Simpson among others.
Mike has appeared on countless network television programs and award shows including Saturday Night Live, The American Music Awards, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Ellen, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and many more.
His innate ability to read an audience and deliver a dynamic live show has afforded Mike the opportunity to perform in the company of world renowned acts like Sting, Celine Dion, David Foster, Earth Wind and Fire, Green Day, One Republic, The Weekend, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Britney Spears, and many more.
Recently, Mike lent his talents to a studio recorded rock remix of Grammy nominated pop artist Katy Perry's hit single "I Kissed a Girl" and has been involved with live studio recordings with several developing and established artists from around the world.
Madonna
At age 39 Miroca Paris is celebrating 20 years of career, during which he's always had LP instruments and Gibraltar gear into his custom set-up. Miroca's toured the globe for 11 years with the late 'Barefoot Diva' Cesaria Evora. He is currently main percussionist for fado singer Cuca Roseta, performs live with a multitude of international artists across 5 continents, including with his own band. On average he records 25 records in studio per year. He is currently on tour with Madonna demonstrating exactly just how incredibly versatile LP’s catalog is: blending African, Afro-Latino rhythms, Lusophone sounds and innovative Pop to new heights!
Jason Mraz Raining Jane
Mona Tavakoli is a Los Angeles-based drummer and singer. While Mona is equally comfortable performing as a drummer and a percussionist, she is especially known for adapting the cajón to unexpected genres such as rock and pop. She has designed a signature instrument called The MT Box.
Mona started playing drums at age 11 and blossomed into a tenor drum star in her High School marching band. She began her professional musical career in 1999, when she helped form Raining Jane, an all-female rock band. Most recently, Mona and Raining Jane co-wrote and recorded YES! (Atlantic Records) with Jason Mraz. Mona and Mraz have been collaborating for nearly a decade. She tours worldwide with Mraz and they have performed together as a duo on programs such as The David Letterman Show, Ellen, Dancing with the Stars, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
Mona has played with musicians such as Pat Benatar, Sara Bareilles, Andy Grammer, and Colbie Caillet. Mona cofounded Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls Los Angeles, a nonprofit that encourages girls to find their voices through music during an intensive, weeklong summer day camp. Mona has been featured in DRUM!, Tom Tom Magazine and is the recipient of the 2016 She Rocks awards “Inspire Award” for her work with the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls.
Lila Downs/Independent/Educator
Nakeiltha A. Campbell (aka Nikki) is a multi-percussionist, educator, and performer. Born in Colon, Panama aka “Tasita de Oro” is a melting pot of Caribbean Culture. Growing up in Southern California, Nikki found that drumming reconnected her to West African, Caribbean and Latin roots. Receiving recognition for her work, a recipient of the Ambassador Award presented by L.A Viva Panama Org. and was awarded by The Alliance for California Traditional Arts to study with Aboubakar Kouyate. Her artistry has led her to teach at LAUSD, Grand Vision, Danilo Perez Foundation, and Arnold Walters Foundation. She has performed with artist such as Stevie Wonder, Lila Downs, Jose Gonzales, Rihanna, Janelle Monae & Jidenna, among many others. Participated on the motion picture soundtrack “Race” produced by Aloe Blacc. She has a passion to unite cultures through music with her project Puentes de Poder and currently she is the percussionist for Estrella TV’s Noches con Platanito.
Janis Siegel, Vinicius Cantuaria, Ulysses Ownes
Nanny Assis has played with amazing artists like Vinicius Cantauria, Eumir Deodato, and John Patitucci. Many other great places where Nanny has played and enchanted people of all walks are Jazz Standard, Red Rooster and Joe’s Pub, all in New York. In 1984, Nanny Assis participated in the Bahia Instrumental Festival. In 2011, he was the recipient of the prestigious Brazilian International Press Award as “Best Singer of the Year.” Hundreds of votes cast through the Internet earned Nanny the first stage in musical recognition with the Brazilian community around the globe. Nanny Assis has recorded three albums: "Honey & Air" with Janis Siegel “Brazilian Vibes,” with Arthur Lipner, and “Double Rainbow.” By Fabricio Silva, journalist.
Laura Pergolizzi (aka LP), Dua Lipa, Liz Phair
Born in New York, raised in Chicago and currently living in Los Angeles, Neal Daniels continues to be one of LA’s most in-demand touring drummers. Neal moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in 2009 and has since toured the globe playing with world-renown artists including LP, Liz Phair, Booker T, Rachel Platten, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Camila Cabello, Bea Miller, Daya, Léon, Darren Criss, and many more.
Jon Batiste and Stay Human – The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. Anne Caroline Santos Da Silva, also known as Nêgah Santos, has a unique sound which is influenced by several styles as Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, R&B, Jazz, Pop, African and World Music.
Performing professionally since her teens, while in Brazil, Nêgah performed with several artists as Tony Tornado, Falamansa, and Sandra de Sá. Graduated from Berklee College of Music, Nêgah has performed with her own project ChoroBop and with many artists as (Grammy Award Winners), Esperanza Spalding, Al Jarreau, A.R Rahman, Diane Reeves, Terri Lyne Carrington, Alejandro Sanz, Giovanni Hidalgo, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Thundercat, Trombone Shorty, Sheila E., and many others.
Nêgah has performed internationally as well as renowned festivals and has taught workshops around the globe. Most recently Nêgah has joined Jon Baptiste and Stay Human as part of the 3rd season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, as part of the house band.
The Narada Michael Walden Orchestra
Nelson Bragg has been Brian Wilson's percussionist/vocalist since 2003. He's recorded 8 albums and 5 DVD's with Brian and enjoyed 10 tours with his band. He also toured with the "1rst time in 25 years" reunited Beach Boys on their "Big 50 Anniversary World Tour" in 2012. Off the road Bragg produces recordings on Steel Derrick Music, a label dedicated to providing an outlet for exceptional writers and musicians. Nelson Bragg has two melodic-pop solo albums: "Day Into Night" and "We Get What We Want".
Pink Floyd
Nick Mason is a founding member of Pink Floyd and has played on every album released over the last 50 years. More recently he has played and toured with his own band 'Saucerful of Secrets' performing music from Pink Floyd's early years. Aside from playing drums he has produced a number of artists including Robert Wyatt, Steve Hillage and The Damned and played at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony.
Basement Jaxx
Oli Savill was born in Lisbon, Portugal. His first 6 years in london were about survival, studying at Drumtech and playing with various Brasilian bands. He then auditioned and landed his first world tour with the multi award winning, Uk 'pop' band The Pet Shop Boys. On his return, he wasted no time in fulfilling a lifelong wish, and went to havana, cuba to study afro cuban percussion at the ‘Escuela de Superacion professional de Musica Ignacio Cervantes’, and with members of the ‘Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba’. Today, he is amonst the most in demand percussionists in the Uk and Europe. He has co-written several albums and Ep's, written, recorded and produced several projects, and has toured, performed and/or recorded with many artists from around the world, such as , Shakira, Jamiroquai, Tom Jones, Airto Moreira, Zero 7, Roy Ayers,Sly + Robbie, Annie Lennox. Oli has been the percussionist for Grammy award winning band 'Basement Jaxx' for 14 Years.
Band Leader
The "Monstrito" Percussionist started playing at a very young age and since then has never stopped the interest of playing profressionally. Oreste has played in many venues such as Lincoln Center Mid Summer Night Swing event, Summer Stage NY, Carnegie Hall, even out of the United States in places like the French Carribean, And Paris France just to name a few. Oreste Today, plays with many artists such as 7 time Grammy Nominee Bobby Sanabria with his Multiverse Big Band on Congas, 4 time Grammy Award winning Singer Willy Torres Y su Orquesta, Chris Washburne & The Syotos Band, & he is also a leader himself with his own band....Oreste "Kidd Ore" Abrantes Jr Y Su Orquesta!
Educator/Independent
Orlando has made numerous recordings and has collaborated with music legends of this generation, including Andy Gonzalez, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Edwin Colón Zayas. Orlando performs exclusively on Yamaha marimbas. He is endorsed by Yamaha, Sabian, ProMark, Croaker Percussion and Latin Percussion. He is on the faculty at University of Delaware and has taught at Northern Illinois University, Morgan State University, and Loyola College (now Loyola University Maryland) Gettysburg College. Many of his students have gone on to develop successful careers as professional musicians and educators.
Chaworo (Afro-Venezuela Jazz)
Master Venezuelan drummer Orlando Poleo’s music combines tradition and modernity, fluctuating between jazz, Cuban sounds and Afro-Venezuelan rhythms. In 1991, Orlando moved Paris, where he was invited to play with Alfredo Rodriguez, Azuquita, or Ernesto "Tito" Puentes. He has also been the guest of artists such as Eddie Palmieri, Arturo Sandoval, Mongo Santamaria,Tata Guines, Patato Valdes, Changuito, Giovanni Hidalgo, Julia Migenes, Chocolate Armenteros, Papaito Munoz, Kip Hanrahan, Archie Chepp, Chico Freeman, Larry Harlow, Tito Allen, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Danny Brillant, Jerôme Savary.
His ensemble "Chaworo" performed on international scenes alongside Tracy Chapman, Youssou N'Dour, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Kassav, Joe Cocker and Joan Baez. Orlando has received multiple awards including the Senate Medal of Honor from president François Hollande (2016) and is doctor Honoris Causa of the Caracas UNEARTE University (2019). He also teaches worldwide masterclasses.
Independent
Oscar Martínez Bartelemy was born in Cuba, graduated from the music school of Havana and currently lives in London since 2004 where he had the privilege of playing with many artists and bands like- Omar Puente, Courtney Pine, Buena Vista Social Club, Rhythms of The World Band, Black Market, Ray de La Paz , Maelo Ruiz, Jimmy Bosh, David Pavón, Tony Vegas, Ismael Rivera Jr, Jesús Alemáñy and Cubanismo, Conga Show, The Gloria Estefan Show plus many more.
He has also participated in many recordings with artists like Eros Ramazzotti, Amy Winehouse, The Killers, Mick Jagger and many more.
Oscar was born in NY, raised in Puerto Rico and has been living in LA since 2004. Drummer and percussionist for Ill Niño, Ankla, Puya and Ortiz. Collaborations with Dave Lombardo and Thomas Lang. Ambassador of Latin Metal Drumming for more than 20 years. Oscar played with pop artists Ednita Nazario, Cristian Daniel, Tommy Torres, Plan B! And recently record KXM new record that is soon to be release! With Korn's drummer Ray Luzier , Dokken's Guitar player George Lynch & Kings X bass player singer Dug Pinnick!
