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The Drum Cafe Teams
The Drum Cafe has different team located across the USA and Canada to serve your needs
- San Marcos Daily Record - Convocation with a beat....more
- Drumming up support for the McMaster Community Campaign...more
- Corporate Bands Emerge as Executives Turn to Music for Team-Building, Stress Relief and Fun...more
- Miss World 2009 entertainment came from South African talent was represented by international stage sensation Umoja and Drum Cafe....more
- The US Commerce Association is pleased to announce that The Drum Cafe has been selected for the 2009 Best of San Antonio Award in the Business Services category by the US Commerce Association....more
- ...more
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Our People are Our Most Important Asset!
Talent, Passion, Energy & Enthusiasm
Drum Cafe team members typically are formally trained in West African drumming and have experience as performers and facilitators. What makes our team so special is the way we interview. We listen for passion, and a commitment to engaging people, creating unity and transformation in groups. We know we are making a difference for people.
Dale Monnin
Dale Monnin helps bring the Drum Café to Texas on the heels of a tremendously successful career in Sales and Sales management. With an MBA in International Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Dale has worked for top global technology firms such as Parametric Technology, IBM, and NCR. Dale has worked on 4 continents, building and developing cross-cultural teams in marketplaces as diverse as post-apartheid South Africa and the People's Republic of China. An avid traveler, his adventures have taken him through 100 cities in 40 countries.
Natalie Spiro
Natalie came to the USA from South Africa with incomparable credentials and impressive careers in Training, Marketing and Sales. With a Masters Degree in Industrial Psychology (registered Industrial Psychologist in South Africa) and an MBA in Corporate Strategy and Marketing, Natalie has worked for top global firms in Financial Services and Hospitality Industries. She has worked in the corporate world and run her own businesses and has been involved in building and developing cross cultural teams in marketplaces as diverse as post-apartheid South Africa - the beautiful Rainbow Nation.
Chris O'Neil
Chris began his percussion studies at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, where he held the position of Principal Percussion in the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra for two years. While in Sudbury, Chris began accompanying modern dance for "Earthdancers", which led him to compose music for percussion in collaboration with dancers from Toronto Dance Theatre. Chris moved to Vancouver in order to complete his Bachelor of Music in Performance Percussion at the University of British Columbia where he studied under Salvador Ferreras. In Vancouver, Chris played with Okanagan Symphony, the Burnaby Symphony and the Vancouver Island Symphony. In Vancouver, Chris has become an integral part of Vancouver’s African drum community where he has performed with Fana Soro’s "Masabo Culture Company" and plays the djembe solo in Fana’s African dance classes. Chris was invited to play djembe at the World Rhythm Festival in Seattle with Pepe Danza and the Rhythm Fools. Chris also plays percussion for Pepe Danza’s, Latin Jazz Band, El Sur. Chris now heads up the Drum Cafe in Toronto.
Nina Rodriguez
Nina grew up listening to the Latin grooves of her grandfather and orchestra leader, "Papa" Henry Garcia. Greatly influenced by the styles of Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66, Santana, Armando Manzanero & Motown R&B, Nina has developed her own style. She has played all genres of music fromJazz to Gospel, R & B, Latin, Country and Rock. She recorded on Randy Travis' 2004 Grammy album, "Rise and Shine," and has toured with Yehuda Glantz, world renowned Jewish Latino Musician, Recently, Nina arranged drum parts and played djembe on tracks produced by Bette Sussman, Music Director for Bette Midler. Nina is Music Director for Drum Café Western United States and is currently on tour for The Drum Café as well as a Facilitator for KIDS Drumming Events. Nina’s drumming allows her to perform throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and Israel. When she plays, the audience instantly feels the heat of a heart on fire and hands of lightning, as she becomes the music that she plays. Nina is endorsed by TOCA Percussion, Kaman Music - a leader in hand percussion instruments and accessories designed and developed to have a different look and provide the "Afro Cuban" sound. Nina plays Congas, Bongos, Cajon, Djembe, Drum Set and a variety of Percussive Hand Instruments..
Kenya Masala
Kenya S. Masala is a national organizational development consultant and trainer. As co-director of the Source Consulting Group, he delivers a unique blend of innovative, cutting edge information on maximizing workplace and community interactions, utilizing powerful kinesthetic experiences to drive home the learning.
He facilitates training seminars, leadership development programs, outdoor adventure experiences, and educational percussion programs. He also designs and develops multimedia curricula and interactive presentations on a national level. Kenya is a REMO endorsed rhythm program facilitator and one of six North American Drum Cafe facilitators. He is the published author of the international classic rhythm activity book,"Rhythm Play!™" and recently released his second album, "Spacious Time."
Kenya is a dose of invigoration and vitality. With a charismatic style and effusive energy, he engages participants in highly effective and authentic growth. He ushers groups through the hard work of deepening and expanding excellence, and inspires them to celebration!
David Montalvo
David Montalvo was born in San Antonio,Texas. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Southwest Texas State University, served 26 years in the San Antonio Fire Department as a Lieutenant Firefighter-Paramedic, owns Montalvo Leather Products and is also a Professional Actor & Model. David is a charismatic person who enjoys an active life-style, fitness, healthy nutrition and personally training others in exercise/longevitytechniques.
