I presently perform within the Dance & Live music scenes, across a variety of musical genre's.   I have a great love & passion for funky music, which of course incorporates many styles, but one of my favourites is House music:

FUNKY HOUSE / LATINO HOUSE / SOULFUL HOUSE / VOCAL HOUSE /  TECH HOUSE / PROGRESSIVE HOUSE ………………… basically if it's funky then I love playing to it !! Other Genre's that I like performing to include:

FUNK / SOUL / LATIN / SALSA / RAREGROOVE / JAZZFUNK / PROGRESSIVE TRANCE / DISCO / REGGAE / POP.

During my rhythmical journey for many years I had encountered very few lessons.   My aim was to develop a unique style that stems from a variety of traditional methods & techniques.  I love to improvise without constraints but this can only be successfully achieved once a variety of patterns have been learnt to a high discipline.   So, my passion for the conga became almost obsessive and to love this instrument fully I had to understand where it's roots came from.   Hence, I started to develop a wider variety of percussion styles, such as Latin, Cuban & African rhythms. Therefore, I am presently a student of 2 very fine percussion tutors : The legendary Master Percussionist ROBIN JONES, who teaches Latin Percussion @ Pro-Percussion in Kensal Rise (please see below for more details) and GEE BELLO, who teaches Afro-Cuban Percussion, from ‘LIGHT OF THE WORLD’ (WWW.LIGHTOFTHEWORLD.COM)

Combining these styles with my own I can produce a fusion of beats, to give…………beats de vyne!

Some of my musical influences from an early age include:


JAMES BROWN (CLYDE STUBBLEFIELD & MELVIN PARKER), AVERAGE WHITE BAND, RONNIE LAWS,  DONALD BYRD,  INCOGNITO,  THE BLACKBIRDS,  FATBACK BAND,  LIGHT OF THE WORLD,  BRAND NEW HEAVIES,  CURTIS MAYFIELD,  FISHBELLY BLACK,  FAMILY CONSTRUCTION,  SHAKATAK,  AZYMUTH,  AL JARREAU,  ROY AYRES,  HERBIE HANCOCK,  BRASS CONSTRUCTION,  FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S,  EDDIE HARRIS,  MAZE ……
The list could go on & on ... you get my drift!

PERCUSSION INFLUENCES: 

Prior to beginning percussion lessons for the first time, in June 2003, I taught myself from books and professional videos. 


 “Maybe an obvious choice but Giovanni Hildago has been an inspiration to me……… without a doubt I, and many other percussion players, consider Giovanni to be one of the best and most inspirational Conguero’s around today.  His technique is second to none and he completely blows me away with his precision and passion on the conga………… a credit to percussionists all over the world”.

LINK TO GIOVANNI & LP PERCUSSION
I also greatly admire the works of 'Tito Puente', who is well known for his excellence on Timbales. 


“I began learning the drums when I was 12 so I have developed what I consider to be a good understanding of stick control.  Due to many years practicing on drums I now play timbales along side my kit, which provides me with a much wider diversity of sounds than just hand percussion”.

LINK TO TITO PUENTE
My Latin Percussion lessons - Robin Jones @ Pro-Percussion in Kensal Rise.

“A legend in his own right and now reaching his mature years he is definitely, in my opinion, one of the best teachers around”. 

If you want to develop your Latin Rhythms then I would highly recommend contacting Pro-Percussion on Tel: 0207 485 4434. 

LINK TO PRO-PERCUSSION
In addition to the above another of my favourite influences has been Shovell, from 'M' People.. 


“The main reason I respect this performer so much, apart from his natural talent and wicked playability, is that he is mostly self taught …… as am I.  I first had the pleasure of hearing Shovell play live at an exclusive event called ‘Tru’s Do’s’.  I was hooked.  The precision and passion that Shovell played with was spellbinding.  Without knowing it, he has quite simply inspired me to pursue my passion with greater vigour and determination than ever …………….. and that I thank him for”.

One of my more recent influences and tutors that I must give credit to is GEE BELLO from ‘LIGHT OF THE WORLD’.  


“I first met Gee when I was performing at ‘Funk Me I’m Famous’ on New Years Eve ….. he joined me on the congas and instantly I felt drawn to his style of playing.  Gee plays many Afro-Cuban grooves that were much faster hand movements than I was used to.  I was so captivated by this that I kept bugging him to teach me.   I had been keen to develop Afro-Cuban techniques for some time and with this fated encounter I could now increase my learning of two of my favourite styles …… Latin & Cuban.