At a recent charity event held in my small town's train museum, I was admiring a massive brass train bell when the curator walked up to me. I commented that a bell would really rather be heard then seen, and he agreed. I offered to digitally record…

Ilesa is a city located in the south west of Nigeria. This is a traditional rhythm pattern of the same name - but I'm not sure of the significance of the name. I played on 3 congas, accented with bell clave, block and cowbell, of course…

Here's proof. Proof that things are a bit mysterious in my studio. Late last night my Bass Cajon all of a sudden decided to start accompanying me on its own - without me touching it. At first I thought that some apparitional bass player had…

And then came a lion... Conga / Harmonica (key of D) improvisation. 4/4 90bpm

The island of Cuba was a Spanish possession for almost 400 years (1511-1898). The land-owning elite held social and economic power, supported by slaves, both indigenous and of South American and African descent, until slavery was abolished…

The berimbau is a Brazilian instrument associated with Capoeira, which is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native…

There are 3 styles of the Rumba Guáguánco pattern: this one originates from the Cuban province of Matanzas (to the east of Havana). “Rumba” is a Spanish term for a gathering of musicians, singers & dancers (what West Africans refer to…

Merengues are fast arrangements with a 2/4 beat, originating from the Dominican Republic. The traditional instrumentation includes a "güira" (guiro), which is a percussion instrument that sounds like a scrapper. The Merengue güira is a cylinder…

I hope he likes funk. 4/4 200bpm

Conga improvisation. 4/4 ?bpm