2 Cool Moments!

Here are two very cool musical moments from recent days….
First, a recording session on which I am playing percussion for my dear friend, the bassist Itaiguara Brandão. He's producing his debut recording as a leader, watch out of that album coming out later this year!

photo by Yotam Silberstein  (who played amazing guitar on the session too!!)

The next is a fantastic photo by my friend and super talented photographer Nelson Onofre, who attended my show last sunday. Check him out at http://electriceyesphotography.blogspot.com

by Nelson Onofre - Iridium NYC May 4th 2014

Prasanna and the Indian Classical Saints - NYC may 3 & 4th 2014

This past weekend (may 3 & 4) I played again with a dear friend, and somebody I know for many years, the guitarist/composer Prasanna. I also took lessons from him, and did several performances and recordings over the years. So it was very exciting to be on stage with him again, this time in NYC at Iridium.
The band was really fun, its always great to play with such talented musicians!!
Nitin Mitta on tabla
Matt Geraghty on bass
Shalini on vocals
Prasanna on guitar
and,
myself on drums.
 *** our friend Thomaz de Castro guested on percussion on sunday may 4th.

Ritenour/Grusin April 2014 tour dates

I was so incredibly fortunate to be playing drums on a few dates in April with some of my all time heroes, and it was so much fun! 
The Brazil project featured Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin leading the band, with Abraham Laboriel and myself on the rhythm section. 
The special guests: Daniel Jobim did a beautiful job singing and playing some of his grandfather's greatest songs, and we had two great singers joining the band - Lisa Ono for the Japan dates, and Céu for the show in Miami. In the Miami date, the great Paulinho da Costa joined the band also. 

Carmen Souza - USA dates March 2014

I played 4 shows with the great Carmen Souza in USA, as part of their North America tour 2014. 

Had a great time with the band on the road: Theo Pascal on bass, Matt King on piano, and Carmen on guitar, keys and vocals. 

I played a hybrid set that is always a lot of fun to explore. No tons, just floor tom, snare and bongos,  a cajon as a seat, and a bell/woodblock. Always inspiring to play it, and it generates many new ideas for grooves and fills too. 

As always, thanks to Soultone Cymbals, Vic Firth,  GruvGear,  FSA cajons,  LP Percussion, Powerclick in-ear monitors and Lexicon Pro Audio. 

The Falcon, Marlboro NY - march 28th

Regattabar, Boston MA - march 29th

Joe's Pub, NYC - march 30th

Elmira College, Elmira, NY - march 31st. 

@ Joe's Pub - NYC - (c) Joe's Pub - by Akinfe Fatou

Is this fun or what??

Hybrid Drumkit/Percussion 

Fun Videos #2!

And, here are a few more recent videos, hope you all enjoy them!!

First of all, my first-ever video lesson on drumset! On it I am talking a bit about my concept and ideas for playing the Ijexá groove, a Afro-Brazilian rhythm which you may also have heard being called Afoxé. Some coordination is addressed, as well as ways to orchestrate around the kit and create original grooves and solos based on this rhythm. Check it out, share it, enjoy it! Many thanks to Soultone Cymbals for their support and their A-M-A-Z-I-N-G instruments!!!




This next one is a groove solo, based on the Ijexá / Afoxé groove. Check out the lesson above first for the basic idea, and then see the solo for some applications!



Lastly, this is from Sergio Galvão's show at the Blue Note NYC in early March 2014.... we are playing the classic Brazilian song "Vou Deitar e Rolar...".