Percussionist and producer Otura Mun has been at the vanguard of the Puerto Rican music scene since arriving from Texas in the late 1990s, producing critically acclaimed albums and songs for many of the island’s most important musical voices, including Mima, Cultura Profética and Calma Carmona. ÌFÉ, the internationally acclaimed percussion ensemble is his first solo project. Innovatively mixing Caribbean folkloric rhythms with electronic percussion, Mun and ÌFÉ have captured the eyes and ears of a new generation of music enthusiasts bringing hand percussion and electronics together in a unique and exciting way.
HER/Studio/Independent/Clinician
Master percussionist Pablo Batista has performed recorded and toured internationally for 30 years with some of the biggest stars in rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, pop and gospel.
Artists with whom he has worked with include Alicia Keys, Patti Labelle, Kirk Franklin, Jill Scott, Gerald Levert, Jeffrey Osborne, Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Pendergrass, Diane Reeves, Norman Brown, Manny Oquendo and Libre, Eddie Palmieri, and Musiq.
Pablo has toured the Caribbean on the 2020 Soul Train Cruise, performed at the 2019 Marian Anderson Awards in Philly honoring Kool and the Gang, and served as percussionist for the 2018 and 2019 Grover Washington Tribute events produced by Bill Jolly.
Chino Nunez Orchestra, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Gilberto Santarosa, Tito Rodriguez Jr., Jerry Rivera, Eddie Montalvo, India
Pablo “Chino” Nunez – Established Professional Percussionist, Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Arranger, Composer, Recording Artist, Band Leader, and Educator, multiple GRAMMY, LATIN GRAMMY and BILLBOARD winner/nominee –- hundreds of productions to his credit, has performed/toured with a verifiable Who's Who, as well as with the critically acclaimed CHINO NUNEZ ORCHESTRA.
Carlos Santana
Performing for more than 25 years, Grammy nominee Paoli Mejías has distinguished himself as a master percussionist and is ranked among the best in both salsa and Latin jazz. Paoli is at the vanguard of Latin jazz as leader of his own Quintet with three successful CDs as band leader: "JAZZAMBIA", “Transcend” and “Mi Tambor” which received a Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. As a bandleader Paoli fuses straight-ahead jazz with African, Mediterranean and Caribbean folkloric rhythms to create a new dimension of Latin jazz that is global, energetic, and modern.
Paoli's resume includes top jazz and salsa artists like Tito Puente, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentín, Paquito d'Rivera, Chick Corea, David Sánchez and Danilo Pérez, Luis Enrique, Marc Anthony, La India, Tito Puente, Seis del Solar, and Eddie Palmieri with whom he toured the largest jazz festivals for more than a decade. Paoli's discography as side-man includes more than 20 commercial recordings, among them Grammy nominated "Acuarela de Tambores" by Alex Acuña, and Grammy Award winner "Masterpiece" by Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente.
Since 2013 Paoli has had the honor of being part of the legendary Carlos Santana band.
Independent
Paul is the founder of the popular online percussion education website PlayCajon.org, and the author of the best-selling Hal Leonard Cajon Method and Hal Leonard Djembe Method books. Paul began playing drums and percussion age 13 on the remote Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland. Since beginning his career as a touring musician he has performed in over 25 countries with artists including Jethro Tull, James Devine’s TAPERIE, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and Treacherous Orchestra, He has played a sell-out runs on Broadway, and major sporting events around the world including the F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain, the Rugby 7s World Cup in Hong Kong. Paul is also the host of the Drum Channel Podcast.
Céline Dion
Paul Picard trained under Louis Charbonneau at the Quebec Music Conservatory and won the Conservatory’s Premier Prix in Percussion in 1974. In the decades that followed, Picard explored virtually every ethnic, traditional and popular form of percussion, performing alongside everyone from classical virtuosi such as Itzhak Perlman to jazz greats Henry Mancini and Ella Fitzgerald. He has performed with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Canadian bands with styles ranging from pop to Latin. For over 20 years, Picard has also performed with house bands on TV broadcasts; he has done a tremendous amount of studio work, recording with many of Quebec’s top artists, playing film music and providing percussion on hundreds of jingles. In 1981, Picard won a grant from the National Art Council of Canada to continue his exploration of ethnic and Latin percussion, and his studies eventually earned him a college teaching post at CEGEP Saint-Laurent in Quebec. From 1984 to 1986, Picard was a member of legendary jazz percussionist Don Alias’ band. After touring with Canadian star Roch Voisine in the early 1990s, Picard joined Celine’s band in 1995. Picard also writes music, and has composed 10 theater scores and one film score.
Independent/All 4 One
Born in Brownsville, TX , Paul now resides in Los Angeles where he is active as a performer, studio musician, and composer. He has had the honor of performing, touring, and or recording with many artists including: The Rembrandts, Chaka Khan, Nelly Furtado, All 4 One, Taylor Dane, Sheila E, Coolio, Rick Springfield, Wynonna Judd, Gloria Estefan, Jose Feliciano, Jon Secada, Tone Loc, Brian McKnight, Lonnie Jordan, DJ Kane, Nicho Hinojosa, Ziggy Marley, Shaila Durcal, and Paulina Rubio.
Paul has recorded and appeared on many albums, TV show cues, commercials, films, and live Television performances including: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, "In Performance" at the White House, The Latin Grammys, CD USA, MTV, The US Open, MUN2, Vina Del Mar, Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Hoy, Ritmo Internacional, and Conciertos Clandestinos. In between performances, Paul stays busy composing. His compositions have been featured on Univision, UPN show – 7 Days, CSI, CSI Miami, and the FOX show – Johnny Zero. Paul has three published works with Row-Loff Productions: Bump Thump, Blast Off, and Flying Start. Paul has a B.M. in Music Educationfrom Sam Houston State University, and a B.M. in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music (Summa Cum Laude).
Ricky Martin, Angelique Kidjo, Paquito D'Rivera
Over the course of six years, with a myriad of performances across the globe, several studio projects as a sideman, television appearances, and contributions in Jazz, Pop, Latin, and World music, Two-time Grammy-Award Winning percussionist Paulo Stagnaro has established himself as an innovative voice in today's generation of creative young artists. Hailed by jazz great Ralph Peterson as "a young master percussionist," Stagnaro has been a force on the ever-evolving New York music scene since moving to Brooklyn, NY in 2012. Paulo has toured, performed and/or recorded with NEA Jazz master Paquito D'Rivera, Grammy-Winner Angelique Kidjo, Jazz Legend Dave Liebman, and formed part of the all-star rhythm section for Sting’s 25th Anniversary Rainforest Fundraiser at Carnegie Hall featuring James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Stephen Stills. He has been a part of international superstar Ricky Martin’s touring band since 2014. Stagnaro endorses Latin Percussion Instruments, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, and Remo Percussion Heads.
Pedrito Martinez Group
Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba. Since settling in New York City, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Tedeshi Trucks, Dave Matthews, Sting and many more. He has also contributed to well over 75 albums.
Pedrito was a founding member of Yerba Buena and has recorded two albums with them. He has also released two solo albums as band leader. The first one was nominated for a Grammy in 2013. The second album, Habana Dreams, was recorded in Cuba and featured Ruben Blades, Isaac Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, and Angelique Kidjo.
In 2019, Pedrito recorded a duo album with Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and Quincy Jones as the Executive Producer. Later that year, Pedrito and Eric Clapton recorded and performed a new arrangement of Clapton’s song, My Father’s Eyes.
Judith Owen, David Rodigan, Kansa's Smitty's House Band
Pedro Segundo is the embodiment of dynamism. Equally at home behind 18th-century-style kettle drums and a five-piece drum kit, Pedro makes every object he touches a channel for his incredible musical energy.
Pedro grew up in Portugal and was reared on an eclectic blend of gospel, classical, jazz and world music. All of these genres have spurred him on to his singularly unique approach to percussion.
In 2010 he became the house drummer of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. He has toured in Europe, North America, Far East with Dennis Rollins, Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields as guest timpanist with Sir Neville Marriner, Murray Perahia, and Joshua Bell and more recently with his Solo Segundo, Judith Owen, Kansas Smitty’s House Band and his Royal Albert Hall debut with David Rodigan with his LP set-up.
Pete Escovedo Orchestra
Legendary Percussionist Pete Escovedo is an artist who broke down the barriers between Smooth Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz and contemporary music. With a career spanning over 50 years, Pete is known worldwide for his live performances, session work and solo albums.
Pete Escovedo and his Latin Jazz Orchestra have always been breaking new grounds when it comes to playing live music, bringing talented and well known musicians together to perform on stage. Their shows attract all ages, backgrounds and nationalities who come together to hear incredible music, the memory of which will last forever.
In addition to recording 8 acclaimed solo albums, 2 albums with his daughter Sheila E., as well as the Latina Familia live album with Sheila E. and Tito Puente, Pete has performed and toured with many great and respected artist, such as, Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby McFerrin, Cal Tjader, Woody Herman, Stephen Stills, Billy Cobham, Anita Baker, George Duke, Boz Scaggs, Andy Narell, Al Jarreau, Ray Obiedo, Dionne Warwick, Marlena Shaw, Barry White, Angela Bofill, Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, Chick Corea, Dave Valentine, Najee, Gerald Albright, Prince, Carlos Santana and none other than the most gifted and respected person that we will always call family, the legendary Tito Puente.
Award winning musician Pete Lockett is one of the most versatile and prolific percussionists in the World today. With over 20 CDs under his own name, he’s also worked with Björk, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Dido, Jeff Beck, Texas, Nelly Furtado, Primal Scream, Damien Rice, Errol Brown, Rory Gallagher, Simon Phillips, Pet Shop Boys, and many more. He recorded all the ethnic percussion on five 007 films & many other Hollywood hits. He’s lectured Worldwide, including The Royal College London, Shanghai Conservatoire, Berklee School Boston & The Royal Academy in London. He’s published hundreds of technique articles in magazines worldwide, inc MODERN DRUMMER, DRUMMER MAG & UK RHYTHM, as well as magazines in South Africa, Australia, Italy & Poland. His book, ‘Indian rhythms for the drum set’ (Hudson) is the first book of its kind covering Indian rhythms on drum set. Pete has also released a best selling percussion app called DrumJam. He continues to tour the world extensively as a soloist.
