Percusionista legendario e innovador, nació en 1963 en Puerto Rico, aprendiendo con su padre desde los 3 años de edad. Funda Batacumbele y conoce en Cuba a José Luis Quintana “Changuito” con quien comienza una colaboración histórica. Es invitado en 1989 por Dizzy Gillespie a su sexteto y más adelante a la United Nations All Stars Orchestra con la que recorrió el mundo. Ha tocado y grabado con Eddie Palmieri, Paquito d’Rivera, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, Arturo Sandoval, Hilton Ruiz, Tito Puente, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Paul Simon, entre muchos otros. Su colaboración con Michel Camilo le hizo acreedor de un premio Grammy. Es profesor de Berklee College of Music y ha grabado varios videos instruccionales.
Giovanni Hidalgo.-Legendary percussionist and innovator, was born in 1963 in Puerto Rico. When he was 3 years old, he started learning music with his father. He formed Batacumbele and met José Luis Quintana «Changuito» in Cuba, beginning a historic collaboration. He was invited in 1989 by Dizzy Gillespie to his sextet and later to the United Nations All Stars Orchestra with which he toured the world. He has performed and recorded with Eddie Palmieri, Paquito d’Rivera, Horacio «The Black» Hernandez, Arturo Sandoval, Hilton Ruiz, Tito Puente, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Paul Simon, among many others. His collaboration with Michel Camilo earned him a Grammy Award. He teaches at Berklee College of Music and has recorded several instructional videos.