Davids drumming began at age 7 and later intensified as he studied with Afro-Cuban and West African Master Drummers on the congas, bongos, timbales, djembe, djun djuns and various other percussion instruments. He is a Certified Drum Circle Facilitator and a “world percussionist” with several local bands in the San Antonio area. David is a high-energy, enthusiastic Drum Café Program Facilitator for Corporate, School Administration, Faculty, and Students as well as private interactive events and performances.
Melinda Rodriguez
Melinda has been passionately drumming and facilitating rhythm events for more than a decade. With an eclectic background and education in West African, Native American and Middle Eastern percussion, Melinda has lead hundreds of drumming and motivational presentations with a dazzling, inspired style that ignites the rhythm that lies within everyone. She is a Professional Drum Circle Facilitator and has had the great fortune to train with Arthur Hull and many other extraordinary teachers of the drum. Recently Melinda joined the instructional staff at Cal State Fullerton Recreation Center where she teaches African drumming, which has been hugely rewarding.
Once the shy, introverted type, Melinda was instantly transformed the first time she participated in a drum circle. An extroverted, outgoing, energy emerged from within accompanied by a clear awareness of rhythm and all of its potential. The result was an intense study of hand drumming, facilitation and music-making that continues in an ongoing journey with rhythm.
Melinda is also a Life Coach and Inspirational Teacher specializing in the field of Personal & Spiritual Development. Her internationally acclaimed certification courses and one-on-one coaching reflect her passion and commitment to helping people overcome obstacles and find purpose and a passion for life. Melinda is certified as a Spiritual Counselor through the American Board of Hypnotherapy and holds several certifications in various integrative healing studies.
Melinda released her first CD - The Ultimate Shamanic Journey, which is a meditation tool combining the healing beat of the Native American Frame drum with the grounding drones of the Aborigine didgeridoo. Since then, Melinda has performed with other percussionists throughout the Southern California Region, igniting audiences to connect with their own primal nature and rhythm. Melinda is currently working on her next CD which will be a musical compilation of both traditional and contemporary percussive and vocal pieces.
Emeka M Simmons
This Florida native began his dance career in 1999 on the campus of UCLA. The UCLA African Arts Ensemble's west African dance troupe JOOBA, was the genesis of a his dance performance career. He fell in love with performing and African dance and drumming arts. In doing so, he began a journey that followed the west and central Africans across the Atlantic to the new world; first stop, Cuba. Omo Ashe, an Afro-Cuban performance Ensemble brought Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin culture to the center of his artistic focus from 1999-2001. In 2001 he was asked to join N'zingha Camara's west African dance company Le Ballet Kouman Kele, which he is still a principal dancer for. Continuing the journey further into African diasporic arts brought Emeka to Capoeira de Angola where he studied and performed with Pastina's Garden of Capoeira de Angola from 2000-2002. Finding Afro-Brazilian culture fascinating, he studied and performed with two Brazilian dance companies Viver Brazil in 2003 and Ballet Folklorico do Brazil in 2004. Emeka now is a principal dancer with Contra Tiempo and is the founder and director of L'Espirit d'Afrique a Pan-African performance art ensemble.
Alseny Sylla
Alseny is from Guinea, West Africa and began studying drums at the age of 16. After touring Europe, Africa and
Australia with many well known African Dance and Drum Ensembles, he landed in New York where he performed with drummers and dancers from his native Conakry, Guinea before moving to Austin at the invitation of the local drum and dance community. Master Drummer Sylla teaches djembe and djun djun drum classes, workshops, and performs as solo accompanist for West African dance classes.
AJ "Rock" Flores
Percussionist AJ “Rock” Flores was born in Midland, TX in 1976 to Raymond “Kama” Flores who is a Tejano Hall of Famer. No doubt he was destined to follow in his footsteps. At the age of 4, he was already rocking the living room on a miniature drum set.
By the age of 8, he took the stage for the first time with his dad playing a snare with the Tortilla Factory. Now you will find him grooving with congas, bongos, and timbales or the high energy rhythms of the djembe and djun-djuns.
At the age of 18, he landed his first tour with Jennifer Pena y Los Jetz. He has since toured with Bobby Pulido, AB Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings, Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo MAZZ, DJ Kane, Jay Perez, Ruben Ramos and The Mexican Revolution, and Las 3 Divas (Stefani Montiel, Shelly Lares, Elida Reyna) which included a USO Tour to Japan in 2006. He has also worked with Jaime Y Los Chamacos, La Mafia, and Avizo.
Currently he tours with the acclaimed Drum Café where he performs, recruits, and trains African drummers. He still maintains close ties with his passion, Tejano music, recording and performing at major events.
His energy, confidence, versatility, and showmanship has made him one of the most sought after percussionists in the industry. To his credit, he is an 8 time Grammy nominee and has earned two Latin Grammy’s and two American Grammy’s of which he takes great pride. He has also been recognized by the Tejano Academy with a “percussionist of the year” nomination. He is endorsed by such companies as TOCA Percussion, Gibraltar, Vic Firth, and Evans. He attributes his top echelon success to an all-consuming passion for learning, performing, and sharing of his music.
He calls San Antonio, TX home where he resides with his wife, Shirl and two dogs, Sunny and Daisy.