Associated Acts: Level 42, PBUG and session
With his deeper-than-deep grooves, blistering solos, and out-there musical
creativity, Pete Ray Biggin plays with such fiery passion that he quickly earned
himself a reputation as one of the UK’s hottest players. This led him to play
with top artists such as Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Incognito, Chaka Khan,
Adele, Joss Stone, Jessie J, Robbie Williams, Whitney Houston, Lalah
Hathaway, Brand New Heavies, Estelle, and Taio Cruz, and now in the seat of
one of his major childhood inspirations, Level 42.
Pete is currently busy recording with and touring the world with Level 42 and
remains active with his own group, the funky PBUG (PB Underground), for
which Pete is the writer, producer, and musical director. He also played multiple
instruments on the group’s album Stand Up.
In essence, that’s what Pete Ray Biggin is all about. High energy, funk, soul
drumming with a great sense of musicality and a real big groove.
Independent Artist
Peter Michael Escovedo III, Two time Emmy nominated Producer and Musical Director has earned recognition not only as a percussionist, but a producer, singer, songwriter, and television personality. Peter Michael (named after his father, percussionist and original member of Santana…Pete Escovedo) has contributed in countless world tours, recordings and television production. He's created, directed, and produced television shows, written music for film, theme songs for television, composed, arranged, and produced music for various artists.
Genesis, Phil Collins
Phil Collins; drummer, singer, songwriter, and record producer is best known as the drummer/singer of the rock band Genesis and for his solo career. Between 1982 and 1990, Collins scored three UK and seven US number-one singles as a solo artist. His discography includes eight studio albums that have sold 33.5 million certified units in the US and an estimated 150 million worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists. Phil collaborated with many artists appearing on albums with Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Philip Bailey. He played in Brand X and on the ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ single as well as writing the sound track to films including Disney’s Tarzan. During his illustrious career, he has been showered with multiple awards, which include six ‘Brit Awards,’ seven ‘Grammy Awards,’ two ‘Golden Globe Awards,’ and one ‘Academy Award,’ recognizing his service to the field of music and acting.
Independent Cello Samba Trio Eliane Elias Quartet
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rafael Barata is a self-taught drummer/percussionist, started to playing at the age of 5. Rafael has played and recorded with many impressive artists such as Emilio Santiago, Rosa Passos, Kenny Barron, Edu Lobo, Jaques Morelenbaum, Esperanza Spalding, Milton Nascimento, Toots Thielemans, Eliane Elias and many others. Rafael worked on Eliane’s Grammy award winning album, Made in Brazil.
Naadro, Independent
Rakitha Ruwan Wickramaratne, a talented young musician, studied the art of playing SRILANKAN traditional Percussion. In addition, he moved on to nurture his passion in the study of other World Percussion instruments thus acquiring a reputation of being one of the finest in SRI LANKA. Backed by extensive experience as a live performing artist in the local and global industry, Rakitha has worked with numerous stars worldwide. His performing credits include Naadro, Mahesh Denipitiya, Roni Benise, Bikramjit singh, Rakesh chaurassia, Karsh Kale, and many more in Sri Lanka and across the world. His impressive live performance portfolio covers everything from stage shows and TV shows to radio, concerts and corporate events. His Studio projects are used for songs, TV & Radio commercials, Documentaries, Movies and tele drama tracks, corporate videos and much more. “Rakitha is the Leader and founder member of the Percussion ensemble in SRILANKA which is globally known as ‘NAADRO’.
David Sanborn, The Voice, Christina Aguilera, Chicago
Concerts, sessions, festivals and television: Ramon Yslas is one of modern music’s most accomplished percussionists. From his world tours with platinum artists including David Sanborn,Paul Stanley, Jennifer Lopez,Christina Aguilera, Colbie Caillat and Patti Labelle to network appearances with Stevie Nicks, Prince, Ricky Martin, Martina McBride, Carlos Santana and many more, Yslas is distinguished by his intuitive musicality and consummate professionalism.
Hands On’Semble, Studio/Independent, Educator
A protégé of percussion vanguard John Bergamo and longtime student of tabla maestro Swapan Chaudhuri, Randy Gloss is a percussionist whose diverse background studying and performing across several modalities of hand drums, contemporary percussion, and drum set has led to involvement in many innovative ensembles. A founding member of the internationally renown percussion group Hands On’Semble; Randy has also worked extensively with Adam Rudolph, Larry Karush, Lian Ensemble; as well as with Ziggy Marley (on the Grammy winning album Fly Rasta), L. Shankar, Chitravina Ravikiran, Jovino Santos Neto, Miroslav Tadic and Vlatko Stefanovski, Damian Draghici, Ardeshir Rohani, David Hykes, Nicole Mitchell, and many more; and has also recorded extensively for film, TV, video game soundtracks, sample libraries, and several acclaimed theater productions. Randy teaches at CalArts, where he is the Chair of the World Music Performance Programs, and also directs the World Percussion Program.
Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Grammy award-winner and 4-time Grammy-nominee, Raul Pineda, has been named one of today’s best and most innovative Latin drummers in the world. Raul’s unique style of playing ‐‐ a coveted blend of Afro Cuban and contemporary influences applied to the modern drum set ‐‐ have catapulted him to being one of Cuba’s most influential drummers of his generation.
Raul has shared the stage and/or recorded with Chucho Valdes, Sintesis, Baaba Maal, Michel Camilo,Juan Gabriel, Mike Stern, Eric Marienthal, Arturo Sandoval, Bob Mintzer, Kazumi Watanabe, Claudio Roditi, Pablo Milanes, Faramarz Aslani, Tata Guines, Giovanni Hidalgo, Changuito, Miguel Anga Diaz, David Sanchez, Janet Bunnet and the Spirit of Havana, Omar Sosa, Nestor Torres, Laura Pausini, Alvaro Torres, La India, David Bisbal, Prince Royce, Andy Garcia, and the list goes on...
KoRn, KXM
Ray has recorded with & toured the world as a member of the multi platinum selling, Grammy Award winning band KoRn, since 2007. Before that, Ray recorded & toured with David Lee Roth, Army Of Anyone, Billy Sheehan & many others. He has played on over 80 records & has performed thousands of shows. Follow Ray here: Instagram.com/RayLuzierKorn, Twitter.com/RayLuzier1, Facebook.com/RayLuzierOfficial
Soltron, La Orquesta Moderna Tradición,CongaMasterClass.com, Rumbache, Samba Rio
Remi Spiro is a multi-percussionist and educator specializing in popular and folkloric music from Cuba. He was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he grew up studying and performing music alongside and under the mentorship of acclaimed Bay Area Latin musicians. He received a BA in Ethnomusicology at UCLA in 2012 and has since returned to the Bay Area where he spends most of his musical endeavors on his band Soltron, a collective that fuses Afro-Latino music with diverse elements such as hiphop, funk, rock, and electronic music. The band’s music addresses social issues like gentrification and the displacement of communities while also preserving Bay Area musical and cultural traditions. Under the Soltron banner, Remi has performed at the Great American Music Hall, the San Jose Jazz Festival, and has shared the stage with the likes of Ozomatli, David Calzado y Charanga Habanera, and The John Santos Sextet.
The Creative Percussion Workshow, Renato Martins Trio
The Brazilian world-class percussionist Renato Martins, from Sao Paulo, is described as an innovator of Brazilian percussion and is considered one of the most internationally respected percussionists in the world. Renato Martins continuously creates new techniques for traditional instruments such as the Udu and the Cajon. He has played beside some big names of the Brazilian popular and instrumental music scenes like Duda Neves, Sergio Sa, Moacyr Luz, Sa & Guarabyra, Tom Da Terra, Paulo Moura, & Andre Geraissati. He created the Boris Gaquere & Renato Martins guitar and percussion duo where they have played worldwide. As a solo percussionist, Renato has participated at the Catalunyan International Percussion festival in Barcelona, Spain, the Batuka! Brasil International Drum Festival, in Brazil, the Taipei International Percussion Convention, in Taiwan, among others and toured the US and Canada as the percussionist for Cirque Du Soleil’s show called OVO from 2009 to 2010.
Sting, Xavier Naidoo
Rhani Krija was born in Essaouira Morocco, in the heart of the Gnawa culture, in 1971. While in his teens, he began listening to traditionel musical styles from North Africa, which formed the foundation for the music he plays today. Well-known for his knowledge of and ability to play authentic Andalusian, Arabic, African and Latin rhythms, Rhani has become a highly sought-after, international percussionist.
Currently living in Germany, Rhani has spent the last couple of years recording some fine percussion samplers for major record Labels and performing around the world
Rhani has been appearing,recording , touring and sharing the stage with : Sting , Dominic Miller, herbie hancock, Al Di Meola , Placido Domingo , Peter Gabriel , WDR Big Band, SWR Big Band , Vince Mendoza , Annie Lennox , Klaus Doldinger, Vince Mendoza, BAP , Xavier Naidoo , sarah Connor , Herbert Grönemeyer ,BAP, EMEL, Hindi Zahra , OUM , Max Mutzke , Martin Grubinger , Royal Symphonie Orchester of London , WDR Orchester
Norman Connors, The Isely Brothers, The Jazz Crusaders
Ricardo Caciano Wilkins is an accomplished Latin music artist, most notably playing the Bongos. Wilkins has played with Norman COnnors, Wayne Henderson, The Crusaders, A Taste of Honey, The Isley Brothers, Doc Powell, Barry White and Diana Ross.
Jason Aldean
Rich Redmond is a top call recording drummer/percussionist based in Nashville and Los Angeles. Rich has toured/recorded/performed with Jason Aldean, Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, Bryan Adams, Bob Seger, Chris Cornell, Joe Perry, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, and many others. Rich has played drums and percussion on 20 #1 singles with sales well over the 20 million mark. Rich began playing drums at age 8 and eventually played in the prestigious 1:00 Lab Band at The University of North Texas. Rich is 2016’s “Country Drummer of The Year” in Modern Drummer Magazine and was voted “Best Country Drummer” and “Clinician” by both Modern Drummer and Drum! Magazines for several years.
Barry Gibb, Roberto Carlos, Juanes
No one embodies the true spirit of artistic passion the way Venezuelan-born Percussionist Richard Bravo does as evident from his ardent performances and numerous recordings.
