player profiles
Page 1
Alex Acuna - Hakim Ludin
Trilok Gurtu - Xavi Turull
Rubem Dantas - Paquito Gonzalez
Rafael Santa Cruz C. Davis Kuckhermann
Paul Jennings - Tom Chapman
Pirana - Ramon Porrina
hakim ludin
Alex acuna
Magic sounds and rhythm creations are the trademarks of Hakim Ludin's artistry. He is both a much sought-after Jazz./World percussionist and classically trained musician. The master world percussionist studied rhythms virtually from every culture. Hakim Ludin began his professional career with a classical orchestral education at the conservatory of Karlsruhe in Germany. He has played in numerous Jazz and avant garde ensembles and composed musical works for several renowned theaters in Germany. In the field of modern jazz'n'world percussion, Hakim Ludin has established a new level of artistic work and percussive art. His sensitive way of play and his colorful musical pictures are demanded on live stages as well as in recording studios.
If one wants to name Hakim Ludin's art of percussion, it could be called 'lyrical jazz'.
Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved to Puerto Rico. In 1974 Acuña moved to Las Vegas, working with artists such as Elvis Presley and Diana Ross, and the following year he joined the jazz-fusion group Weather Report, appearing on the albums Black Market and Heavy Weather. Acuña left Weather Report in 1978, and became a session musician in California, recording and playing live with (amongst many others) Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Jim Walker (musician), Chick Corea, Whitney Houston and U2.
He has also worked as an educator at University of California, Los Angeles and Berklee College of Music.
xavi turull
trilok gurtu
A world class, virtuoso perussionist, now in his mid-fifties, Trilok has attracted a world class set of collaborators over a long career; these started with John McLaughlin in whose trio, Trilok flourished as the featured soloist for 4 years, other jazz greats continued this path – Joe Zawinul, Jan Garbarek, Don Cherry, Bill Evans, Pharoah Sanders, Dave Holland were all attracted to Trilok's burning sense of rhythm. Of course he is deeply rooted in the Indian tradition, so it is no surprise to see that collaborations also took place with the glitterati of Indian musical society – his mother, Shobha Gurtu, Zakir Hussain, L. Shankar, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, The Misra Brothers and Sultan Khan. World music has become an established genre in which Trilok has further “ploughed his own furrow” with his own group, to great effect, performing and recording with Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, Neneh Cherry, Omara Portuondo, Tuvan throat singers, Huun Huur Tu, to such effect that Rita Ray of BBC Radio described him as “a serial collaborator”
Xavi Turull is one of Spain’s top percussionists and master cajon players. After studying Indian percussion at the Karnataka Collage of Percussion in Bangalore he went on to play with artists, including Ketama, Paixarinho, Gerardo Nuñez, Riqueni, de Melchor, Cañizares, Manolo Sanlucar, Joaquin Cortes, Rosario, Antonio, and Lolita Flores. Now residing in Barcelona, he is a member of the progressive flamenco fusion band Ojos De Brujo.
The journey of Ojos de Brujo (ODB) started in their fascination with the rhythmical treasures of the planet and the languages of flamenco.
In 1999, the group recorded its first album, 'Vengue', and, going against conventional industry wisdom, they created their own structure and team for promotion, production, and recording of all future material.
RUBEm DANTAS
Paquito González
The man who introduced the cajon to flamenco!
Rubem Dantas who now resides in Spain, was born into a musical family in Salvador de Bahía (Brasil). After many years playing with artists such as Jean Luc Vallet, Jaime Margues and Dolores, Rubems path crossed with legendary flamenco guitarist Paco De Lucia. Rubem was invited to join Paco's new project. It was then Rubem introduced percussion into flamenco music
While on a South American tour with Paco De Lucia, Rubem discovered the Peruvian Cajon and decided to include it in the show that night on the theme "Solo Quiero Caminar" (All I want is to walk). That decision sparked a movement and forever marked flamenco music. The cajon has now become a staple part of any flamenco ensemble.
Rubem Dantas has played with many top world and jazz artists including Chick Corea, Camarón de la Isla, Gilberto Gil, Fernando Girao and the Magnetic North Orchestra.
Paquito González is one of Spain's top percussionists. Playing professionally since the age of just 14, he now plays with many of the world's top flamenco artists including: Manolo Sanlúcar, Carmen Linares, Isidro Muñoz, Arcángel, Marina Heredia, El Pele, Tomatito, Estrella Morente, José Mercé, Duquende, Gerardo Núñez, Pedro Sierra, Juan Carlos Romero, Jose Antonio Rodríguez, José Quevedo “Bolita”, Ricardo Rivera, Dani Méndez, Diego del Morao, Moraito Chico, Joaquín Grilo, Carmen Cortes, Carles Benavent, Diego Amador, Joan Albert Amargós, Chicuelo, Potito, Sara Baras, Vicente Amigo, UHF (Ultra High Flamenco).