Noah Mosgofian
Noah is a top notch percussionist, with a glowing performace record. He recently completed 6 years international touring with award winning percussion sensation, Stomp, was an artist in Residence with Edinburgh International Festival, and an outreach instructor for San Francisco Balletand Marin Ballet. He is also the soloist on "Top Secret Mozambique" videos I and II. Noah has studied in Cuba and Brazil, and has been a performance regular in dozens of bands, baterias, and dance companies ranging from Salsa to Funk to West African folklore. He's had guest appearances with Phil Lesh (Greatful Dead), Joan Baez, The Motet, Michael Franti & Spearhead.
Dave White
Dave started playing the snare drum at the age of twelve, and moved on to other orchestral percussion instruments through Jr. High and High School. He began playing drum set in College, and expanded to Congas and eventually settled into a focus on the Djembe, Dununs, and othertraditional West African (Malinke) instruments. For the last seven years, he's been engaged in the serious study of Malinke musical traditions, which has taken him all across the U.S., Europe, and Guinea, West Africa. He has played drums with various bands and ensembles (too numerous to mention) continously for the last twenty years.
Dramane Kone
Master drummer and instrument maker Dramane Kone, is a Griot from the famous Kone Family of Burkina Faso and Mali, West Africa.
Djelia Kadi - The National Ballet of Burkina Faso, recruited Dramane as the lead soloist in 1999. After an extensive tour of Europe with Djelia Kadi, Dramane moved to America to perform and teach.
Dramane joined Drum Cafe California in 2006 and continues to entertain and perform across the country year-round.
Craig Miller
My music career truthfully started when I was in the womb of my mother with nothing to focus on apart from the steadiness of her heartbeat. I was able to put it to use when I began playing the drumset at age 12. I took lessons and played with different groups until I was 22. In these years, I was only being exposed to typical styles of the Unites States, such as Rock, Funk, Reggae, and Jazz. It was when I was 22, and playing in a well established Rock band in Madison, Wisconsin, that I realized I needed to expand my horizons and travel. Also having a desire to learn Spanish, I went to South America and ended up in Colombia. I studied with many teachers there, learning various styles, such as Salsa and many Afro-Colombian rhythms. I stayed for two years and created a band called Antioquia, named after the area where I lived. The next stop was Vancouver, where I met up with the Drum Café, but it was there that I realized my music would be more affective in San Francisco, CA. San Francisco is basically a candy store for a musician. One can study any style they wish. I had an immediate attraction to the rhythms of West Africa and have been studying the Djembe, Dun duns, and balifone with many teachers for the three years that I have been there.
Aside for my work with the Drum Café, I am now playing with three well-etablished bands in the Bay Area. One is Chinyakare, which is a traditional Zimbabwean drum/dance ensemble. Another is Aluna, doing traditional music from the Carribean Coast of Colombia, and the third is Antioquia, which is a completely original project, playing with rhythms from all over the world.
Music is what keeps me centered. It is my own personal healer and a healer for so many others I get to share it with. The idea is to never stop playing. I feel very blessed to be able to help expose so many people to the power it contains.
Jai Lope
Dale Monnin
Dale Monnin helps bring the Drum Café to Texas on the heels of a tremendously successful career in Sales and Sales management. With an MBA in International Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Dale has worked for top global technology firms such as Parametric Technology, IBM, and NCR. Dale has worked on 4 continents, building and developing cross-cultural teams in marketplaces as diverse as post-apartheid South Africa and the People's Republic of China. An avid traveler, his adventures have taken him through 100 cities in 40 countries. Natalie Spiro
Natalie came to the USA from South Africa with incomparable credentials and impressive careers in Training, Marketing and Sales. With a Masters Degree in Industrial Psychology (registered Industrial Psychologist in South Africa) and an MBA in Corporate Strategy and Marketing, Natalie has worked for top global firms in Financial Services and Hospitality Industries. She has worked in the corporate world and run her own businesses and has been involved in building and developing cross cultural teams in marketplaces as diverse as post-apartheid South Africa - the beautiful Rainbow Nation. Chris O'Neil
Chris began his percussion studies at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, where he held the position of Principal Percussion in the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra for two years. While in Sudbury, Chris began accompanying modern dance for "Earthdancers", which led him to compose music for percussion in collaboration with dancers from Toronto Dance Theatre. Chris moved to Vancouver in order to complete his Bachelor of Music in Performance Percussion at the University of British Columbia where he studied under Salvador Ferreras. In Vancouver, Chris played with Okanagan Symphony, the Burnaby Symphony and the Vancouver Island Symphony. In Vancouver, Chris has become an integral part of Vancouver’s African drum community where he has performed with Fana Soro’s "Masabo Culture Company" and plays the djembe solo in Fana’s African dance classes. Chris was invited to play djembe at the World Rhythm Festival in Seattle with Pepe Danza and the Rhythm Fools. Chris also plays percussion for Pepe Danza’s, Latin Jazz Band, El Sur. Chris now heads up the Drum Cafe in Toronto. Nina Rodriguez
Nina grew up listening to the Latin grooves of her grandfather and orchestra leader, "Papa" Henry Garcia. Greatly influenced by the styles of Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66, Santana, Armando Manzanero & Motown R&B, Nina has developed her own style. She has played all genres of music fromJazz to Gospel, R & B, Latin, Country and Rock. She recorded on Randy Travis' 2004 Grammy album, "Rise and Shine," and has toured with Yehuda Glantz, world renowned Jewish Latino Musician, Recently, Nina arranged drum parts and played djembe on tracks produced by Bette Sussman, Music Director for Bette Midler. Nina is Music Director for Drum Café Western United States and is currently on tour for The Drum Café as well as a Facilitator for KIDS Drumming Events. Nina’s drumming allows her to perform throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and Israel. When she plays, the audience instantly feels the heat of a heart on fire and hands of lightning, as she becomes the music that she plays. Nina is endorsed by TOCA Percussion, Kaman Music - a leader in hand percussion instruments and accessories designed and developed to have a different look and provide the "Afro Cuban" sound. Nina plays Congas, Bongos, Cajon, Djembe, Drum Set and a variety of Percussive Hand Instruments.. Kenya Masala
Kenya S. Masala is a national organizational development consultant and trainer. As co-director of the Source Consulting Group, he delivers a unique blend of innovative, cutting edge information on maximizing workplace and community interactions, utilizing powerful kinesthetic experiences to drive home the learning.He facilitates training seminars, leadership development programs, outdoor adventure experiences, and educational percussion programs. He also designs and develops multimedia curricula and interactive presentations on a national level. Kenya is a REMO endorsed rhythm program facilitator and one of six North American Drum Cafe facilitators. He is the published author of the international classic rhythm activity book,"Rhythm Play!™" and recently released his second album, "Spacious Time."
