Mike Mangini has successfully applied his Rhythm Knowledge learning method to all styles of music, from classical & jazz to speed metal. He has consistently developed both the melodic and rhythmic sides of his musical personality. He has documented his command of these styles on recordings, with Internationally Renown and Multi Platinum Selling bands, as...Continue Reading

Few percussionists have done as much to further the marriage of jazz, rock and Cuban music as Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez. Through his work with jazz luminaries like Dizzy Gillespie, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Michel Camilo and Latin rock icon Carlos Santana, Hernandez has become Afro-Cuban music’s most visible drummer. Growing up in a house filled with...Continue Reading

Giovanni Hidalgo is the most highly sought after conga player on the planet. He has recorded, played and toured with most of the top musicians in the Latin, and jazz realms. His mastery on the congas is unrivaled, and he is in a class by himself. Giovanni was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in...Continue Reading

A Drummer’s Dream: A John Walker Production Co-produced with the National Film Board of Canada SCREENINGS: The Royal: Friday, May 7 @10:00 p.m.  & Sunday, May 9 @1:30 p.m. ON SITE DURING HOT DOCS: Drummers: Nasyr Abdul Al-Khabyyr, Dennis Chambers and Raul Rekow Writer, Producer and Director John Walker Co-Producer Kent Martin (NFB) FULL PRESS...Continue Reading

Here’s an insider scoop on Raul Rekow. When the stirring pecussionist collaborated with LP, the eminent manufacturer of percussion instruments, on the design of a line of congas and bongos that would bear his name, Raul held out for instruments that sounded emphatically pro—but sold for prices affordable by beginners and intermediate players. In the...Continue Reading

VIFF – The Top Ten most popular Canadian Films- 2010 Amazon Falls, director Katrin Bowen (BC) Barney’s Version, director Richard J. Lewis (Canada/Italy) A Drummer’s Dream, director John Walker (Nova Scotia) Fathers&Sons, dir Carl Bessai (BC) Incendies, director Denis Villeneuve (Quebec) Love Shines, director Douglas Arrowsmith (BC) Mammalian, director Frank Wolf (BC) Marion Woodman: Dancing...Continue Reading

Chambers is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, Carl Filipiak, Steely Dan, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, and many others. Despite a complete lack of formal training, Chambers has become well-known among drummers for his impressive technique and speed. Chambers is particularly regarded for his ability to play...Continue Reading

Kenwood Dennard was born in Brooklyn, New York in March of 1956. His parents were both professional singers. Kenwood began playing piano at age 3 and drums at age 8. He started private studies on piano at age 5 and on drums at age 9. In 1968, Kenwood attended David Mannes School where he studied...Continue Reading

HOT DOCS BREAKS ATTENDANCE RECORDS WITH AUDIENCES OF 136,000 AT 2010 FESTIVAL THUNDER SOUL WINS AUDIENCE AWARD; AUDIENCE TOP TEN ANNOUNCED AUTUMN GOLD WINS INAUGURAL FILMMAKERS AWARD Toronto, May 10 2010 – Hot Docs has wrapped its most successful festival to date with audience numbers reaching an estimated 136,000. The 11-day event, April 29 to...Continue Reading