Jumma Santos
| Juma Santos | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James P. Riley |
| Also known as | Jumma Santos |
| Born |
January 15, 1948 Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | September 1, 2007 (aged 59) |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Percussionist |
Juma Santos, also known as Jumma Santos (January 15, 1948 – September 2007), born James P. Riley, was a percussionist and master drummer known for his extensive work over four decades with African music, Caribbean music, jazz, fusion and R&B artists.
Born in Massachusetts, Santos served time in prison in upstate New York twice, was homeless for a time, and lived in Harlem and Brooklyn before moving to Detroit in 2000. He also spent time in Ghana.
He combined and fused styles and playing techniques on varied African musical instruments, experimenting with rhythms, songs, and chants with modern jazz harmonies and melodic forms and structures. His career included performing with many noted artists on projects of historical significance, including recording on more than 75 albums.
Santos recorded on Miles Davis's Bitches Brew and toured with Davis for a year. He also toured and recorded with Nina Simone, David Sanborn and Taj Mahal. Other performance residencies include stints with Ahmad Jamal, Dave Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis, Jack DeJohnette, Gato Garcia, Don Alias, Freddie Hubbard, the Fabulous Rhinestones, Jimi Hendrix, Harvey Brooks, Roy Ayers, Don Moye, and his own groups, Rosewater Foundation, Afro Jazz Messengers, the Pan-African Drum Ensemble, the Jumma Society and Sounds of the Urban Forest. Juma Santos was also a fine painter who had had several successful exhibitions.
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