Ignacio Berroa & Friends

Grammy Award winner Ignacio Berroa has boasted an impressive resume of sideman recording and performance duties with such maestros of the jazz world as Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean and Charlie Haden, as well as such Latin American masters as Mario Bauza, Tito Puente, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Danilo Perez to name a few. In addition, he has also worked with Brazilian musical icons, Chico Buarque, Ivan Lins, Joao Bosco, Gal Costa and Lenny Andrade. As a Big Band Drummer he has worked with The Lincoln Center Big Band, The Carniege Hall Big Band, WDR Big Band and The BBC Big Band. His musicianship and versatility has allowed to him to build a succesful career which has make him gain the respect of the most important musicians in the business and his peers. Born in Havana Cuba on July 8, 1953, Ignacio grew up in a musical family beginning his musical career by training to become a classical violinist following his father footsteps, before turning his sights to drumming.

He studied at The National School of Arts and later at Havana's National Conservatory. By 1975, Ignacio was the most sought-after drummer in Cuba. When he left his homeland to come to New York, he was befriended by Mario Bauza, who introduce him to Dizzy Gillespie. The trumpeter enlisted Berroa for his band when he moved to U.S from Havana in 1980. Ignacio was also part of all the important bands Gillespie formed during that decade including his quartet, Dizzy Gillespie's 70th Anniversary Big Band, The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and the Grammy Award – winning United Nations Orchestra.

All shows at Sam First are 21+ (no one under the age of 21 will be permitted)

Show Times: 7:30pm & 9:00pm, and a separate ticket is required for each show.

Notice of Recording: Sam First live streams and records all concerts. By entering Sam First, you understand that your image and/or voice might be included in those recordings. Sam First reserves the right to use any photography, video or audio recording taken at this event, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.