Percussionist, producer, composer, recording artist, writer and historian. Multi Grammy nominee (5); Founder and Director, The Machete Ensemble, 1985 – 2006; performed and/or recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Santana, Cachao, Eddie Palmieri, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Steve Turre, Bobby Hutcherson, Lalo Schifrin, James Moody, The Latin Giants of Jazz, Omar Sosa, Buena Vista Social Club, Batacumbele, Lázaro Ros, Francisco Aguabella, Armando Peraza, El Conjunto de Clave y Guaguancó, John Faddis, and Mark Murphy. Lectured and/or offered residencies at the Berklee School of Music, Yale, UCLA, Whittier College, Michigan State, U. of Wisconsin at Madison, Dillard U., UC Berkeley, UC Sacramento, UC Santa Cruz, UC Monterey Bay, San Jose State U., SF State U., Humboldt State U., and Brigham Young U., as well as throughout Europe and Latin America. Currently on faculty of the College of San Mateo, Jazz Camp West, and director of the highly acclaimed John Santos Sextet.