Roderick Jackson (Cleveland, Ohio), began his interest in percussive music at age 10. In 1990, his relocation to New York city propelled intensive study of the rhythms, dances, and instruments involved in multiple cultures, including those of Afro-Brazilian, West African, South African, Angolan, Korean, and Haitian origin. Mr.
Ayanda Clarke is a second-generation African American percussionist accomplished in his own right. Over the past twenty years, he has had the opportunity to study with master musicians from around the world, and continues to research a wide range of percussion styles and traditions. As a student of African Diasporic percussion, Ayanda's research has included musical traditions of Guinea, Mali, Sengal, Ghana, Angola, Cuba, Brazil, the West Indies, and the African Americas.
Earl Spencer is a native of Queens, New York. Influence by his parents, who are both artists, Earl Began listening to various forms of music at an early age. In high school Earl learned to play drumset, timpani, and snare drum, and joined several jazz and classical ensembles. After high school, he began to explore something that was always close to his heart, African percussion and culture. Already a studied conga player, Earls African studies served to enhance that which he knew and open new doors of percussive music. His musical talents has led him to perform all over the world.
Born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, Cabello keeps the tradition of his ancestors alive by dedicating his life to the rhythms, instruments, songs and dances of the Afro-Brazilian culture.
Bio to come
Gregory Ince was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and comes from a family of talented percussionists. His first mentor and teacher was his older brother Walter. Greg's thirst and talent for music soon led him to study with some of the New York's finest percussionist and drummers. Teachers such as "Papa" Ladji Camara, Walter Perkins, the late Joeseph Commodre, and many others have all had a hand in Greg's musical development.
Marty Beller is a New York City-based composer/drummer/percussionist who has a long history of collaboration with dance, film, theater, TV and pop music.
Jazz Pianist/Vocals/Didjeridoo/Hand Drums
Michael Mustafa Ulmer, a native to the "Motor City," was raised with the incredible musical influences of Motown's R&B, (especially Pianist/Songwriter Morris Broadnax, who wrote and co-wrote music for Stevie Wonder) and the inspiring live Jazz scene of Detroit.
Nadi is a flautist and composer who hails from Harlem, New York. His musical education includes; New York City College, Long Island University, Laney College, CA., New School Francisco, CA., New England Conservatory of Music, Boston MA., Jazz Cultural Theatre, NY. Barry Harris, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, Andrew Hill, Frank Foster, and Ron Carter have numbered among his teachers. Performances and collaborations include; Stevie Wonder, Sun Ra , Laaraji, Iyanla Vanzant, Young Soon Kim Dance Company, and Batoto Yetu to name a few.
Sekou was born and raised in New York City. With a musician father and a mother who is a dancer, he learned the arts at an early age. At the age of four, Sekou was already learning to play the Djimbe drum and by the age five he was performing on stage. By the time he turned twelve he was teaching drum classes at the Isetayo Dance School in Brooklyn. Sekou is a member of the El Shabazz Djimbe Orchestra and he has toured the United States with Batoto Yetu Children's African Dance Company.
Bio to come