Frank Colon
Frank Colón is a specialist in Latin- Caribbean, Brazilian and Asian percussion instruments including congas, bongos, timbales, bata drums, shekere, cuica,berimbau, and tabla drums, among others. Frank began his musical career with a five- year stint in Julito Collazo's Afro-Cuban drum ensemble. On NYC's jazz scene, he began performing with Walter Booker, Chet Baker, Jaco Pastorious, Michel Camilo and African master drummer, Babatunde Olatunji. He quickly went on to perform and record with Gato Barbieri, Harry Belafonte, Weather Report, Tania Maria, Flora Purim, and Airto Moreira.
In Brazil, Frank has also performed and/or recorded with Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Eddie, Motta, Jo√£o Bosco, Chico Buarque, Wagner Tiso, Ney Matogrosso, Elba Ramalho, Marina Lima, RPM, Jo√£o Donato, Toninho Horta, Roberto Menescal, and Marcos Valle. Frank also took part in the 100-year anniversary celebration of the Brazilian classical composer, Heitor Villa Lobos, touring all of the state capitals in Brazil.
As a sideman with the Manhattan Transfer for 12 years, he collaborated with his creative sound for two of their Grammy awards and was voted in 1988 as one of
the top three "Most Influential Percussionist of the Year" by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine!
Frank'ís other collaborations in performances, TV specials, DVDs and/or CD recordings include Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, George Clinton, Gato Barbieri, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, George Benson, Thalia, Paquito D'Rivera, Larry Coryell, Billy Taylor, Azymuth, Dianne Reeves, Nestor Torres,Mickey Hart, DJ Gilles Peterson, among many others.
Frank also appears in the musical documentary movie "Calle 54", directed by Oscar-winner Fernando Trueba. His two albums as a leader are: "Frank Colón - Live at Vartanjazz" and "Latin Wonder", both of which have received very good critical reviews. He is also featured as principal soloist in a DVD with the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra from Moscow, in a symphony commissioned for him entitled "Adoracion al Ritmo."
Besides show performances, Frank has been conducting percussion clinics and workshops all over the world. His workshops not only explain and demonstrate the technical aspects of drumming but also emphasize the possibilities of extending communication and cultural exchange between all people through the universal language of music.
www.frankcolonpercussion.com