Aware that education was the foundation for his future Richard upon graduating from high school enrolled at the distinguished FULL SAIL Academy in Orlando, Florida and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Engineering.
His impeccable and precise musicianship has awarded him a body of work that encompasses over 1000 recordings, 2 Grammy Statues and 34 Grammy Award Achievement Certificates. From recording and appearing on International Superstars like La Ley,Ricky Martin and Juanes MTV “Unplugged” releases, to creating the incredible rhythms of the Multi-Platinum “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Chantaje”by Shakira, and the recent ROBERTO CARLOS “LIVE at ABBEY ROAD” DVD Release by Sony Music.
Richard was especially honored to appear and record the Barry Gibb/Barbara Streisand C/D release which reunited these two musical giants and continues to record and tour with Barry on his first ever “One Man Solo” tour which is entitled” MYTHOLOGY” that just completed a World Tour run to stellar reviews.
Richard also recently completed recording BARRY GIBB’s New Release entitled “IN THE NOW” and will be Touring with BARRY GIBB into 2018.
Vintage Trouble
Like most drummers, the drums found Richard—he had no choice. He’s looked upon them with a fervent awe from as far back as he can remember.
Keith Moon was the first drummer who caught his attention, followed by the raw fiery passions of drummers such a John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker. Richard has toured internationally with Wishbone Ash guitarist Jamie Crompton, has played in Sunking with the likes of Bass legend Rudy Sarzo and Guitar great John 5, as well as the Poorboys.
After a hiatus to raise a family took precedence, Richard Danielson is now back in the game with Vintage Trouble. Commonly described as Otis Redding meets Led Zeppelin, this primitive soul/rock n roll band has been touring internationally for the better part of six years now, both headlining and opening for the likes of The Who, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Brian May, Lenny Kravitz and The Rolling Stones just to name a few. They’ve recorded two records and one EP, and have recently signed to Blue Note Records under the helm of Don Was, who produced their latest record 1 Hopeful Rd.
Dan Horne Band, The Growlers, Grateful Shred, Studio/Freelance
Richard is a freelance drummer in the LA area. He has been playing live and recording with southern California rock band The Growlers the past 4 years. Richard has recorded on their last three records, “City Club” (2016) , “Casual Acquaintances” (2018), and “Natural Affair” (2019) and has toured the world many times over from 2016 up to the present. Before that he toured and recorded with LA artist/producer Jonathan Wilson. Richard appeared on his 2013 album "Fanfare" and played drums on all of Nick Waterhouse's 2014 album "Holly" and toured with him for a good part of 2014 in between tours with Wilson. After finishing up with Jonathan Wilson’s Fanfare touring cycle he started up with SF based bands Vetiver and Sonny and the Sunsets for both live and studio work. Sonny Smith’s Dan Auerbach produced 2018 album “Rod For Your Love” was a highlight from this period. Richard has a degree in jazz studies from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and has been playing for 32 years. Since relocating to Los Angeles from Florida, he’s played live and recorded with numerous other artists including but not limited to Grateful Shred, Graham Nash, Jim Keltner, Father John Misty, Leslie Stevens, Joe Walsh, Bob Weir, John Fogerty, the Tyde, Pierre De Reeder, Jon Brion, Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell, Neal Casal, Dave Sardy, Nik Freitas,, Biirdie, Tiffany Anders, Ferraby Lionheart, Henry Wolfe, Charlie Wadhams and Robert Francis. He is comfortable in any musical situation and brings a lot of experience and creativity to the table, employing a background in multi percussion, jazz and classical music to each gig.
Independent
Richie Gajate-Garcia has conducted more than 450 clinics and remains one of the most in demand educators and clinicians. He is the author of “Play Cajon Now: The Basics and Beyond and is currently teaching at Musician’s Institute. Garcia has recorded and/or performed with Christopher Cross, Sting and Phil Collins, as well as worked on film scores for Jennifer Lopez' new film "Maid in Manhattan". He has toured with Diana Ross, Don Henley, Patti LaBelle, and Hiroshima. "I constantly look for new sounds," he says, "and I'm not completely partial to any one instrument, which I feel adds color and appeal to my playing". Richie knows that percussion was a natural career choice for him. "I'm Puerto Rican, and percussion instruments are found all throughout our culture." Richie made the decision to play music full time while attending college at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Richie's main influences were his father (a percussionist with The Xavier Cugat Orchestra), Armando Peraza, Monchito Munoz (timbalero with Tito Rodriguez), Changuito, Candido Camero and Giovanni Hidalgo. Richie collaborated with LP to create the popular Gajate Bracket and the RIchie Gajate-Garcia Signature Series Congas, Bongos and Djembe.
Independent/Studio/Clinician
Grammy Award-winning drummer Robby Ameen has lived in New York City since the early '80s and has established a recording and touring career stretching from Dizzy Gillespie to Paul Simon, while maintaining a more than 20-year relationship with Latin icon Ruben Blades as a member of Los Seis del Solar. Although he is of Lebanese origin, Ameen is best known for the unique and powerful Afro-Cuban jazz style he has developed. Other long-term musical relationships include Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan, and Conrad Herwig’s multi-Grammy nominated Latin Side All-stars. As a leader, Ameen wrote, arranged, and produced the album Days in the Life, and most lately, Days in the Night, which Down Beat magazine recently awarded 4 stars. As a co-leader he has recorded three records with the El Negro and Robby Band alongside drummer Horacio "el Negro" Hernandez. In addition he helped found the Latin-jazz power trio Overproof, and also made two latin-jazz records with Seis del Solar.
Alexander O Neal
Robert skins Anderson is percussionist from the UK, he has played with some of the biggest artists in the UK and us. currently he is the featured percussionist on Alexander o Neals tour. He has also been on countless tv shows and tours with Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Phillip bailey of Earth Wind and Fire, Jimmy Cliff, Emeli Sande, Brian may, Sister Sledge, Roy Ayers, Westlife, Sly and Robbie and many more. He is the featured percussionist on the Emeli Sande live at the royal albert hall DVD and Alexander o Neal live at the hammersmith odeon DVD’s. A couple of years ago I got to work in the studio with my favourite artist in the world Mr Stevie Wonder, so I am proud to fly the flag for LP, THE BEST PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS IN THE WORLD
Independent/Studio
Rodi was born in Córdoba, Argentina, a descendant of sevillanos, from the Triana neighborhood, his passion for cajon and flamenco comes from his roots.
CEO and founder of the Cordoba drum fest, the Córdoba Drum Fest (International Drummers festival), Córdoba Drum Camp, the educational international camp in Córdoba. He play drums & percussion in Los Zarza & Rey Kalamar.
He is also a representative of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) in Argentina.
Rodi is highly requested for Master classes, teaching "South America's rhythms" and giving motivational talks in many Drum Fest and Universitys in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Costa Rica. He's currently writing a book about cajon, "The Route of Cajon".
Independent
Born in Havana, Cuba, Rodney Barreto comes from a family with a deep musical tradition. He has worked with great artists such as The Chucho Valdes Quintet, Omara Portuondo, Alexander Abreu & Habana d’ Primera, Luis Salinas, Javier Colina, the Elmer Ferrer Band, Havana Fax, Carhabana, Roberto Carcaces , The German Velasco’s Group, Isaac Delgado, Pasaje Abierto, Los Primos, Charanga Tipica, and the Nicholas Frize Project
Playing with Salsa Maestra Orchestra, accompanying renowned Salsa singers as Ray Sepulveda, Maelo Ruiz, Mayito Rivera, among others. Giving private lessons and working on different workshops projects.
Rodrigo started his music career at age fourteen in Salvador, Brazil. He studied at the Music Conservatory of the Federal University in Bahia and with master percussionist, the late Frank Malabe. Constantly traveling from Brazil to Chile, he was the pioneer of the batucadas in Chile. He co-founded the first Salsa band in Bahia, called Rumbahiana. He is credited to be one of the first percussionists to introduce bata drums in Brazil.
During his more than 30 years career, Rodrigo has played and recorded with many artists in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Portugal, France and Spain including Daniela Mercury, Adalberto Santiago, "El Negro" Rada, Carlinhos Brown, Ibrahim Ferrer Jr., Ray Sepulveda, Mayito Rivera, David Pavon, Maelo Ruiz, Gabino Pampino, Maonolo Lezcano, Charlie Cardona to name a few. In 2001, Rodrigo became Master Professor for the Percussion Department at Arcis University developing the curriculum map, in 2006 was appointed Percussion Professor for the Music Program at University of Chile. He has also performed workshops in Chile, Brazil and Dominican Republic for Latin Percussion. Rodrigo has participated in music festivals around the world; Montreux Jazz Festival, Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, PercPan, Madrid Jazz Festival and Vina del Mar Festival.
The Dizzy Gillespie Afro Cuban Experience.
Roger is a highly successful studio percussionist having recorded well over 100 albums, with such Artists as, Smokey Robinson, Luther Vandross, The Rolling Stones, Blondie, Spyro Gyra, Suzanne Vega, Grover Washington, The O’jays, Marc Anthony, k.d. Lang, among many others.He has performed with a virtual who’s who in the music business including: Phil Collins, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Lopez, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Willie Nelson, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Steve Winwood, Herbie Mann, Christopher Cross, Andreas Bocelli, Ron Carter, Al Dimeola to name a few. Engagements have included playing percussion for Broadway shows such as: "The Civil War, "BKLYN the Musical"; "The Big Deal , “Chronicle of a Death Foretold”, “Tarzan”, “Burn The Floor”, Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, “ Motown The Musical “.
Roger also Collaborated with Cirque Du Soleil in two New York City productions “Wintuk” and “Banana Shpeel . TV performances include: BET Honors, The Apollo 70th year Anniversary Show, The Kennedy Center Awards,The Tonight Show, David Letterman, Good Morning America,The Today Show, American Music Awards,The View, Rosie O’Donnell,Conan O'Brien Since 2014 Roger has played with The Dizzy Gillespie Afro Cuban Experience.
Queen
Although best known for his powerhouse role in Queen, Roger Taylor is anything but a drummer confined to his kit. With rock and roll in his veins all through his school days, he has always been a highly active, vocal member of Queen. He famously wrote Queen’s landmark hits "Radio Ga Ga" and "A Kind of Magic." He was also the first Queen member to release a solo album, 1981’s "Fun In Space." To date he has released five solo albums which have further highlighted Taylor as a musician and writer with a strong sense of Identity, a wide musical perspective, and – not least of all – a man not without a sense of irony.
