Latin Percussion, West African Drumming, Haitian Drumming

Our Latin Percussion instructors includes some of the finest Bay Area Latin percussionists.  You learn how to play percussion in outdoor settings among the Sonoma Redwoods.  There are 8 eight hours per day of percussion classes from Thursday-Saturday and 5 hours of percussion classes on Sunday for a total of an amazing 29 hours!  Once you’ve registered for Kosmos Camp you can take any percussion class or dance class offered by our dance and percussion instructors.

Louie Romero —Latin Percussion

Born and raised in New York City, Louie Romero is a gem of the San Francisco Latin percussion scene. Performing and recording as a lead percussionist with such salsa greats as Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, and Willie Colon, he is no stranger to heavy-hitting music. As a band leader of Mazacote, a well-known Bay Area salsa band, Louie creates a powerful foundation of rhythm and his easy going and positive nature helps make him a great percussion instructor. Louie’s class will be focused on various Latin rhythms in coordination with other Kosmos Latin percussion instructors. Watch Louie’s Class at Kosmos Camp here. Watch Louie perform an amazing timbales solo.

Carlos Caro — Latin Percussion

Carlos M. Caro was born in Havana, Cuba and, from an early age, was strongly drawn to Cuban music, particularly percussion. He moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and has become a much sought-after percussionist working with established, renowned musicians such as Omar Sosa, Jesus Diaz and his QBA, Eddie Palmieri, Jorge Santana, & Louie Romero & Mazacote. In addition to being an active performer, Caro is also an established Latin percussion instructor in the Bay Area. Caro’s class will be focused on various Latin rhythms in coordination with other Kosmos Latin percussion instructors. Watch Carlos perform with Louie at Kosmos Camp here!

Josh Jones —Latin Percussion & Latin Jazz Ensemble

Josh plays various styles of Latin music, including Cuban music from the 1950′s to contemporary dance music. Josh Jones has recorded with many well-known Latin jazz musicians and his band “The Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble” comprises some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians.  Jones offers a Latin Jazz ensemble class at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley.  Jones has toured with jazz great Don Cherry as well as virtuoso Cuban pianist Omar Sosa.  Josh plays trap set as well as bongo, congas, and various other percussive instruments.  He’ll be teaming up with Louie Romero and Carlos Caro to round out a powerful rhythm section. Josh’s class will be focused on various Latin rhythms in coordination with other Kosmos Latin percussion instructors and also will lead a Latin Jazz Ensemble which gives Kosmos Camp student percussionists to play and perform with a full band. Check out Josh Jones’ website. Watch Josh’s class perform at Kosmos Camp here.

Karamba Dioubate —West African Drumming

Griot and master Guinean musician Karamba Dioubate is originally from Boke, West Africa and has played with such renowned acts as Fish de Rice and Famouro Kouyate¹s group Keke in Guinea, before touring Europe and the US with Fatala, a traditional drum and dance troupe formed by master percussionist Yacouba Camara. Karamba has shared the stage with both James Brown and Mick Jagger, drumming in front of stadium audiences.  He has been living in the US since 1992, teaching West African drumming in the New York and Oakland communities and workshops nationwide. His positive and electric performances at Kosmos Camp have been absolutely infectious.  Karamba brings extra drums including djembes and others but it’s ideal if you bring a drum of your own to Kosmos Camp for West African drumming classes. Watch Karamba’s class at Kosmos Camp 2010. Watch Karamba’s West African drumming at Kosmos Camp!  If you’re interested in learning more about West African drumming click here.

Alfie Macias-  Samba Drumming

Alfie has studied various traditions of Afro-Latino and Caribbean percussion for over 15 years.  He has studied and performed with noted percussionists: Gamo De Paz and Jorge Alabe from Brazil, and locally with Carlos Aceituno, Zeke Neally and Kwaku Dady. Macias has performed with a number of Brazilian music ensembles including Aguas de Bahia and Fogo Na Roupa. He is also an accomplished salsa dance instructor, having studied in Miami and Cuba. Alfie is the current Bateria Director for Loco Bloco’s Carnaval activities and is the co-musical director for annual events.  Alfie will also be accompanying Rafaella Falchi’s Samba Dance classes.

Daniel Brevil-  Haitian Drumming

DANIEL BREVIL is one of Haiti’s finest dance accompanists and Musical Director for Ayikodans Company and Tamboula – two of Haiti’s premier folkloric troupes. He has composed and arranged complex and original drum orchestrations, which breathes life into the ensemble’s choreography. He has recorded and performed with luminary figures of Haitian music as Azor, Emeline Michel, James Germaine and Danniel Beaubrun (Boukman Eksperyans) among others. Since 1987, Daniel has performed and toured throughout Haiti and Dominican Republic. His international appearances include- Guadalupe, Martinique, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Canada, Spain, France, Greece, Japan and Puerto Rico. Daniel Brevil is an accomplished drum teacher, leading classes and workshops for youth and adults worldwide. He exemplifies a unique insight into the relationship between dance and drum, which informs his compositions, arrangements, performances, and teachings.