This section of Alex Pertout's digital hub is designed to serve as a platform for sharing research materials related to his passion for percussion. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including the history, techniques, and repertoire of select percussion instruments, the exploration of various traditional rhythmic styles, rhythmic theory, and insightful conversations with exceptional drummers, percussionists and related instrumentalists.
In his academic role, Pertout has been instrumental in integrating Afro-Latin American music traditions and drumming styles into the university curriculum. As a long-standing senior lecturer and former head of the Jazz & Improvisation Department at the Faculty of VCA and Music, University of Melbourne, he has dedicated decades to making these rich musical traditions accessible to emerging young artists. Additionally, through his work as a published writer for Drumscene Magazine, Pertout has extended the reach engaging with the broader community, in turn further promoting these vibrant musical practices, fostering the appreciation and understanding of these remarkable art forms.
The content on this page is organised into various sections. Some include personal interviews with drummers, percussionists and other instrumentalists, providing career insights, discussions on percussion research and personal preferences regarding instruments. Other articles focus on rhythmic styles, analysing both traditional and innovative approaches, as well as specific percussion instruments, exploring their history, evolution, and playing techniques. Additionally, the page features heartfelt tributes to fellow artists, alongside personal reflections on performances, studio experiences and unique journeys that have been captured and documented over the years.
INTERVIEWS
MICHAEL SHRIEVE
Highly acclaimed and influential drummer, composer, producer, who first gained accolades for his outstanding ground-breaking work as a member of the legendary band Santana. He was featured in Santana’s historic performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, his drum solo in ‘Soul Sacrifice’ considered one of the highlights of the festival and widely praised as one of the most iconic and electrifying moments in rock history. Read More
JOHN SANTOS
Seven-time Grammy-nominated multi percussionist is one of the foremost exponents of Afro-Latin music in the world today. John is known for his innovative use of traditional forms and instruments in combination with contemporary music and has earned much respect and recognition as a prolific performer, composer, teacher, writer, radio programmer, record and event producer, whose career has spanned five decades. Read More
BOBBY SANABRIA
Acclaimed drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, documentary film producer, educator, activist and bandleader. He has performed and recorded with every major figure in the world of Latin-jazz and salsa, from the founder of the Afro-Cuban Latin-jazz movement Mario Bauzá, Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaría to Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Barretto, Candido, Ruben Blades and Celia Cruz, among many others. Read More
JUSTO PELLADITO
Legendary Cuban award winning master drummer, dancer, bandleader, recording artist and educator. Born in Matanzas, Roman Justo Pelladito is one of the most important figures of the Cuban music tradition. He is a founding member of the Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba and also the creator and professor of the first academic program offered on Cuban percussion at the ISA, the Instituto Superior De Arte. Read More
AGUSTIN DIAZ
Highly respected master percussionist who for the last forty two years has been an integral part of Cuba's most important rumba ensemble Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. Cuban music enthusiasts worldwide, most probably discovered the ensemble with the release of the album 'Guaguanco'; one side featuring the ensemble credited as Conjunto Guaguanco Matancero, while the other featuring Papin Y Sus Rumberos. Read More
KARAIKUDI R. MANI
In October I had the good fortune of connecting once again with the celebrated mridangam master Shri Karaikudi R. Mani before his Australian tour. Shri Mani is a highly revered performer and exponent of Carnatic music as well as being a respected composer, ensemble leader, educator, author and artistic collaborator. Read More
LENNY CASTRO
Born in New York City of Puerto Rican ancestry, Lenny Castro moved to Los Angeles in the late 1970s, at the time performing with vocalist Melissa Manchester. Her producer later introduced Castro to renowned LA record producer Richard Perry. Perry invited Lenny to play at a Diana Ross recording session, where he crossed paths with drummer Jeff Porcaro. Read More
JACK COSTANZO
Mr Jack Costanzo introduced bongos to the world when he joined bandleader Stan Kenton in 1947. He then went on to work with an array of artists including Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Betty Grable, Harry James, Judy Garland, Dinah Shore, Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley among many others. His popularity was such that legendary jazz critic Leonard Feather named him ‘Mr Bongo’. Read More
ARMANDO PERAZA