Kenya is a dose of invigoration and vitality. With a charismatic style and effusive energy, he engages participants in highly effective and authentic growth. He ushers groups through the hard work of deepening and expanding excellence, and inspires them to celebration!
David Montalvo
David Montalvo was born in San Antonio,Texas. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Southwest Texas State University, served 26 years in the San Antonio Fire Department as a Lieutenant Firefighter-Paramedic, owns Montalvo Leather Products and is also a Professional Actor & Model. David is a charismatic person who enjoys an active life-style, fitness, healthy nutrition and personally training others in exercise/longevitytechniques.
Davids drumming began at age 7 and later intensified as he studied with Afro-Cuban and West African Master Drummers on the congas, bongos, timbales, djembe, djun djuns and various other percussion instruments. He is a Certified Drum Circle Facilitator and a “world percussionist” with several local bands in the San Antonio area. David is a high-energy, enthusiastic Drum Café Program Facilitator for Corporate, School Administration, Faculty, and Students as well as private interactive events and performances.
Melinda Rodriguez
Melinda has been passionately drumming and facilitating rhythm events for more than a decade. With an eclectic background and education in West African, Native American and Middle Eastern percussion, Melinda has lead hundreds of drumming and motivational presentations with a dazzling, inspired style that ignites the rhythm that lies within everyone. She is a Professional Drum Circle Facilitator and has had the great fortune to train with Arthur Hull and many other extraordinary teachers of the drum. Recently Melinda joined the instructional staff at Cal State Fullerton Recreation Center where she teaches African drumming, which has been hugely rewarding.
Once the shy, introverted type, Melinda was instantly transformed the first time she participated in a drum circle. An extroverted, outgoing, energy emerged from within accompanied by a clear awareness of rhythm and all of its potential. The result was an intense study of hand drumming, facilitation and music-making that continues in an ongoing journey with rhythm.
Melinda is also a Life Coach and Inspirational Teacher specializing in the field of Personal & Spiritual Development. Her internationally acclaimed certification courses and one-on-one coaching reflect her passion and commitment to helping people overcome obstacles and find purpose and a passion for life. Melinda is certified as a Spiritual Counselor through the American Board of Hypnotherapy and holds several certifications in various integrative healing studies.
Melinda released her first CD - The Ultimate Shamanic Journey, which is a meditation tool combining the healing beat of the Native American Frame drum with the grounding drones of the Aborigine didgeridoo. Since then, Melinda has performed with other percussionists throughout the Southern California Region, igniting audiences to connect with their own primal nature and rhythm. Melinda is currently working on her next CD which will be a musical compilation of both traditional and contemporary percussive and vocal pieces.
Once the shy, introverted type, Melinda was instantly transformed the first time she participated in a drum circle. An extroverted, outgoing, energy emerged from within accompanied by a clear awareness of rhythm and all of its potential. The result was an intense study of hand drumming, facilitation and music-making that continues in an ongoing journey with rhythm.
Melinda is also a Life Coach and Inspirational Teacher specializing in the field of Personal & Spiritual Development. Her internationally acclaimed certification courses and one-on-one coaching reflect her passion and commitment to helping people overcome obstacles and find purpose and a passion for life. Melinda is certified as a Spiritual Counselor through the American Board of Hypnotherapy and holds several certifications in various integrative healing studies.
Melinda released her first CD - The Ultimate Shamanic Journey, which is a meditation tool combining the healing beat of the Native American Frame drum with the grounding drones of the Aborigine didgeridoo. Since then, Melinda has performed with other percussionists throughout the Southern California Region, igniting audiences to connect with their own primal nature and rhythm. Melinda is currently working on her next CD which will be a musical compilation of both traditional and contemporary percussive and vocal pieces.
