The purpose of this master class is to provide musicians, educators, and jazz drummers with the tools, tips, and information necessary to learn the most common Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and other jazz-related contemporary grooves derived from African rhythms. In addition, this presentation will answer many questions related to the true nature of drumming in the jazz ensemble, as well as the different roles that a good jazz drummer must take to make the band swing and play with musicality.
Rodrigo Villanueva-Conroy
- Biographical Information
Rodrigo Villanueva-Conroy is a Professor of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University School of Music, where he teaches jazz drum set, directs the NIU Jazz Ensemble, and is the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. He also serves on the faculty of the Birch Creek Percussion and Steel Pan Summer Program. An active educator, clinician, and performer, Villanueva-Conroy has presented master classes and clinics at universities and institutions throughout the United States and abroad. His performance career has taken him to major jazz venues and festivals across the United States, as well as Spain, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Singapore, and South Korea. He has performed and recorded with distinguished jazz and classical artists including Jangeun Bae, Craig Butterfield, Frank Caruso, Eddie Gomez, Fareed Haque, Stefan Karlsson, Alex Mercado, Hiro Morozumi, Jon Nelson, Ed Saindon, Rodolfo Sanchez, Ben Sidran, Anders Svanoe, Liam Teague, and Takayoshi Yoshioka, in addition to Latin music stars Shaila Dúrcal, Alejandro Fernández, and Lucero. Villanueva-Conroy performs regularly with the Eddie Gomez Trio, the Alex Mercado Trio, the Anders Svanoe Trio, the NIU Jazz Faculty, Nucleus, and his own trio. He is an artist endorser for Sabian Cymbals, Yamaha Drums, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Latin Percussion. His appearances include the Jazz Education Network Conference, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and multiple Midwest Clinic conferences. In 2022, he was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholar grant to conduct research and teaching in Brazil.