"Dancing with the Stars" "Diana Ross"
Roland Gajate-Garcia is a dynamic and versatile multi percussionist and drummer with current credits including the "Dancing with the Stars" house band, the 65th annual Emmy Awards band, "The Voice" and the "American Idol" house band. Roland has performed and toured worldwide with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Diana Ross, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Lopez, , Patti Labelle, , Frankie Valli, and international pop singer, Googoosh.
Roland was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and is the son of renowned percussionist/teacher/inventor Richie Gajate-Garcia. Roland earned his bachelor's degree in music at California State University at Northridge. He has taught world wide clinics including the world famous PASIC drum convention and has also taught at the Los Angeles Music Academy in Pasadena.
Independent
Ron Powell is a skilled percussionist, accomplished musician and exciting performer who has toured the world since 1978 and has worked with over a hundred great artists, the most notable being, Madonna, Kenny G., Diana Ross, Sergio Mendes and Brian Hughes.
Through his experience with Sergio, Ron learned the intricacies of Brazilian percussion and he is also considered a top Afro-Latin percussionist. This is apparent by the diverse artist he has worked with that includes: Tania Maria, Oscar Castro-Neves, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Djavan, Samba School Villa Isabelle, Santana, El Chicano, Miami Sound Machine, Earth Wind & Fire, Black Eyed Peas, Rascal Flatts as well as his own band, L.A. Samba and countless others. As an educator Ron wrote the instructional book “Conga Drums”.
Ron's versatility and showmanship have made him one of the most sought after percussionists in the world and we are proud that he has been an LP since the beginning of his magnificent career.
The Killers
Ronnie Vannucci has been the drummer with The Killers since 2002. He has played on every album from the debut Hot Fuss in 2004 through Imploding with Mirage released in 2020. All six of the bands albums have debuted at Number 1 in the UK album charts, making them the only band ever to achieve this. The single Mr Brightside is the longest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart of all time (242 weeks). As well as co-writing tracks for The Killers Ronnie has his own side project Big talk who launched their self-titled title debut album in 2011 and follow-up second album Straight In No Kissin’ in 2015. Ronnie has also played drums in the American Rock band The Rentals since 2018 and on several solo tracks for his fellow band mate Branson Flowers. Vannucci has been featured on the covers of Modern Drummer, Rhythm, Drummer and Drum Head magazines.
Independent/Educator
Rubén is percussionist and music educator. His credits include a 2012 Latin Grammy nomination as a timbalero and drummer on the Chuchito Valdés CD “Made In Chicago”, as a percussionist for the Broadway in Chicago and recordings and performances with Chicago favorite Chévere de Chicago, blues legend John Mayall, rock stars Dave Mason and Dennis De Young, jazz masters Ramsey Lewis and Roy Hargrove, and the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. He teaches Afro-Latin percussion and directs Latin music ensembles at Roosevelt University, Columbia College Chicago, The Chicago High School for the Arts, and mentors Chicago Public School high students for the Jazz Institute of Chicago Jazz mentors residency program. Rubén is a founding member and former Board of Director of the Jazz Education and the Board of Governors of the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy, and he has served as Vice President of the Illinois chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. Rubén has endorsed LP for over two decades.
Lyle Lovett/ Studio/Independent
Talented, creative and true gentlemen of the music business are words often used to describe Russ Kunkel. Although the renowned drummer’s big break came three decades ago, his combined talents as performer, producer, and songwriter have kept him in demand with the top names in rock and roll.
First known for his expressive, lyrical drumming style, Kunkel has also earned a solid commercial reputation for musical creativity and artistic sensitivity as a producer. During his career, Kunkel has toured, done session work, produced and/or written hit songs with musicians including Steve Winwood, Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Joe Walsh, James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Bob Seger, Stevie Nicks, Simon & Garfunkel, Carly Simon, Aaron Neville, Clannad, Bonnie Raitt, The BeeGees, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna, Lyle Lovett and Jimmy Buffett.
La Academia/Educator/Session
Ruy was born in Cuba and graduated from the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana in 1982 with a degree in Music and specialty in percussion.
He is a professional drummer and percussion teacher with more than 40 years of experience.
Ruy is the author of the book called “Ritmos de Cuba, Percusión y Batería” (Rhythms of Cuba, Percussion & Drums) His recordings include DVD "Poliscandú", CD "Ritmos de Cuba", CD "Remembrance", CD-DVD "Ruy presents La Academia", CD-DVD "Estado de Ánimo", DVD "La Familia", DVD "Repercusiones", among many others. In 2009 he created the music group "La Academia" in which he directed himself.
Brit Floyd/Independent
A musician since the age of 5, Multi-Instrumentalist Ryan Saranich has traveled the world as an in-demand musician. While receiving education from Northwest School of the Arts, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Berklee College of Music, Ryan spent all of his time outside of school playing as a musician with a great list of artists from Grammy Winning R&B Artist Anthony Hamilton to Jazz drumming legend Joe Chambers.
With heavy roots in jazz and fusion, Ryan has released 5 recordings as a band leader and has completed countless recordings as a session musician. After spending so much time in the jazz world, Ryan answered a call to join touring ensemble Brit Floyd in 2016. This gig - a perfect fit for Ryan - is an ensemble comprised of session musicians who recreate the complete works of Pink Floyd. As a result, he's been lucky enough to perform in nearly 50 countries - all while counting on LP for his sound.
When not touring with Brit Floyd, Ryan keeps a heavy session schedule focusing on new jazz works for sync licensing opportunities.
Independent
Saeed Saremi was born on February 3, 1981 in an artistic family. Since childhood he showed special interest for the percussion instruments. He started taking Tombek lessons from his father when he turned ten years old. Six years later he began expanding his skills and practicing with different Latin and African percussion instruments such as congas, cajon, djembe, udu,darbuka and timbales…
Meanwhile Saeed also obtained his bachelor degree in computer science.
Saeed has performed alongside of many famous Persian singers in some of Tehran’s most prestigious musical theaters. During these years he has played in variety of bands such as pop, fusion, traditional, jazz, and Latin.
He enjoys mixing music of different countries and creating a new style of his own. Performing in the famous Darrkoob band allowed him to incorporate the Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Arabic music and creating a very unique and original style.
Besides teaching percussion in reputable musical academy institute of Pars, Saeed has been working on releasing his latest album.
Studio/Independent
Torres was born in Colombia’s bustling capital city of Bogotá and was nurtured in this culturally sophisticated metropolis where jazz and classical music share the stage with salsa and an infinite variety of Colombian folkloric idioms. A classically trained percussionist, he earned a degree in Music Composition from Bogotá’s esteemed Universidad Javeriana.
Shortly after arriving in the U.S., his career took a dramatic turn when he was tapped by famed Cuban trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval to join his group. Torres spent four years touring the world and recording with the jazz great, polishing his ever-expanding talents while attracting the attention of a long list of renowned artists with whom he would eventually collaborate. Over time, he would perform and/or record with a veritable “who’s who” of the jazz, Latin pop and salsa world, including such luminaries as Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, Chick Corea, Alejandro Sanz, Ricky Martin, Don Byron, Richard Bona, Lila Downs, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Angelique Kidjo, Marc Anthony, Rubén Blades, Fonseca, Andrés Cepeda, Thalía, and his country’s own international superstar, Shakira. His talents have also been featured in concerts with classical orchestras as Berlin Symphoniker, City of London Sinfonia, Boston Pops, Bogotá Philharmonic, Medellín Philharmonic, Delaware University Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Nashville Symphony.
Melt yourself down, Roberto Pla and Latin jazz ensemble, Jazz Jamaica , Modern Romance and Ill considered
Born to an Indian family in East Africa but raised in London, Satin Singh has a unique sound that incorporates both his heritage and London’s multiculturalism. An eclectic and adaptable musician, Satin easily navigates multiple musical genres from Indian, Afrocuban and Brazilian, to Dance and Popular genres. He has studied a wide variety of percussion instruments but got his start playing traditional Punjabi music in the family band; gigging professionally at just 14. His first break happened when he joined pop band the Pasadenas and later, King Salsa and Robin Jones.
Satin has toured extensively with acts like SUPERGRASS, Matt Bianca Featuring Basia, and has played with international renowned artists like Mark Ronson, Jamie Callum, Duran Duran, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Winwood, and Lily Allen, to name a few.
Satin is currently working on his own projects; Melt Yourself Down , ill considered, Roberto Pla and The Latin Ensemble as well as working with independent artists in London.
Hans Zimmer/Studio/Independent
Canadian born & raised, Satnam Ramgotra is a drummer/percussionist who blends traditional Indian, Western, and World Percussion elements into modern music, and composition. His formal training on both drum set & Indian classical tabla started at age of ten. Satnam then attended the Percussion Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA. Under Casey Scheuerell, Efrain Toro, Toss Panos, Ralph Humphrey, & Joe Porcaro. Then attended Ali Akbar Khan College of Music in San Rafael, CA under renowned Tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. Satnam, is also known for what he calls ‘mouth percussion’ – a human drum emulation unlike typical “beat-boxing”. Though ‘practicing’ it in high school got Satnam kicked out of class in Canada, Satnam’s ‘mouth perc’ is what gained the attention of Oscar winning composer Hans Zimmer, who chose him to collaborate on the score to Ridley Scott’s BLACK HAWK DOWN. Thus, Satnam’s career began in the world of Film/Television recording, performing & composing!
Scott Pellegrom Trio
Whether he's dubbed a mad scientist or a magician on drums, one thing is certain: Scott Pellegrom is an adrenalized, world-class percussionist with unmatched passion for his music and unrivaled admiration from his peers.
Weapons of Mass Percussion, Independent
Scott’s performance credits include The Rippingtons, Billboard Latin Artist of the Year Cristian Castro, Grammy Award winners Aretha Franklin & Angélica María, Eric Marienthal, Angélica Vale, Scott Cossu, Paul Taylor, and Israeli legend Matti Caspi. Scott also founded Weapons of Mass Percussion™, a creative organization dedicated to delivering an innovative and imaginative variety of rhythm and sound to all aspects of media, integrating both ethnic and contemporary percussion with cutting-edge uses of electronica, music design, percussive DJ’ing, and international movement and dance.
