Clifford Brooks

Clifford Brooks has been playing Latin Percussion since 1974. During his many trips to Cuba since the 1990's, he has studied with renowned drummers like Regino Jimenez, Pancho Quinto, El Asmatico, and Jesus Alphonso. Other influences on his understanding of Latin percussion are Los Siete Morenos del Changui, Orquesta Reve, Mario Salazar "Papaito", and many others.

Clifford has plenty of experience in improvisation. In the 1990's he teamed up with Judith Justiz, who brought Afro Cuban folkloric dance to the Bay Area, and was the Quintero in her Afro-Cuban folkloric group "Raices Afrocubanas". They later married and formed various groups, performing widely throughout the Bay Area.

A patient teacher with 32 years of experience focusing on technique and tasteful soloing, offering private and group lessons in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has written three soloing books and one on rhythmic variations for the Guaguancó rhythm. These books can be used to enhance your tastefulness on a conga, cajon, bongo, or even timbales.