Emeka M Simmons
This Florida native began his dance career in 1999 on the campus of UCLA. The UCLA African Arts Ensemble's west African dance troupe JOOBA, was the genesis of a his dance performance career. He fell in love with performing and African dance and drumming arts. In doing so, he began a journey that followed the west and central Africans across the Atlantic to the new world; first stop, Cuba. Omo Ashe, an Afro-Cuban performance Ensemble brought Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin culture to the center of his artistic focus from 1999-2001. In 2001 he was asked to join N'zingha Camara's west African dance company Le Ballet Kouman Kele, which he is still a principal dancer for. Continuing the journey further into African diasporic arts brought Emeka to Capoeira de Angola where he studied and performed with Pastina's Garden of Capoeira de Angola from 2000-2002. Finding Afro-Brazilian culture fascinating, he studied and performed with two Brazilian dance companies Viver Brazil in 2003 and Ballet Folklorico do Brazil in 2004. Emeka now is a principal dancer with Contra Tiempo and is the founder and director of L'Espirit d'Afrique a Pan-African performance art ensemble.Alseny Sylla
Alseny is from Guinea, West Africa and began studying drums at the age of 16. After touring Europe, Africa andAustralia with many well known African Dance and Drum Ensembles, he landed in New York where he performed with drummers and dancers from his native Conakry, Guinea before moving to Austin at the invitation of the local drum and dance community. Master Drummer Sylla teaches djembe and djun djun drum classes, workshops, and performs as solo accompanist for West African dance classes.
Australia with many well known African Dance and Drum Ensembles, he landed in New York where he performed with drummers and dancers from his native Conakry, Guinea before moving to Austin at the invitation of the local drum and dance community. Master Drummer Sylla teaches djembe and djun djun drum classes, workshops, and performs as solo accompanist for West African dance classes.AJ "Rock" Flores
Percussionist AJ “Rock” Flores was born in Midland, TX in 1976 to Raymond “Kama” Flores who is a Tejano Hall of Famer. No doubt he was destined to follow in his footsteps. At the age of 4, he was already rocking the living room on a miniature drum set.
By the age of 8, he took the stage for the first time with his dad playing a snare with the Tortilla Factory. Now you will find him grooving with congas, bongos, and timbales or the high energy rhythms of the djembe and djun-djuns.
At the age of 18, he landed his first tour with Jennifer Pena y Los Jetz. He has since toured with Bobby Pulido, AB Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings, Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo MAZZ, DJ Kane, Jay Perez, Ruben Ramos and The Mexican Revolution, and Las 3 Divas (Stefani Montiel, Shelly Lares, Elida Reyna) which included a USO Tour to Japan in 2006. He has also worked with Jaime Y Los Chamacos, La Mafia, and Avizo.
Currently he tours with the acclaimed Drum Café where he performs, recruits, and trains African drummers. He still maintains close ties with his passion, Tejano music, recording and performing at major events.
His energy, confidence, versatility, and showmanship has made him one of the most sought after percussionists in the industry. To his credit, he is an 8 time Grammy nominee and has earned two Latin Grammy’s and two American Grammy’s of which he takes great pride. He has also been recognized by the Tejano Academy with a “percussionist of the year” nomination. He is endorsed by such companies as TOCA Percussion, Gibraltar, Vic Firth, and Evans. He attributes his top echelon success to an all-consuming passion for learning, performing, and sharing of his music.
He calls San Antonio, TX home where he resides with his wife, Shirl and two dogs, Sunny and Daisy.
Noah Mosgofian
Noah is a top notch percussionist, with a glowing performace record. He recently completed 6 years international touring with award winning percussion sensation, Stomp, was an artist in Residence with Edinburgh International Festival, and an outreach instructor for San Francisco Balletand Marin Ballet. He is also the soloist on "Top Secret Mozambique" videos I and II. Noah has studied in Cuba and Brazil, and has been a performance regular in dozens of bands, baterias, and dance companies ranging from Salsa to Funk to West African folklore. He's had guest appearances with Phil Lesh (Greatful Dead), Joan Baez, The Motet, Michael Franti & Spearhead.
Dave White
Dave started playing the snare drum at the age of twelve, and moved on to other orchestral percussion instruments through Jr. High and High School. He began playing drum set in College, and expanded to Congas and eventually settled into a focus on the Djembe, Dununs, and othertraditional West African (Malinke) instruments. For the last seven years, he's been engaged in the serious study of Malinke musical traditions, which has taken him all across the U.S., Europe, and Guinea, West Africa. He has played drums with various bands and ensembles (too numerous to mention) continously for the last twenty years.
Dramane Kone
Master drummer and instrument maker Dramane Kone, is a Griot from the famous Kone Family of Burkina Faso and Mali, West Africa.
Djelia Kadi - The National Ballet of Burkina Faso, recruited Dramane as the lead soloist in 1999. After an extensive tour of Europe with Djelia Kadi, Dramane moved to America to perform and teach.
Dramane joined Drum Cafe California in 2006 and continues to entertain and perform across the country year-round.
Craig Miller
My music career truthfully started when I was in the womb of my mother with nothing to focus on apart from the steadiness of her heartbeat. I was able to put it to use when I began playing the drumset at age 12. I took lessons and played with different groups until I was 22. In these years, I was only being exposed to typical styles of the Unites States, such as Rock, Funk, Reggae, and Jazz. It was when I was 22, and playing in a well established Rock band in Madison, Wisconsin, that I realized I needed to expand my horizons and travel. Also having a desire to learn Spanish, I went to South America and ended up in Colombia. I studied with many teachers there, learning various styles, such as Salsa and many Afro-Colombian rhythms. I stayed for two years and created a band called Antioquia, named after the area where I lived. The next stop was Vancouver, where I met up with the Drum Café, but it was there that I realized my music would be more affective in San Francisco, CA. San Francisco is basically a candy store for a musician. One can study any style they wish. I had an immediate attraction to the rhythms of West Africa and have been studying the Djembe, Dun duns, and balifone with many teachers for the three years that I have been there.