Recently he released an instructional DVD titled
"EL CAJÓN FLAMENCO"
David Kuckhermann
Rafael santa cruz c.
A top cajon player with a unique finger technique incorporated into his style. You may be familiar with his top video on youtube
After studying with teachers such as Glen Velez, Behnam Samani, Ramesh Shotham and Ustad Fayaz Khan he created his personal style, incorporating techniques and rhythms from the hand drumming traditions of Iran, India, Egypt, Europe, Turkey and Africa.
He worked with Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Dead Can Dance, Levent, the medieval music ensemble Cordatum and in contemporary music together with Helmut Bieler-Wendt and the Taner Akyol Trio. David has performed and tought masterclasses in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Italy, Palestine, Tunisia, France, Poland, Estonia, Ireland and the USA. He has a series of instructional DVDs on hand- and fingerdrumming and is working on a method for middle-eastern percussion in collaboration with the Edward Said National Conservatory of music in Palestine.
Rafael comes from the Santa Cruz’s tradition, an important Afro-Peruvian family dedicated to cultivating different artistic manifestations. When he was 14, he recorded for Nicomedes Santa Cruz’s album “Socavon”. When he was 15, while still at school, he formed his first groups of music. He participated as musical accompanist in the workshops Victoria Santa Cruz gave in some countries of America and Europe. He participated in the initial workshops for the production of the theatrical play Mahabarata, under the general direction of Peter Brook and the musical direction of Toshi Tsuchitori in Paris. Back in Lima, he performed the musical direction of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Gian Piero Solari. He founded and directed “Hermanos Santa Cruz & Afroperú”. He has given percussion clinics, master classes and didactic recitals, and made presentations in England, Italy, Dominican Republic, the United States, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain and Puerto Rico.
tom chapman
Paul jennings
Paul Jennings has long been considered one of the UK's top percussionists, playing drum set as well as an array of percussion and hand drums including Cajon, Darabuka, Djembe, congas and electronics. He has toured the US more than a dozen times and as part of one US tour Paul performed a three-week run on Broadway in New York City.
Tom Chapman is a drummer and percussionist based in Birmingham, UK. Tom graduated with first class honours from Birmingham Conservatoire’s jazz course in 2007 and is currently carving a niche for himself as a percussionist on the folk, acoustic and “world music” scenes.
Ramon Porrina
Piraña
Another great flamenco cajon pioneer, Ramon Suarez from Spain has played with: Joaquín Cortés, Antonio Canales...Y dentro del cante flaménco a acompañado y grabado a cantaores como Enrique Morente, Jose Mercé, Miguel "El Rubio", Diego "El Cigala", Dukende, Potito, Montse Cortés, La Tana, Niña Pastori, Estrella Morente...Y dentro de la Guitarra a acompañado y grabado a Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, Gerardo Núñez, El Viejín, Riqueni, Enrique del Melchor, Jesús de Rosario, Niño Josele, Diego "Del Morao", Ramón Jimenez... Acaba de presentar su disco didactico en el que colaboran Ramón "El Portugues", Guadiana, Potito, Diego "El Cigala", Estrella Morente, Concha Buika, Dani de Moron, Paquete, Manuel Parrilla y Diego "Del Morao" así como otros cantaores y guitarristas...Actualmente esta en gira con Concha Buika.
Israel Suarez known as "The Piranha" Grandson of Porrina of "Badajoz" and son of Ramon "The Portugues" Nacio. Is known as one of Spain's top flamenco cajon players. He has worked with many top artists including: Sara Baras, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, Giovanni Hidalgo, Horacio "El Negro", Ketama, La Barbería del Sur, Antonio Carmona, Rosario Flores, Chano Domínguez, Jerry Gonzalez, Wynton Marsalis, Montse Cortes, La Tana, Joaquín Cortés, Javier Limón, Niño Josele, Alain Perez, Concha Buika, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Fernandez, Lenny Cravitz, Carles Benavent y Josemi, Jorge Pardo, Paquete, Marizza, Parrita, Tio Moncho, Homenaje a "Jero", Pepe de Lucía, Antonio Canales, Enrique Morente, Estrella Morente, Jose Mercé, Diego el "Cigala, Dukende, El Potito, Arcangel, Paquito de Rivera, El Barrio, Guadiana, Cañizares, Luz Casa.
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