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Michael Spiro

Michael Spiro is a world-renowned percussionist, recording artist, and educator, known specifically for his work in the Latin music field.

Spiro's formal education includes a bachelor's degree with honors in Latin American Studies from the University of California, and three and a half years of graduate work in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington. His practical education consists of a seven- year apprenticeship with Francisco Aguabella (a relationship which continues today) and extensive study throughout Latin America. He has studied annually in Cuba since 1984 with musicians such as Jose Luis Quintana ("Changuito"), Esteban Vega Bacallao ("Cha-Cha"), Daniel Diaz and Juan "Claro" Blanco of Orquesta Ritmo Oriental, Regino Jimenez, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas and Grupo Afro-Cuba de Matanzas. In addition, in 1986, he spent two months training at G.R.E.S. Portela, the famous Escola de Samba in Rio de Janeiro.

Spiro currently resides in San Francisco, Calif., where he is an integral part of the Bay Area music scene. He records and produces with groups throughout the West Coast and still tours world-wide with the percussion trio Talking Drums, which he co-leads with David Garibaldi and Jesus Diaz. In June 1996, his recording Bata-Ketu was released on Bembe Records to international critical acclaim, including being voted one of the top 50 drum records of all time by Drum Magazine.

In 2004, Spiro received a Grammy nomination for his work as both producer and artist on Mark Levine's Latin/jazz release Isla, and, in 2005, he released BataMbira, which he wrote and produced with Professor B. Michael Williams. The CD received rave reviews around the world for its fusion of Afro-Cuban folkloric music with the mbira music of Zimbabwe, and that same year, he was voted runner-up in the jazz/fusion category in Drum Magazine's Reader's Poll Awards. In 2006, Chuck Sher Publications released his book, The Conga Drummer's Guidebook, and it has already become the standard in the field for intermediate/advanced instruction.

He is a frequent visiting artist at universities worldwide. In addition to the position he held in the Jazz Department at the University of California, Berkeley, Spiro has taught at numerous colleges throughout North America and Europe, and continues to be a presenter at national and statewide conventions of the Percussive Arts Society and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

Spiro's recording and performing credits include such diverse artists as David Byrne, Cachao, The Caribbean Jazz Project, Dori Caymmi, Changuito, Richard Egues, Frank Emilio Flynn, Ella Fitzgerald, David Garibaldi, Gilberto Gil, Giovanni Hidalgo, Ray Holman, Toninho Horta, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr.

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Album Review

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: The Rhythm of Invention

Read "The Rhythm of Invention" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Da qualche tempo anche il latin jazz di matrice afro-cubana cerca nuove forme d'espressione, pur rispettando i suoi caratteri tipici. In questo nuovo lavoro il quintetto di Wayne Wallace amplia quanto iniziato nel precedente Canto America dove coniugava ritmi del folklore caraibico e motivi del tipico latin jazz con orchestrazioni per archi. La produzione attuale è meno ambiziosa della precedente dov'era coinvolta l'Orquestra Sinfonietta—una nutrita formazione da camera per un totale di trenta musicisti—ma sempre efficace. Ora ...

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Album Review

Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace: Canto América

Read "Canto América" reviewed by James Nadal


The historical evolution of the Caribbean Basin and specifically the Greater Antilles, has been over five hundred years in the making. The triangular connections between Europe, Africa, and the New World with its ensuing social and economic constraints, established the conditions for an innovative culture in the region. The enculturation process led to the creolization of the music and the creation of hybrid religions as Santeria in Cuba, and Voudou in what was then Hispaniola (Saint-Domingue), adding an intriguing dimension ...

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Album Review

Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge: Serengeti

Read "Serengeti" reviewed by Jim Josselyn


The rhythms of Latin music are some of the most challenging in jazz. To play this music convincingly, mastery of its syncopation, odd groupings, accents, grooves and poly-rhythms are absolutely required, and this is no easy task. On Serengeti, Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge prove not only are they masters of the groove, but tasteful, soulful and inspired players as well.“Cha Cha Cha Para Mi Alma," a charmingly simple number, starts this recording in a relaxed, swinging ...

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Recording

Dee Bell releases "Sagacious Grace" with Houston Person, Al Plank, John Stowell, Michael Spiro, Colin Bailey and John Wiitala

Dee Bell releases "Sagacious Grace" with Houston Person, Al Plank, John Stowell, Michael Spiro, Colin Bailey and John Wiitala

Source: Dee Bell

Former Concord Jazz Recording Artist Dee Bell Moves to the Laser Label with the new album Sagacious Grace (Cat #0708). Available on CD Baby, Amazon, and ITunes as of 15 August 2011 Featuring Al Plank: piano; Houston Person: saxophone; John Stowell: guitar; Michael Spiro: percussion; Colin Bailey: drums; John Wiitala: bass. Praised by critics both abroad and in the United States for her “gorgeous phrasing" and “clear and easy delivery (Stereo Review)" of the lyrics of a song, West Coast ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Rhythm of...

Patois Records
2019

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Canto América

Patois Records
2016

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Serengeti

Self Produced
2001

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The Rhythm of Invention

From: The Rhythm of Invention
By Michael Spiro

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