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Drum Cafe Texas Team of musicians and facilitators
- 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
- SABCnews.com - sport/olympics...more
- Bruce MacMillan, CA, president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), welcomed a record-breaking audience ......more
- Drum Cafe Dazzles as part of the Beijing Opening Ceremonies...more
- Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday party to celebrity audience....more
- On behalf of the Texas Credit Union League's Training and Events Department, we would like to thank the Drum Cafe for their contribution to the 2008 Marketing Conference recently held at the Omni Austin Hotel in Austin Texas....more
- Fun...fantastic...energizing...engaging were just some of the things I have heard from our leaders who participated in the Drum Cafe session at our Leadership Forum....more
- The Sales Rally was a tremendous success! Feedback was fantastic. I personally received numerous comments that this is what a Sales Rally should be ... Fun, Enthusiastic, and Motivating!...more
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Latest Blogs
Dale Monnin, Director
At the age of 3 1/2, Dale Monnin got his first drum kit from Santa Claus. At 32, Dale got his second drum kit – which he bought for himself – while living on the southern tip of the African continent in Johannesburg, South Africa. What happened in between was the Corporate life: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and an MBA in International Business, followed by a successful career in Sales and Sales management with top technology firms like NCR, IBM, and Parametric Technology.
Dale was the Managing Director for African operations at PTC when he discovered The Drum Cafe in Johannesburg and became acquainted with an astounding group of professionals there. He marveled at how they were able to harness the power and benefits of drumming and music as they relate to teamwork across the organization. It is this spirit of Africa that Dale ‘imported’ to the Western world, so that individuals and organizations alike can experience the dramatic transformation that inspired him to inspire others
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 corporate and youth development "Source consulting group". trainer and human development consultant. As co-director of the Source Consulting Group, Kenya delivers a unique blend of simple, yet cutting edge information on maximizing workplace and community interactions, with powerful kinesthetic experiences that drive home the learning.
He facilitates training seminars, leadership development programs, outdoor adventure journeys, and educational percussion programs. He also designs and develops multimedia curricula and interactive presentations on a national level. Kenya is a REMO endorsed recreational rhythm facilitator and one of eight North American Drum Cafe facilitators. He is a published author of the international classic rhythm activity book, "Rhythm Play!(tm)" and recently released his first full-length album, "Soul Journey Groove."
Kenya is a dose of invigoration and vitality for youth and communities. With a charismatic style and effusive energy, he engages participants in highly effective (and authentic) leadership and community development. He ushers groups through the hard work of deepening and expanding excellence, utilizing cutting edge kinesthetic modules...and inspires them to celebration! He is also a certified educator, facilitator, and curriculum
specialist.
Kenya enthusiastically creates a highly effective learning context, authentically motivating individuals and groups towards excellence.
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.
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.
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
Starting at the tender age of four this sweet, charming little boy rocked the living room with the sounds of a miniature drum kit provided by his super supportive parents. Everybody knew that he was destined to beat the drum, but who knew he would win three Grammy's, and earn a nomination for percussionist of the year at the Tejano Music Awards, in 2002. Rock takes pride in his art. His versatility and showmanship havemade him one of the most sought after percussionists in the industry. Currently, Rock is recording and touring with two-time Latin Grammy Nominee DJ Kane (ex-vocalist of the platinum selling Kumbia Kings.) Rock is an accomplished musician, and exciting performer who attributes his success in the music industry to his love for learning, performing, and sharing percussion and music. As a direct result of his hard work ethic Rock has rece ived two Latin Grammy's from the Latin Academy for the Recording Arts and Sciences, and a Grammy .f rom the National Academy for the Recording Arts and Sciences along with many other awards and certificates.
Mohamed Diaby
Mohamed’s ethnic background is mixed; his father is Djankanké and mother is Sousou. In Guinea, West Africa, ethnicity is close to pre-destiny and Djankanké do not drum. Many people (including some of his own family members) let Mohamed know of their displeasure. Mohamed was resolute: “this is what I love. This is what God wants me to do.” Playing at various celebrations, Mohamed quickly became a local favorite, earning a living doing what he loved. “I got everything I need from the djembé. By the age of fifteen, he was asked to join a group sponsored by the wife ofGuinea’s infamous President Sekou Toure’. When an offer to join Les Merveilles de Guinea arose, Mohamed couldn’t refuse. The group toured all over, with Mohamed in the lead drummer’s chair. In April of 1995, Mohamed arrived in America to play at New York City’s Symphony Space. Like many before him, he was quickly enchanted by New York’s possibilities, and he decided to make America his new home. Today, while garnering nationwide and International attention, through touring and conducting workshops, Mohamed Diaby is also featured in both creative and innovative projects highlighting his dynamic skills of performance including: self-produced CD Karamba Dinke released in 1997.
Gabriela Masala
Gabriela Masala, M.A., is an energetic, creative, and multi-talented facilitator and instructor. Working nationally with groups and individuals, she consults and teaches extensively in the areas of wellness, personal development, and growth. Her diverse clients speak highly of her playful vitality,which inspires their innate joy, and life celebration. She is currently the owner/director of Source Consulting Group, and director of Yoga and Movement for the Shape Your Life!(tm) destination resort programs for women.
Alassanne Sarr
Master drummer Alassane Sarr comes from a griot family in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. In additon to the griot tradition of his family, Alassane attended the School of Art in Dakar at the age of fifteen and completed the courses at the age of twenty-one. Following school, Alassane became aperformer of the Silimbo Dance Company of Dakar, Alassane teaches West African Dance and Drumming, Senegalese history, Drum-Making, leather jewelry making, and costume design. His energizing drumming includes; Sabar, Sorubam, Tama, Djembe, Djun Djun, congas, and Bougaroubou.
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.
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.
