Rafael Monteagudo's Page
Profile Information
- About Me:
- Rafael Monteagudo (Drummer/Percussionist) arrived in the US in 2000 from Havana, Cuba. His areas of focus include jazz, funk, fusion, Latin Jazz, and Afro-Cuban. He plays drum set, timbales, congas, Bata, and bongos. It was the thriving musical environment that he came from that inspired him to play drums at the young age of eight. He grew up in a neighborhood in Havana that has produced some of the most famous Cuban musicians. The musical traditions in Havana are rich in both popular and folkloric music. It was through sharing the strong African traditions that are inherent in Cuban culture that Rafael gained such a wide range of styles.
Rafael continued his studies at the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) and later at Felix Varela Conservatory in Havana. While in Cuba, Mr. Monteagudo had the opportunity to work with some of the best-known Cuban jazz and folkloric groups, including Calle 42, Eddy Mesa, jazz quartet Carisma and the Conjunto Folklorico of the University of Havana to name a few. He also performed at various prestigious festivals such as the Havana Jazz Festival and Cuba Disco.
Since Rafael has been in the US, he has performed in such venues as The Jazz Gallery, BANF, Blues Alley, the Smithsonian Institute, Kennedy Center, the Sedona Jazz Festival on the Rocks, Artscape, Painted Bride Art Center, and the Cherry Blossom Festival. He has toured with the Washington Ballet, Yosvany Terry, and Walter Bell. He has shared the stage with Desmond Child for his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Roy Hargrove, Dave Koz, T.S. Monk, Lou Volpe, Bill Summer/Hombres Calientes, Yosvany Terry, Alfredo De La Fe, Yerba Buena, and Marlon Simon/Nagual Spirits among others. He has also worked with various production groups, such as GALA Hispanic Theater, the In Series, and the youth of Soul y Sol.
Mr. Monteagudo has taught regularly at the Latin American Folk Institute in Maryland as well as offers master percussion seminars at universities and music schools. He has given workshops at Coppin State University, University of Richmond, the Levine School of Music, Loyola College, George Mason University, the Baltimore International Rhythm and Drumming Society, and the International Scholars Conference in Washington, DC. He has also taught workshops with Yosvany Terry’s band at BANF in Canada as well as in Jamaica with Pedro Martinez. Rafael’s percussion workshops include drum set techniques, applying Afro—Cuban rhythms to jazz, hand drums, and the various styles of Afro-Cuban music.
Rafael has just released his first instructional DVD “Clave in Modern Drum set Playing”. This is the first in a series of videos that incorporates many of the African and Afro-Cuban rhythms, including those played on congas and Batas that he grew up with. The unique twist that Rafael adds is how to play these rhythms on the drum set. This allows drummers to gain interdependence in playing using a new method that can bring excitement to their practice.
You may have seen Rafael in AOL’s promotional video, “Good to Grow” (EFX Media 2004) or in Covering Cuba, a DVD documentary produced by AB Independent Productions in 2004.
Rafael’s recent recordings include CDs with Walter Bell, Gylchris Sprauve, Dave Kline, TimbaSon, Patrick Alban (Ojos Verdes with members of Gloria Estefan’s band), Brooks, Jones, & Company, and Bernard Marinovitch. Rafael was featured in Modern Drummer in October 2004. He uses and is endorsed by Sabian cymbals and Kaman Music/Toca Percussion.
- Relationship Status
- In a Relationship
- Website:
- http://www.rafaelmonteagudo.net
- What Instrument(s) Do You Play?
- Drum Set, timbales, congas, bata drums, and bongos
- Biggest Musical Influences & Favorite Musicians/Bands:
- Biggest Musical Influences: Jazz, Latin Jazz, Fusion, and Funk
Favorite Musicians/Bands: Chick Corea, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Vinnie, Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, and Danis Chambers
- How Did You Hear About the New York City Jazz Network?
- google search
Rafael Monteagudo's Videos
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It's my pleasure be your friend and I send all my best wishes to you!
Kisses and hugs,
Beth
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Many thanks for the add and for you kind words left in my pahe about my music .
Glad you liked it :)
Have a great WE
All the best to you,
Alexis
Thanks so much for joining out site. I'm glad you found your way to the site and it's great to have you here! Please look around the site and join some of our groups. All the best.
Karl