Pedrito Martinez Group
Sebastian Natal is an Uruguayan born multi-genre multi-instrumentalist, seasoned performer and music producer. He is proficient in piano, bass, percussion, trumpet, trombone and vocals across a range of genres including salsa, samba, tango, Afro-Peruvian music, Cuban timba, Latin Jazz, candombe, Argentine Folklore and son. Sebastian’s vast range of talents have landed him many opportunities all over the world, touring with and playing alongside a range of artists including English rockstar Eric Clapton, jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, Uruguayan music group Sonora Borinquen and many more across a range of countries including Argentina, Europe, Uruguay, Asia, Latin America and North America. He gained substantial commercial success, producing albums with the 5 times Grammy Award winning Willy Torres.
Currently, he is the bassist of the Pedrito Martinez Group, who were nominated for the Best Latin Jazz Album in 2014 and percussionist of different music production and entertainment companies.
Saturday Night Live/Independent
Shawn Pelton has been the drummer for the Saturday Night Live band for over 10 years. Known for his great feel, deep soulful pocket and a high level of musicianship across a broad range of styles, Shawn has recorded with artists such as Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Billy Joel, David Byrne, as well as several Grammy winning albums including Shawn Colvin, Ray Charles, Shakira, Brecker Brothers, Les Paul and the Hank Williams tribute album with Bob Dylan. Pelton is also a founding member of the NYC-based band The Cringe.
Sheila E.
A world-class drummer, percussionist, singer, songwriter, entertainer, author, humanitarian, mentor and actress—Sheila E. is an iconic public figure who has been driven by a steadfast inner rhythm since the day she was born. She is not just one of the best female drummers, but one of the best drummers of all time. When Sheila gave her first public performance at the age of 5 with her father, Pete Escovedo, there was no doubt in her mind that she was going to be a percussionist. She is a household name as a singer-songwriter, entertainer, and true celebrity. Her iconic hit, “The Glamorous Life” made the U.S. top 10 and that album combined her Latin, jazz, R&B, pop, and rock influences to create a unique style that paved the way for Sheila’s amazing career that has spanned 5 decades. A musical powerhouse, Sheila has worked with some of the most influential musical acts including Ringo Starr, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, George Duke, and more. She’s recorded 7 solo albums, acted in several films, and pursued philanthropic projects that are near to her heart. These include co-founding the Elevate Hope Foundation and Elevate Oakland.
Shirazette's Sonic Wallpaper Ensemble, The Allan Harris Group , The Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet, Camille Thurman Quartet, Mimi Jones Band, Tia Fuller Quartet
Shirazette Tinnin - Bio Drummer, educator, band leader, clinician, author and health coach, Shirazette Tinnin was born and raised in North Carolina. Her earlier influences gospel musical would eventually expand into jazz, soul, music from many parts of the african diaspora, and rock. A graduate of Appalachian State University, and Shirazette studied with Todd Right, Dr. Rob Falvo, Rick Dilling, and Scott Meister. She studied/mentored by drummers Cindy Blackman, Lewis Nash, Terri Lynne Carrington, Ernie Adams and more. Shirazette received a full scholarship for drum set and jazz pedagogy to attend Northern Illinois University, where she studied with professor Ron Carter. As a recipient of The Sisters in Jazz Collegiate All -Stars for IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) Award in 2008, she also taught as a professor at Columbia College in Chicago. Currently Shirazette resides in New York City but is frequently on tour with premiere bands such as The Tia Fuller Quartet, the Mimi Jones Band, Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble, Women of the World Ensemble, Gabriel Alegria Afro Peruvian Sextet, Allan Harris Group, Camille Thurman, and many others in addition to leading her own group, “Shirazette and Sonic WallPaper Ensemble”. (formerly known as The Shirazette Experiment). She has two albums of her own works available worldwide. Shirazette was recently the house drummer for The Meredith Vieira Talk Show with her 1st season on NBC in 2015. Shirazette is an active clinician, educator, mentor, composer a certified personal trainer and published author. Two of her articles were published in Modern Drummer Magazine and Tom Tom Magazine. Shirazette is endorsed by Canopus Drums, Vic Firth, LP, and Sabian.
M People, Soul II Soul, Nightmares On Wax
Andrew Lovell aka “Shovell” is probably best known as being a member of the multi platinum and award winning band M People. He is renowned as one of the best percussionist’s around, and Shovell has also performed and recorded with such names as Sting, Primal Scream, The Chemical Brothers, Boy George, Dame Evelyn Glennie and Soul II Soul to name just a few. Shovell also regularly plays percussion along side some of the worlds top DJ's in some of the worlds best venues. He has been a regular in Ibiza since 1990 and a major player for Defected Records party's since 2005 The journey continues
Planet Drum, Studio/Independent
Sikiru Adepoju first appeared on the American music scene through his involvement with Mickey Hart in the Grammy Award winning Planet Drum project. His technical mastery of the talking drum and various indigenous Yoruba percussion instruments such as dundun, gudugudu, gangan, omele, sekere, bembe, ogido, etc..and other African drums,has gained him acceptance and respect among music listeners of all tastes. Little wonder, Mickey Hart calls Sikiru, “…the Mozart of the talking drum.” Yet, it is his unique spirit, discipline, and commitment to the moment that have gained him respect among his musical peers. The same attributes have contributed to his ability to engage & draw-in audiences, body and mind,,all over the globe.
A master of talking drum, Sikiru was born into a musical family in Eruwa, Western Nigeria. He hails from a lineage of traditional Yoruba talking drummers, culturally referred to as Ayan.(In Yoruba, Ayan simply means, a person who has descended from drummer’s lineage.) Growing up under the tutelage of his father, Chief Ayanleke Adepoju, Sikiru started drumming since the age of six by his father’s side..together with his other brothers:- Saminu, Lasisi, Jimoh, Muniru and Najimu,who were also taught drumming very early in life by their father. Sikiru accompanied Chief Ayanleke Adepoju in their family’s Talking Drum Ensemble for several years.
Jamiroquai, Critical Mass
Sola Akingbola is percussionist/band member of the internationally acclaimed group Jamiroquai. He also leads his own funky roots band Critical Mass. In 2016 he composed the music and performed in the production of Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK. He is currently recording for the new Jamiroquai album, due for release in 2017.
Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, NKOTB
Stanley Randolph, has become one of the most in-demand and highly respected drummers of tour time, gaining the attention of music icons and legends such as Stevie Wonder, New Kids on the Block, Back Street Boys, Christina Aguilera, as well as several members of the Jackson family. Stanley is a veteran of the music industry and boasts one of the most impressive resumés around. He is continually building on his style and sound due to his vast music understanding and knowledge. Stanley has an uncanny ability to capture legendary grooves and signature styles which is why he is so highly regarded in the music world.
Most feel that the true beauty in Stanley’s playing is his ability to show off his incredible talent while still maintaining the integrity of the song, and without stepping on the toes of the other musicians; an art-form that is often lost in the modern-day styles of drumming. Stanley boasts a vast range of musical styles from funk and fusion to afro- cuban and pop.
Stanton Moore Trio, Galactic, Dragon Smoke
Born and raised in New Orleans, Stanton Moore is a dedicated drummer and performer especially connected to the city, its culture and collaborative spirit. Driven and inspired by the thriving music scene of his hometown which includes such greats as Professor Longhair, Doctor John and The Meters, Moore’s name is now mentioned amongst these Big Easy mainstays.
In the early ‘90s, Moore helped found the New Orleans-based essential funk band Galactic. Their first album, 1996’s widely acclaimed Coolin’ Off, led to an intense tour schedule of nearly 200 gigs a year for the next ten years. Building on their fan base by adding an esteemed list of all-star collaborations to the six albums that followed, Galactic continues to amass a worldwide audience via recording and touring globally. Moore launched his solo career in 1998 aided by eight-string guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter and saxophonist Skerik (Les Claypool, John Scofield, and Roger Waters). The group recorded All Kooked Out! featuring a handful of local New Orleans musicians as well.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Eric Clapton, Average White Band
Steve Ferrone has played with Tom Petty & TheHeartbreakers for the past 24 years, Since the recording of the iconic Wildflowers album. He has made a name for himself not only as a band member, playing with such varied, and notable performers as AWB, Eric Clapton, and Duran Duran, but also as a World class studio musician playing drums, and percussion on many notable recordings. He now resides in Los Angeles, and continues to travel the world recording, and playing live concerts.
Jane's Addiction
Born and raised in Los Angeles Bread and spread across the world - janes addiction started and 1986- infectious grooves 1991 - porno for Pyro's 1993 - banyan 1994 - methods of mayhem 1999 - panic channel 2001 - Summermoon is my newest collaboration -five Grammy nominations -MTV award winner -star on the Hollywood blv. walk of fame -hands at the Guitar Center Rockwalk -nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - I like to play drums - have a beautiful wife and a great son and I love dogs -bam bam & Animal were my first influences
Steve Fidyk Parlour Project
Jazz drummer Steve Fidyk has earned national and international acclaim as the drummer and featured soloist with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble. A long time student of jazz drumming legend Joe Morello, Steve serves on the jazz studies faculty at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and as a consultant for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Program. As a columnist, Fidyk contributes regularly to Modern Drummer Magazine, and Teaching Music Magazine.
Steve Gadd
One of the most influential drummers of all time, Steve Gadd set a new standard in drumming. Recording legendary drum tracks like; " Aja"," Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover", “Late in the Evening” and "Nite Sprite", there is no drummer alive today who in some way has not been effected by Steve Gadd. His influence very much felt and can be heard in the playing countless drummers. Still, to this day there is no one who has a “feel” quite like the great Steve Gadd.
Steve has worked with such musicians as Chick Corea, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, Aretha Franklin, Carley Simon, Bob James, Nancy Wilson, Joe Cocker, Al DiMeola, Gato Barbieri, George Benson, Stanley Clarke, Steely Dan, Maynard Ferguson, Roberta Flack, Jim Hall, Eric Clapton, and of course, Paul Simon. Steve continues to be as in-demand as ever with no sign of slowing down. He is busy in the studio and on the road, as well as touring with the Steve Gadd Band. His feel, sound, creativity and technical abilities are the signatures of his trademark “Gadd” sound and we are honored to be able to offer part of that sound with the Steve Gadd Signature cowbell.
