13th LJF: Ignacio Berroa Quartet

Best known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie, Afro-Cuban and jazz drummer Ignacio Berroa was born in Havana, Cuba. In 1980 Berroa moved to New York. By the next year, Dizzy Gillespie had invited him to join his quartet, and he spent the next ten years playing in the trumpeter's various groups. 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…”

His first album as a leader, “Codes”, released under Blue Note Records, was nominated for a Grammy in 2007. “Codes” also won a Danish Music Award in 2007 as best International Jazz Album.

He was recently honored by inclusion in the 2011 Blue Note and Modern Drummer Release entitled "Jazz Drumming Legends".

Ignacio has recorded and played with musicians of the stature of: McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Jaco Pastorius, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Tito Puente and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, just to name a few.

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