Aside for my work with the Drum Café, I am now playing with three well-etablished bands in the Bay Area. One is Chinyakare, which is a traditional Zimbabwean drum/dance ensemble. Another is Aluna, doing traditional music from the Carribean Coast of Colombia, and the third is Antioquia, which is a completely original project, playing with rhythms from all over the world.
Music is what keeps me centered. It is my own personal healer and a healer for so many others I get to share it with. The idea is to never stop playing. I feel very blessed to be able to help expose so many people to the power it contains.
Jai Lope
Tony Brown
Tony Browne was first exposed to drumming at a young age, and began to play the drums in church as a young boy. Upon attending college at Prairie View A&M University, he became involved in the study of West African drumming and later became a founding member of PVAMU’s premiere African Dance Company. He has since studied under many master drummers, and has performed nationwide with several African Dance companies. He travels across the US, and internationally to extend his knowledge and experience with African Music, Dance, and Culture. Tony’s talent as both a musical director and performer has been featured at major corporate events, festivals, community events, and full up concert tours with many popular artists. His charisma and energy resonate to those around him with every touch of the drum.
Aboubacar Kouyate
Aboubacar Kouyate is a master djembe drummer who currently performs and teaches throughout the United States. He also plays and teaches gongoma, kirin, doundoun and sangba.
Aboubacar Kouyate was born in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa in 1969 into a family of Griots, traditional musicians and oral historians. The Kouyate family traces their lineage back many generations from Griots to the most famous of the kings of the Malian and Songhay Empires, caretakers of tradition.
Aboubacar began his dejembe training in Guinea with master djembe fola Yadi Camaara. Aboubacar went on to serve as a musical director and master drummer of The Farita Company and The Sabar Company in Conakry, and in 1996 became a master lead drummer with les Ballets Merveilles de Guinea, one of the foremost drum and dance troupes in the country. He traveled and performed extensively with Merveilles throughout Africa and Europe.
In 1998, Aboubacar, along with other members of Merveilles, was asked to perform in New York City, sponsored by The Ethnic Folk Center. By the end of the year, he decided to make the United States and New York his new home. Aboubacar has performed at Lincoln Center, Central Park Center Stage, the annual Mayoral picnic at Randall’s Island, Harlem Center for the Arts, Symphony Space and Radio City Music Hall, as well as dozens of universities, colleges and cultural arts festivals nationwide. In 2000, Aboubacar was under contract at the Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Orlando, FL, where he performed regularly. He has since performed with Fereba African Rhythm and Tap of NY, Bamidele Drummers and Dancers of Amherst, and the Spirit Company of Chicago. He also drummed regularly for Alvin Ailey and for African dance classes at Columbia University. He has taught and served as lead drummer at dance and drum conferences throughout the country and was on staff as an African drum teacher at Ifetayo Cultural Arts Facility in NYC. Aboubacar helped establish Drum Café in New York City in 2002.
In 2005, he relocated to Los Angeles where he currently performs regularly with Drum Café California and Drum Café West, is on staff as a drummer in the Department of World Arts and Culture at UCLA, and teaches a number of private classes. He also has done session work for movie scores and is a member of Local 47.
Matthew "Matt" Fitzgerald
An Orange County, CA native, Matt has been playing music now for over 15 years. He was a principle member of the award winning Mission Viejo High School Drumline and later attended California State University, Long Beach, where received his Bachelor's Degree in Music (2004), with anemphasis in percussion. It was at Long Beach where Matt had the privilege of studying world music and dance under the guidance of Dr. Michael Carney, Brad Dutz, Mark Lamson, Kevin O'Sullivan, Anthony Douglass, and Yeko Ladzepko-Cole. During his studies, Matt twice traveled to Salvador, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, Brasil to study with the masters of Brasilian drumming, Olodum, Ile Aiye, Bale Foklorico da Bahia and Grande Rio Escola de Samba. Since graduating, he continues to travel the globe, teach private lessons/master classes and has recently opened up his own audio recording company, Pharmakos Sound, Inc. Matt enjoys all forms of drumming for, "Drumming is a way in which we can come together and speak to one another, even if we don't share a common language. With drums in our hands, we become one voice…not many."
Andrew Acquista
Andrew Acquista is a percussionist active in the Los Angeles area. He is fluent in African, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and American styles. He has studied with Dramane Kone, Michael Spiro, Mark Lamson, C.K. Ladzekpo, Dr. Eugene Novotney, Dr. Michael Carney, Lansana Kouyate, Brad Dutz, and Ray Holmon. Andrew went to school for his Bachelor degree in music at Humboldt State University and continued studying for his Master's degree at CSU Long Beach. He performs live in LA with various artists and gigs all over the country with the Drum Cafe.Giavanni
Giavanni holds masters degrees in Public Health and Policy Analysis in addition to a B.S. in Biology. It was during her undergraduate tenure at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University that Giavanni began performing after being introduced to West African Drum and Dance. An infectious and exiting performer, Giavanni’s passion and love for West
African drumming are palpable when she moves on the stage. Her enthusiasm for the art form has motivated her to continue formal study of West African Drum and Dance. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Performance and Culture in the World Arts and Culture department at UCLA. Committed to under resourced communities, Giavanni’s research, combining her background in public health with her fervor for the arts, will focus on the utilization of the arts as a conduit for AIDS education and prevention.
