Ignacio Berroa
- Biographical Information
Ignacio Berroa has been recognized as one of the greatest drummers of our time. He was honored by inclusion on the Blue Note Records Jazz compilation. “Jazz Drumming Legends” which include some of the most renowned jazz drummers in history, Jazz Legend Dizzy Gillespie best defined Ignacio as: “… the only Latin drummer in the world in the history of American music that intimately knows both worlds: his native Afro – Cuban music as well as Jazz…” Ignacio Berroa began his musical education in 1964 at the National School of Arts and subsequently at Havana’s National Conservatory, beginning his career in 1970. By 1975 Ignacio had become Cuba’s most sought after drummer. In 1980 he left his country during the Mariel boat – lift and settled in New York City where he met the great Cuban musician Mario Bauzá who introduced him to Dizzy Gillespie. In 1982, Gillespie invited Ignacio to join his quartet. Ignacio took part on all the important bands Gillespie assembled during that decade such as: The Dizzy Gillespie 70th Anniversary Big Band, The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Big Band and the Grammy Award winner, United Nation Orchestra. This relation lasted until Dizzy’s death in 1993. Ignacio has recorded and played with musicians of the stature of: McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis. Lou Donaldson, Jackie McLean, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Michael Brecker, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutchertson, Jaco Pastorius, Jack Bruce, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Dave Holland, Eddie Gomez, Tito Puente, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Danilo Perez Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chico Bouarque, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Joao Bosco, JALC Orchestra, WDR Big Band and BBC Big Band to name a few. As an author and educator he made his mark in 1995 with his instructional video: “Mastering the Art of Afro Cuban drumming” and his books, “Groovin’ in Clave” and “A New Way of Groovin.” His most recent educational project is the masterful video /teaching presentation. “Afro – Cuban Jazz & Beyond”, an overview of the development of Afro – Cuban and Cuban music, since the arrival of the slaves to Cuba, it’s influence on Jazz and the influence of Jazz on Cuban music.Ignacio has conducted master classes and lectures at important musical universities such as: Juilliard School of Music, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Chicago Cultural Arts Center, Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Montreal, North Texas, USC Thornton School of music, UM Frost School of music, Baylor, FIU, universities, Royal Academy of Stockholm, and Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, to name a few. Today, Ignacio remains active on the forefront of Jazz and Afro - Cuban Jazz music scene: Sharing his knowledge as educator and bandleader.