Roy Ayers, Asiabeat, Gato Barbieri, Harry Belafonte
At the tender age of seven, Steve heard Mongo Santamaria playing Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man". He was so inspired by the legendary drummer that he taught himself to play the congas by listening to the album over and over again. In 1968, Steve formed his first group, THE YOUNG EXPLOSIVES, a 4 piece Latin-jazz ensemble. They performed on local television station Channel 5's "Inside Bedford- Stuyvesant" and appeared in school talent shows and at the Appollo Theatre. In 1969, Steve met Mongo Santamaria at Club Beacon on 111 Street and Lennox Avenue. When he told Mongo how much he admired him, Mongo challenged Steve to play congas with his band. His first professional appearance was with Jon Lucien's 1972 national tour. He played for the Brazilian band of pianist Dom Salvador and percussionist Dom Um Romao and than went on to become the conga player for Harry Belafonte. Never one to set still, Steve has since performed live and made recordings with some of the most well known jazz artist in the world including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Ayers, Grover Washington Jr., McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Sadao Watanabe, Tania Maria and David Sanborn. Steve is now arranging, composing and producing his own blend of music, incorporating and expanding on everything he has learned in his musical sojourn.
Squeeze
Steven Smith is best known as the frontman/percussionist and of Grammy award-winning electronic alternative band Dirty Vegas, and since 2017 he has become a full time member of New Wave legends, Squeeze. During a 22-year career, Steve has performed major festivals and venues around the globe, and has worked as percussionist for 2018 Grammy award winners Portugal the Man, English Beat, Disq and many dance recordings. As a producer he has remixed Platinum selling artists such as Madonna, Calvin Harris and Justin Timberlake.
Independent
Versatile drummer/percussionist Suzanne Morissette has performed and recorded with elite artists in nearly every musical genre – from jazz to pop, classical, R & B, rock and gospel. As a master’s level graduate of the prestigious Quebec Conservatory of Music and honors graduate of Hollywood’s Percussion Institute of Technology, Suzanne has traveled the globe appearing at major jazz festivals and performing with some of today’s biggest headline stars.
Dianne Reeves Group, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Christian Mcbride Band
Terreon “Tank” Gully performs, tours and records extensively with a variety of artists. From jazz legends and modern masters to the hottest hip hop icons, Terreon has worked with the best: Kurt Elling, David Sanborn, Nicholas Payton, Kenny Barron, the Stones Project, Sting, Queen Latifa, Yerba Buena, Charlie Hunter, Abbey Lincoln, Marc Cary, Russell Gunn, Lizz Wright, Jacky Terrasson, Eldar, Me’Shell NdegeOcello, Lauryn Hill, Mos Def, and Common as well as a host of other artists.
Justin Timberlake
For over 45 years, Los Angeles native and percussionist, Terry Santiel, has been professionally recording and performing. Marvin Gaye, Edwin Starr, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations are just a few of the artists he started recording with at Motown when he was a teenager. Have you ever clapped during intro of the song Car Wash?…. Yes, that's also Terry. He was one of the founding members of the 70s band Rose Royce.
As far as touring life, Terry has performed worldwide for over a decade with Justin Timberlake. In addition to Justin, some of Terry's extensive tours have included Janet Jackson, Jay Z, Mary J. Blige, Barry White, Soul II Soul, Patrice Rushen, The Pointer Sisters, and Sheena Easton. When not touring, there's no time for rest as Terry stays extremely busy recording with many artists. Many of these recordings have included movie soundtracks over the years. Numerous TV appearances have included morning and daytime shows, as well as award shows and late night TV.
Billy Ocean, Fania All-Stars, Roberta Flack, George Benson, Laura Nyro, Barry Miles
Terry Silverlight began his recording career at age 14, playing drums on Barry Miles’s pioneering jazz/fusion album White Heat. Since then, as drummer and percussionist, Terry’s performed worldwide and recorded on gold and platinum albums for artists including The Fania All -Stars, David Matthews’s Super Latin/Jazz, Billy Ocean, Roberta Flack, George Benson, Miguel Cantilo, Jose Jose, Alejandro Lerner, Natalie Merchant, Tom Jones, Laura Nyro, Anne Murray, Mel Torme and many film soundtracks, jingles and TV shows.
Terry has released solo artist albums which he composed and produced the music for, drum instruction books and videos, and has been a featured artist at clinics including The Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival at Lehman College, PASIC, Sam Ash and Brooklyn College.
Tito Puente,Jr. and his Orchestra
Tito Puente Jr. carries his father with him – imprinted on his physical being and locked in his soul. The younger Puente is determined to nurture the musical legacy left by his father. Tito Jr. has become an audience favorite in casinos, performing arts centers, symphony halls and jazz festivals worldwide, performing more than 300 shows over the past 5 years. His 2004 album, “In My Father’s Shoes” featured the classic Puente titles and was spun into a BET Jazz television special of the same name. He was seen in a tribute to his father’s music on NBC’s two hour special--“The Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem.” He has also appeared on the ABC soap opera hit “One Life to Live” in performance with his big band. Symphony appearances include Dallas, San Antonio, Colorado, South Bend, and the Palm Desert Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. Tito, Jr.’s new CD release, “Got Mambo?” is a mixture of the old and the new as he takes a musical departure into some powerful new music he can truly call his own.
Unity, The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson
Tony Succar has worked with artists Arturo Sandoval, Néstor Torres, Tito Nieves, La India, Obie Bermudez, Jennifer Peña, Tito Puente Jr., and Marc Anthony among others. Succar’s compositions emphasize combinations of syncopation, harmonic curiosity, rhythmic uniformity, and tasteful melodies. Assembling an exceptional production team and featured artists, Tony Succar has created The UNITY Project, featuring more than 100 musicians such Latin superstars as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, and India, and the mixing magic of Jackson’s legendary engineer Bruce Swedien.
Recording Artist, LeAnn Rimes, LA Sessions, Aftermath Entertainment
Trevor Lawrence Jr. was born to Lynda Lawrence (formerly of the Supremes) and Trevor Lawrence Sr. (Writer/Producer/Saxophonist). Both of Trevor’s parents were original members of Stevie Wonder’s Wonderland Band. Trevor’s Grandfather Ira Tucker is certified as one of the Forefathers of Gospel Music. “Trev Beats” a name given to Trevor while shooting a pilot to a T.V. show with Famed Actor Cedric The Entertainer, began playing drums at the young age of two. Following in the footsteps of his parents, Music is all Trevor knows. Trevor has since gone on to work with and produce for some of the biggest names in music such as, Herbie Hancock, Dr. Dre, Leann Rimes, Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Boys II Men, Peter Himmelman, Terri Lewis and Jimmy Jam, Stanley Clarke, 7 Aurelius, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Scott Storch, Terrace Martin, Mike Elizondo, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Hans Zimmer, Anthony Hamilton, Lianne La Havas, Euge Groove, YG, Banks, Charlotte OC, and Daye Jack to name a few.
Major Mambo The Conga And Bongo Drum In Jazz, Jazz Nights
Trevor Salloum is well known internationally as a musician and music educator who specializes in Afro-Cuban and Jazz drumming. He has taught at universities, colleges and schools for over 30 years. He studied music at Notre Dame University, Banff School of Fine Arts and is a graduate of York University. He is a best selling author with international publisher Mel Bay Publications Inc. and has produced numerous books, CDs, DVDs and videos on drumming.
Kenny Loggins
Tris imboden has enjoyed a career spanning nearly 5 decades. He was the drummer with Kenny Loggins from 1977 to 1989 before rejoining him now again in 2018. Tris was the drummer on nearly all of Kenny's hits; This Is It, Heart To Heart, Footloose, I'm Alright, Whenever I Call You Friend, Conviction Of The Heart, Forever, etc. In the interim he was the drummer for the band Chicago for nearly thirty years. He has also played with Al Jarreau, Chaka Kahn, Firefall, as well as recording hit records with Chicago, Firefall, Gary Wright, Richard Marx, Neil Diamond, David Foster, Howard Hewitt, Anita Baker Julio Iglesias and Stevie Wonder.
New Century Jazz Quintet Ulysses Owens Jr. & Friends Jazz at Lincoln Center Collective Kurt Elling Quintet Joey Alexander Trio
Ulysses Owens Jr. is an artist “who takes a backseat to no one” – The New York Times – seems to describe his remarkable ascent as one of today’s premier drummers, or perhaps, his evolution as a drummer, producer educator, and entrepreneur. Owens has established himself as a leader in his generation of jazz artists, admired for his sensitive, fiery and complex playing, vivid display of textural nuance, and a gift for propelling a band with charisma and integrity. Both humble in person and imposing behind a kit, he is a graduate of the inaugural Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard School, and a two-time Grammy® Award winner. Ulysses received his first Grammy® in 2010 for his performance on Kurt Elling's "Dedicated To You", and his second Grammy® for the Christian McBride Big Band album "The Good Feeling." In addition to the two Grammy® Awards, he has also received four Grammy® nominations for his work with Christian McBride Trio and Joey Alexander. He has also been honored with a 2015 Jazz At Lincoln Center Swing Award, 2014 Global Music Award, 2013 and 2014 ASCAP Plus Awards. He was also designated a 2014, and 2016 Downbeat Magazine, “ Rising Drum Star”. He is also Artistic Director of his family’s non-profit organization, “Don’t Miss A Beat”, and has recently joined the Faculty at The Juilliard School as part of their Jazz Studies Department. He continues touring extensively and remains in demand for new projects.
Steve Morse, Enrique Iglesias, Nena
Van’s career has been all about diversity. From tracking the eclectic music of Steve Morse and Bernie Worrell to laying down grooves for today’s biggest stars Van has kept himself busy with a mixture of touring, recording and live performances with Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Ciara, Nicole Scherzinger, Ludacris, Naughty By Nature, Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore, Juan luis Guerra, Nena, Billy Joel, Joan Osborne, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Kansas, the The Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, the London Symphony Orchestra, Jaco Pastorius and many more.
Beyonce and Fantasia!
Venzella Joy is one of music’s premier drummers. She gained a great deal of worldwide recognition as the heartbeat of Beyonce’s all-girl band. She began playing drums at age 10 in the elementary school band and in church. After high school Joy attended Canisius College in Buffalo, NY and graduated with a B.A. in Criminal Justice with a minor in music.
In 2009 Joy joined the cast of MTV’s Making His Band where she was noticed as a female drummer who gave new meaning to the phrase “hit like a girl”. As Joy’s musical career began to thrive, her personal life weakened at the passing of her mother.