In addition to dancing and drumming, Giavanni has provided grant writing, budget administration, logistics detail, promotions, public relations, and language translation/interpretation services to the artist community since 2000. Most recently, Giavanni has been asked to coordinate West African Drum and Dance Camps in Senegal and Japan. In past years she has successfully written for grants for performing arts groups to participate in international festivals in Brazil and Cuba, promoted various traditional West African groups on the Black College Circuit and in and around Los Angeles.
Giavanni strives to Make the Arts Accessible to All!
Anna Christmas
Anna is delighted to be playing and dancing and playing drums with the Drum Cafe team. She has been drumming and dancing for 20 years and has studied with Nzingha Camara, Koca Sale Dioubate, Kemoko Sano and other masters of many forms of dance and music . She is also a member of Kouman Kele, Africabok and L'Esprit d'Afrique dance companies.Arturo Rodriguez
Never one to stand still for very long, LP endorsed percussionist Arturo is both a popular face and a powerful force on the local Seattle music scene. One night you might catch him tearing up a Latin Jazz set with his trio configuration at Sip wine bar and the next performing more intimate Brazilian or World jazz with his duo configuration at the Fish Club in the Seattle Marriot. While moving through the musical boundaries of jazz, pop, rock, and even folk music, Arturo has an amazing talent for bringing and keeping people together in a social setting.
Arturo grew up in Los Angeles, in a household where his mother was a passionate mambo and salsa dancer, and his father was an avid conguero who played with the Hispanic Music Association and formed the group Salsa Express. They made certain music was integral to everyday family life. Arturo admits it is is no surprise that he wound up in a career so completely reflective of his childhood experiences.
Each morning my mother would wake us up for school with the music of Celia Cruz and Ismael 'Cortijo' Rivera, and a lot of soulful footwork in the living room."
"I see music as an opportunity for people to learn to work together. Playing music within a group is a lesson in social awareness and collective consciousness. Ultimately the goal is to give of one's self - to be as with with the music and the musicians."
Coming from a musically infused childhood, the ever-versatile Arturo shares his passion for percussion with the Pacific Northwest and beyond. An accomplished musician, author, and teacher, Arturo has performed worldwide, sharing the stage with music legends that include Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Paul Horn, and Pete Escovedo.
"It is an honor and a privilege to have worked with these great musicians and icons of Latin music." Arturo's early love of percussion led him to study with several prominent ethnomusicologists, and eventually became the genesis of his own company, Interact and Learn, that offers self-study courses, workshops, and public and private training for beginner through advanced students. Now, with three books in his Ethnic percussion Series published by Mel Bay Publications, Arturo's teaching style stresses the importance of community. He has been playing music for over 30 years and have been teaching for over 20 years.
Teo Shantz
Teo Shantz is a gifted percussionist who has studied, toured and played all over the United States as well as in Cuba, Trinidad and Brazil. He currently works full time as local performer and educator. His focus is on broadening public understanding of drumming and percussion and its relation to different cultures.
Jay Stoller - Manager, lead facilitator
Jay is an African drumming specialist, studying this field over the past 20 years. He holds a B.P.E., B.ED. as well as a Diploma in African Music from the University of Ghana. Living and studying drumming in Ghana for almost 4 years has given him an insightful understanding of African music and culture that he has been sharing this with school students, and adults in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario over he past 9 years. He currently performs with African percussion group “Bafana”, the Ghanaian cultural dancers, children’s entertainers “Bill ‘n Jay Cool Beans” and is also the musical director and lead drummer for Nafro Dance.
Jay teaches adult group classes a few times throughout the year, operates the corporate team building company Drum Café and has an importing business on the side. You can read more about Jay on his website www.africandrumdrum.com
Tannis Zimmer – Facilitator, bass drum, dunun
Currently, Tannis is a much-referred massage therapist for both the Winnipeg arts/dance community, as well as Winnipeg’s visiting artists.
Tannis has been part of the Drum Café team since 2006.
Asmara Polcyn – djembe
Asmara is an extremely talented musician and athlete. Having studied at the Toronto Conservatory of music, she attained a masterbandsman level 5 with the sea cadet marching band. She has studied improv and stand up comedy and is a frequesnt performer at the Winnipeg Fringe festival. Asmara has performed as a martial artist and musician with Viva Capoeira, and played percussion with Grack a Doon percussion ensemble. Asmara has completed several full marathons and is currently the provincial novice boxing champion. She is an entrepreneur, wonderful hairstylist and loves to garden.
Asmara has been part of the Drum Café team since 2006.
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Asmara has been part of the Drum Café team since 2006.
