Guest Artist

Guest performing with ONE O’CLOCK LAB BAND & JAZZ SINGERS

Grammy Award winner and international drum star, 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...”

Ignacio Berroa was born in Havana, Cuba. Following his father’s footsteps, he began his musical education as a classical violinist. After hearing albums by Nat King Cole and Glenn Miller, he realized he wanted to play that music and pursued his dream with a passion, taking his first drum lesson at age 11. He studied at the Cuba National School of Arts and subsequently at Havana’s National Conservatory, beginning his professional career in 1970.

After moving to New York in 1980, Ignacio met and had the privilege of working with musicians of the stature of Mario Bauza, among others. It was Mario who introduced him to the late

Bebop master Dizzy Gillespie. In 1981, Dizzy invited Ignacio to join his quartet. He later would become an integral part of all the important bands

Gillespie assembled during that decade, such as “The Dizzy Gillespie’s 70th Anniversary Big Band”, “Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band” and the GRAMMY Award winning “United Nations Orchestra”.

Ignacio has also conducted clinics and master classes across the world and has recorded and played with musicians of the stature of McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Jackie Mc Lean, Clark Terry, James Moody, Milt

Jackson, Ron Carter, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Jon

Faddis, Jack Bruce, Jaco Pastorius, Tito Puente, Gonzalo

Rubalcaba, Lalo Schifrin, Slide Hampton’s Jazz Masters Big Band, Carnegie Hall Big Band, Lincoln Center Orchestra, WDR Big Band and BBC Big Band.