Mr Armando Peraza is one of the most important and revered figures in the world of Afro-Cuban percussion. He has performed with such artists as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, George Shearing and Santana, among many others, in a long and prolific career spanning more than sixty years. Read More
ALEX ACUÑA
Born in Peru to a family of musicians Alex Acuña joined the great Perez Prado's big band at eighteen. He later played with such diverse luminaries as Elvis Presley and Diana Ross, until he joined the groundbreaking jazz group Weather Report. Since then he has recorded with countless artists including Joni Mitchell, Whitney Houston, U2, Paul McCartney, Ella Fitzgerald, Sergio Mendes, to name a few. Read More
MARK LEVINE
Pianist Mark Levine has played and recorded with Woody Shaw, Mongo Santamaria, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker and Poncho Sanchez among others. As an educator, Levine authored two extremely successful books 'The Jazz Piano Book' and 'The Jazz Theory Book'. Read More
MARTY SHELLER
Marty Sheller is a trumpeter, composer and arranger who worked in both the Latin and jazz area of the music scene in the US. He played with Louie Ramirez, Sabu Martinez and Pete Terrace before joining Mongo Santamaria's band in 1962 and although left the band in 1968 remained Santamaria's main arranger until his very last recording. Read More
RUBEN RODRIGUEZ
Ruben Rodriguez has been recognised as one of the leading Latin bass players in the USA. He has worked with an array of artists including Mongo Santamaria, Eddie Palmieri, Grover Washington Jr, Roberta Flack, Willie Colon, Dave Valentin, Hilton Ruiz, Johnny Pacheco, Jose Fajardo, Machito, Fania All Stars, la India, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, among many others. Read More
TUTORIALS
MOZAMBIQUE: THE MANNY OQUENDO TOUCH
The mozambique is a popular style that was developed in Cuba by Pello 'El Afrokan' in the early 1960s. The rhythms presented here are examples of the style adapted by the New York bands who popularised the rhythm in the late 1960s, and in particular the band led by Eddie Palmieri which featured the great Manny Oquendo on timbales. Read More
CONGA SOLO BY MONGO SANTAMARIAThis article supports the documentation of the enormous legacy and contribution of Mongo Santamaria to the world of percussion and in particular conga drums. This document presents an excerpt from a solo Mongo takes on a version of 'Naked' from his 'Live At Yankee Stadium' release of 1974 (Vaya Records), rereleased in 1992 on cd by the German company Third. Read More​​​​
ORIGINS
THE CONGA DRUM - PART I: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
This is the first in a series of articles based on excerpts from my masters thesis titled 'The Conga Drum: Development, Technique, Styles, Improvisations and the contribution of Master Drummer Ramon ‘Mongo’ Santamaria', for which I was awarded a Master of Philosophy in Music at the Australian National University in Canberra (ANU). Read More
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THE CONGA DRUM - PART II: TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
This is the second in a series of articles based on excerpts from my masters thesis titled 'The Conga Drum: Development, Technique, Styles, Improvisations and the contribution of Master Drummer Ramon ‘Mongo’ Santamaria', for which I was awarded a Master of Philosophy in Music at the Australian National University in Canberra (ANU). Read More
THE CONGA DRUM - PART III: RAMON 'MONGO' SANTAMARIA'S CONTRIBUTION
This is the third in a series of articles based on excerpts from my masters thesis titled 'The Conga Drum: Development, Technique, Styles, Improvisations and the contribution of Master Drummer Ramon ‘Mongo’ Santamaria', for which I was awarded a Master of Philosophy in Music at the Australian National University in Canberra (ANU). Read More
THE BERIMBAU: HEART OF CAPOEIRA
The berimbau consist of a wooden stick which is strung with a steel string to form the bow shape, a gourd with an opening on one side which acts as a resonator, a coin or stone, a thin bamboo stick, and a basket shaker called caxixi. Traditionally in capoeira (the Brazilian martial arts style) the berimbau rhythms are accompanied by the following percussion instruments. Read More
CHRONICLES
TRAVEL DIARY: PERU 2020
This summer I was blessed with the remarkable opportunity of travelling to Peru and immersing myself in this country’s rich cultural offerings. Musically is an amalgamation of styles and instruments drawing on Peruvian Andean, Spanish and African roots. My specific focus was to be on the Afro-Peruvian musical landscape. Read More​
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ODES
REMEMBERING HOSSAM RAMZY
In the early 90s, as part of my endless research into world percussive genres, instruments and percussionists, I came across the remarkable work of Hossam Ramzy. He had released an outstanding recording titled ‘Rhythms of the Nile’ showcasing the intricacies of various Egyptian percussion instruments and associated rhythmic styles. Read More​
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REMEMBERING RAUL REKOW
Raul Rekow was a celebrated conga player, pioneer of the Latin-Rock movement, best known for his work as a member of the Santana band for 38 years. Rekow was born in San Francisco on the 10th of June, 1954. In his teens he was captured by an emerging new sound in popular music, the music of the Santana band, this in turn inspired Raul to take up conga drums. Read More​