Joy became Beyonce’s official drummer in 2014 and has since played drums for the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, On The Run Tour with Jay Z, The Formation World Tour, On The Run II and all of the festivals including opening the show and playing drum set for Beyonce’s 2018 Coachella performance, Homecoming.
When not touring with Queen Bey, Venzella Joy divides her career between acting, producing music and performing as an independent artist.
Bronx Conexión Latin Jazz Big Band, Lehman College
Victor Rendón is a performer, educator, author, and veteran of the New York City Latin music scene. He has worked as a sideman with Mongo Santamaria, Chico O’Farrill, Carlos "Patato" Valdés, Ray Santos Orchestra, Latin Jazz Coalition, The "New" Xavier Cugat Orchestra, Grupo Latin Vibe, Los Mas Valientes, Wilson “Chembo” Corniel, and many others. Rendón has had a lengthy career teaching instrumental music and Latin percussion in the New York City. Presently, Rendón is an adjunct lecturer at Lehman College in the Bronx where he directs the Lehman Latin-Jazz Ensemble, gives privates lessons, and also directs the Lehman World Percussion Ensemble. Victor also leads the Bronx Conexión Latin Jazz Big Band
Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project
5-time Grammy Award Winner, Vince Cherico, is the drummer for top Artists in the jazz and world music scenes. In 1995, Vince became the next drummer with Ray Barretto’s Sextet, developing his reputation in Latin Jazz, touring and recording 6 CD’s, earning 2 Grammy Nominations. In 1999 Vince performed with The Caribbean Jazz Project, developing lasting musical relationships with Paquito D’Rivera and Dave Samuels. In 2003 he became a member of The Caribbean Jazz Project, touring the world. In 2004 Vince became the next drummer for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO), performing at Lincoln Center and on tour. In 2009, Vince toured with vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, with notable performances including Carnegie Hall, the Monterey Jazz Festival and an NPR broadcast “Live at The Kennedy Center”.
Vince continues to perform with ALJO after their departure from Jazz at Lincoln Center with world tours, and shows in NYC at Birdland & Symphony Space. Vince has won 3 Grammy’s with ALJO, 1 with The Chico O’Farrill Big Band and 1 with Mister G. Besides performing with many other artists; Vince is also on the faculty of The Columbia University Jazz Program and Drummers Collective.
Mon Laferte, Mr. Grump, HV2, Sofi Mayen, Ximena Sariñana
Born in 1984 in Irapuato, Guanajuato. Vini graduated from LAMA (now LACM) in 2013 from the Associate of Arts in Performance program. As part of his education, Vini has also taken private lessons with Hernan Hecht, Ari Hoenig, Dave Elitch, Mark Guiliana and Toss Panos. As a drummer & percussionist, Vini has worked with Mexican artists Ximena Sariñana and Sofi Mayen; and he currently he holds the drums/percussions chair with artist Mon Laferte, with whom he has been touring with her for the past 2 and a half years through Mexico, Europe, North and South America. Vini is also a part of the drum department at Centro de Estudios Musicales REC where he’s been teaching for 5 years.
currently with Chicago since 2012 www.chicagotheband.com past-Santana,Steve Winwood,Robbie Robertson, Joe Sample,Lindsey Buckingham,David Lindley, Jackson Browne, Sergio Mendes t
Born in Cuba, raised in Puerto Rico, and culminating his musical style in the U.S., Wally (Walfredo Jr.) learned the traditions from the master, his father Walfredo Sr. He married those principles with his love of the drum set, coming up with his own truly global rhythmic style. Simply put, Wally is able to sound like a drummer and a percussionist at the same time. Add blistering chops and a penchant for playing unusual patterns to the mix, and you have only a small idea of what this man can do. Not surprisingly, this “one man percussion show” has gathered an impressive list of gigs over the years, including touring and / or recording with: Carlos Santana, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jackson Browne, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, David Lindley, Ricki Lee Jones, Richard Marx, Sergio Mendes, Smokey Robinson, Robbie Robertson, Joe Sample, Boz Scaggs, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Johnny Hallyday, Khaled, Lindsey Buckingham, Chicago and many others.
Because of his versatility, Walfredo is one of the most in demand musicians in the world today. He currently lives in the Los Angeles area where he continues to expand his talents to recording, producing, composing, education, live performance, and touring. Walfredo is currently touring with the world renown Classic Rock band, Chicago, playing percussion. For more tour info visit: http://www.chicagotheband.com/tour
Rebelution, studio
Wesley grew up in a small California town in the Monterey Bay, an only child raised by a single mother. Always supportive, she urged him into the elementary school music program and even bought him his first drum set. While at North Monterey County High School, his marching and orchestral band traveled to perform across the world. He maintained a love for wind ensemble that carried on into college, playing snare & percussion in the Santa Barbara City College Concert Band and UCSB Wind Ensemble. Working towards a degree in ethnomusicology, it was at SBCC that he met his band members who would later form Rebelution. The reggae-rock group has been together over ten years, doing 3-4 seasonal tours a year including headlining summer amphitheater tours and recording in between, even garnering a Grammy nomination on their last album. Wesley has always respected the quality products that LP makes, “I appreciate the color palette that LP offers and their quality is second to none!”
Chembo Corniel Quintet, Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band, Lainie Kazan
GRAMMY NOMINATED Percussionist Wilson “Chembo” Corniel, Jr. studied music at The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts in New York City, Pastore Music in New Jersey, and also attended La Escuela National de Arte (ENA) in Havana, Cuba in 1997 and 1999 under the direction of Chucho Valdez. Chembo is a member of the faculty at Purchase College and also teaches percussion privately. Chembo had the pleasure of working/touring and or recording with many artists such as Chucho Valdes, Larry Harlow, Tito Puente, Machito, Celia Cruz, Grady Tate, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin, Willie Colon, Angela Bofill, Steve Wilson, Ray Vega, Buddy Montogmery, Bob Baldwin, Chico Freeman and many more. Chembo now leads his own Latin Jazz quintet since October 2001 and also started his record company “Chemboro Records, Inc.” in 2004. Chembo Corniel has landed a nomination from the 52nd NARAS GRAMMY AWARDS for the cd “Things I Wanted To Do” for "BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM" 2010. His fifth and latest 2016 cd “Land Of The Descendants” with invited guests Kat Gang (vocals) and James Zollar (trumpet) on this cd are getting great reviews around the world.
Performer & Educator
Xing Gao is one of the most talented percussionists in China. After studying percussion in various Latin American countries, including Cuba, Gao returned to China and started promoting Latin music. Soon after, he established China’s 1st Latin band, Los Amigos, which recorded many influential albums.
In 2012, Gao was invited by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to perform for China’s President Xi and Cuba’s President Raul Castro. The performance has enabled him to further his goal of popularizing Latin music in China.
Gao has participated in the Shanghai International Music Festival, the Shanghai International Jazz Festival, and others. He has performed & recorded with various artists in China such as CUI jian, HAN hong, NA ying, LI yu chun, and others.
As an educator, Gao has promoted Latin music in many universities and schools throughout China. He currently holds a teaching position at the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy and is an active participant in supporting public charities.
Chucho Valdés, Studio/Independent
Among the many talents in Cuba, expert Cuban rhythms of Franco-Haitian origin and knowledge of Afro-Cuban folklore, Yaroldy is an imaginative percussionist, expressive, with great technique and virtuosity, and one who has an original style. He stands out for his genius and mastery, hearing him play is an enjoyment for the senses. He radiates vitality and joy, his hands seem to fly and at the same time caress the drums causing a magical and contagious effect on those who listen to him. He is currently one of the members of the Quintet of Maestro Chucho Valdés.
Yaroldy continues to renew the grammar and pronunciation of the Afro-Latin congas in jazz, he is one of the most influential names whose point of reference is the work of the great immortal masters such as Chano Pozo, Tata Güines, Mongo Santamaría, Jorge "El Niño" Alfonso and Miguel "Angá" Díaz.
Bronx Conexión Latin-Jazz Big Band
Born in Osaka, Japan. Yasuyo began her musical studies at age four on the classical piano. In addition, she started studying modern dance when she was in high school.
After she finished her BA in Music at Mukogawa Women’s University, she moved to NYC to study the Muller and Limón modern dance technique. It was in these dance classes that she became attracted to the sounds of percussion. Since then, she has continued to dedicate her passion for playing percussion. Her instructors included Greg Askew / Johnny Almendra / Wilson “Chembo” Corniel / Victor Rendón / Louie Bauzo, and Bobby Sanabria. She also studied pandeiro with Scott Kettner and Afro-Peruvian cajon with Marcos Napa. In Cuba, she studied with Tomas Ramos Ortiz (El Panga) and Yaroldi Abreu. Currently, she is studying batá drumming with Jerome Goldschmidt. Yasuyo has performed and recorded with various groups/artists, which include: El Shabazz Djembe Orchestra, Los Más Valientes, Pasión, Grupo Latin Vibes, Adela Dalto, Nicki Mathis, Henry Brun, “Co-Tim-Bó” Percussion Ensemble, and Blue Mambo. Currently, she is performing with the Bronx Conexión Latin-Jazz Big Band. As an instructor, Yasuyo has been involved in clinics/workshops at PASIC, KOSA-NYC, PAS NJ, Eddie Ming Drum School in Bermuda.
The Who, Oasis, Johnny Marr
Stylish Mod drummer from London
Lenny Kravitz Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Bobby Brown The New Edition Jody Watley Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire Vanessa Paradis
Zoro, one of the world’s most renowned drummers has toured and recorded with Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, The New Edition, Jody Watley, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vanessa Paradis, Sean Lennon, Lisa Marie Presley, and many others. Throughout his career, he has consistently been voted “#1 R&B Drummer and Clinician” by premier publications such as Modern Drummer, Drum!, and Rhythm Magazine. Modern Drummer magazine asserts, “Zoro wrote the book on dynamics, touch, control, and groove.” Often called the “Minister of Groove,” Zoro authored the #1 award winning and best-selling book and DVD series, The Commandments of R&B Drumming. As author of the critically acclaimed and highly successful books, The Big Gig: Big-Picture Thinking for Success and Soar! 9 Proven Keys for Unlocking Your Limitless Potential, Zoro has equipped countless people with the tools needed to excel and succeed.
As an inspirational speaker Zoro connects with all generations because he’s real, relevant, and relatable. People are drawn to his engagingly winsome spirit, sense of humor, and unmistakably hip style. The indelible mark he makes with his music, words, and life continues to have a profound impact on those who come across his path.
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