Ignacio Berroa

Ignacio Berroa (born July 8, 1953 in Havana, Cuba) is a jazz drummer.

In 1980 Ignacio left his country during the Mariel Boatlift, moved to New York and joined Dizzy Gillespie’s quartet in 1981, becoming the drummer of all the important bands Gillespie formed until his death in 1993.

Ignacio Berroa has been recognized by many as one of the greatest drummers of our times. 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…”

As an educator Ignacio has conducted clinics and master classes all over the world. He also has created a video-teaching presentation "Afro- Cuban Jazz and Beyond" an overview of the development of Afro-Cuban music and its influence in Jazz. As an author he made his mark with the instructional video: Mastering the Art of Afro – Cuban Drumming as well as the books: Groovin’ in Clave and A New Way of Groovin’.

His first album as a leader, “Codes”, released under Blue Note Records, was nominated for a Grammy in 2007. “Codes” also won a Danish Music Award in 2007 as best International Jazz Album. He was honored by inclusion in the 2011 Blue Note and Modern Drummer Release entitled "Jazz Drumming Legends". His album "Heritage and Passion" was recorded on 2014.

Ignacio has recorded and played with musicians of the stature of McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Michael Brecker, Milt Jackson, Jaco Pastorius, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Tito Puente, Mario Bauzá, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Joao Bosco, Lenny Andrade, and Lincoln Center Orchestra, WDR Big Band and BBC Big Band just to name a few.

Ignacio Berroa Selected Discography:

• Ignacio Berroa: Heritage and Passion • Ignacio Berroa: Codes (Grammy Nominee) • “Jazz Drumming Legends”: MP3 Compilation • BBC Legends, Dizzy Gillespie 70th Anniversary Big Band: Life at The Royal Festival Hall • Dizzy Gillespie: United Nation Orchestra: Life at The Royal Festival Hall (Grammy Award Winner) • McCoy Tyner: La Leyenda de La Hora • Tito Puente: Latin Jazz All Stars in Session. • Charlie Haden: Nocturne, (Grammy Award Winner) • Charlie Haden: Land of the Sun. (Grammy Award Winner) • Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Inner Voyage. (Grammy Nominee) • Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Supernova. (Grammy Award Winner) • Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Paseo (Grammy Nominee) • Danilo Perez: The Journey

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