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Jamie Pearson – dunun
Arms stretched skyward, muscle and artery aqueducts of celestial joy, Jamie is a child in the throes of a first crush, smitten by dance. A humble vessel in which passion and play swirl, then tumble forth onto the West African dunun, Jamie sprinkles the bottom end with a febrile pulse. Having apprenticed in Dunkutoo, the Bevs, Drum Café and a myriad of rhythmic aggregates of flesh and bone, Jamie is happiest when marrying sound to movement, but also adores hula-hooping while ochre-clad, reading upside down and mending broken hearts. He is also an aspiring massage therapist. Alexandra Garrido – Facilitator and Bass Drummer
Alexandra is a talented artist. She has studied theater at the university of Winnipeg for several years. During that time she was also a featured dancer with Bolero Dance Company, performing Spanish and Flamenco Dance styles. She also explored Caribbean dance with visions Dance in Winnipeg. Alexandra was a special guest dancer with Nafro dance productions, an African modern dance group. She is currently pursuing professional dance studies at Winnipeg school of contemporary dancers.Chris Scholl – Djembe
Chris Scholl has been working as a professional musician, drum circle facilitator and composer for over fifteen years. He has performed as a drummer in several diverse bands in Winnipeg from the Wedgewoods, Junk Culture, Skulduggery, Leaderhouse and with solo artist Sonia Marie. He has performed with West African percussion groups Bafana and Batuque as well as performing with Fire Dance Productions, a fire dance troupe from Winnipeg.Chris has been facilitating drum/percussion workshops for adults and children with special needs for the past 4 years. He is mainly self-taught but has participated in many drum clinics, workshops and lessons.
Chris is currently working with Drum Café facilitating corporate team building workshops and has been with them for the past 2-½ years. He is the founder of D.N.A. rhythms, assisting people to discover their own rhythm through education, recording production and performance.
Chris has been part of the Drum Café team since 2006.
Mark Paxton MacRae – djembe
Mark has been part of the Drum Café team since 2006.
Mbuyiselo “Munkie” Ncapayi
Mbuyiselo known as Munkie has been drumming since the age of 7 and for the most part he is self-taught. His natural talent of drumming andpercussion has made him a very successful Master Drummer and he has played for a wide variety of Dance Companies, bands and solo performances throughout South Africa, Asia, North America and Europe.
Munkie is regarded as one of South Africa’s top ethnic drummers and is a revered drum teacher, having perfected the Djembe Drum, Zimbabwe Drum, Zulu Drum, Djun Djun to mention a few. His first performance in Canada was for the Opening of the common Wealth Games in Victoria, BC in 1994 and currently performs throughout the country.
Apart from Corporate Entertainment and teambuilding, Munkie, specifically has a passion for teaching children at a very early age, through to adults, and is exceptionally good at facilitating drum therapy work shops for physically and mentally challenged people.
Munkie is the star performer for the Drum Cafe Interactive events; and has been an integral member of the team helping to steer the company to become the success it is today. He has spent the last thirteen years perfecting the facilitation of the Drum Cafe and has trained facilitators, master drummers, employees and future franchisees world wide.
Brendan Krieg
-Degree in Fine Arts, Jazz Specialization (graduated with distinction) Concordia University '06
-Working musician and educator
-Plays with The Drum Cafe, Jarimba, Blue Island Trio, Kent McAlister and the Iron choir, The Savannah Leigh Band
-Has traveled extensively as a touring musician
-Multi instrumentalist
-Versatile
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Abby found her love of dance in her native Guyana, studying ballet from the age of three. As a teenager in the U.S., she studied modern dance and caught a glimpse of the world of African Dance. And though Abby has always danced to the beat of a different drum, it was her husband's gift of a dumbek that was the start of her immersion in the world of drumming and African dance. "The drum was calling me," says Abby.
Abby first experimented with composition when she co-wrote a musical about the Exodus story, using rap rhythms to help Sunday School kids memorize the Bible. Abby has since set many Psalms and Bible passages to rhythm, piano and guitar.
Studying drumming and dancing with Fana Soro at the Roundhouse and at Masabo took Abby to a new level of skill and enthusiasm. She also discovered a love for steel drums, Capoeira and Belly dancing, though she suggests her belly dancing is more of a comedy than a dance performance. Somewhere (in her spare time), Abby also took up Israeli folk dancing.
Building on her experience working on plays with Sunday School students, Abby has taught children's classes at summer camps over the past 10 years, as well as volunteering to teach African Dance at her daughter's school. "I love working with kids," Abby says. "We understand each other," she laughs.
Brendan Krieg 
-Degree in Fine Arts, Jazz Specialization (graduated with distinction) Concordia University '06
-Working musician and educator
-Plays with The Drum Cafe, Jarimba, Blue Island Trio, Kent McAlister and the Iron choir, The Savannah Leigh Band
-Has traveled extensively as a touring musician
-Multi instrumentalist
-Versatile
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Abby Greene
Abby found her love of dance in her native Guyana, studying ballet from the age of three. As a teenager in the U.S., she studied modern dance and caught a glimpse of the world of African Dance. And though Abby has always danced to the beat of a different drum, it was her husband's gift of a dumbek that was the start of her immersion in the world of drumming and African dance. "The drum was calling me," says Abby.Abby first experimented with composition when she co-wrote a musical about the Exodus story, using rap rhythms to help Sunday School kids memorize the Bible. Abby has since set many Psalms and Bible passages to rhythm, piano and guitar.
Studying drumming and dancing with Fana Soro at the Roundhouse and at Masabo took Abby to a new level of skill and enthusiasm. She also discovered a love for steel drums, Capoeira and Belly dancing, though she suggests her belly dancing is more of a comedy than a dance performance. Somewhere (in her spare time), Abby also took up Israeli folk dancing.
Building on her experience working on plays with Sunday School students, Abby has taught children's classes at summer camps over the past 10 years, as well as volunteering to teach African Dance at her daughter's school. "I love working with kids," Abby says. "We understand each other," she laughs.