Latin Percussion & West African Drumming
Our Latin Percussion instructor includes some of the finest Bay Area Latin percussionists. You learn how to play percussion among the Santa Cruz Redwoods. There are 4 hours of classes on Wednesday including a yoga session and 7 hours of classes from Thursday-Saturday for a total of 25 hours of classes! You can take two hours per day with Latin percussion instructors and one hour with West African drumming. Once you’ve registered for Kosmos Camp you can take any percussion class, yoga class, or dance class offered.
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.
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. Josh’s class will be focused on various Latin rhythms in coordination with other Kosmos Latin percussion instructors and also he 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.
Omar Ledezma Jr.-Latin Percussion
Omar was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. He has a diploma from the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston. Omar is an active Bay Area performer both as a lead singer and percussionist. He has toured with renowned artists in UK, Europe, the Caribbean and South America. Omar has participated in more than 20 recordings! He has given stellar performances previously at Kosmos Camp and we welcome him with open arms now as an instructor.
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.
