Ignacio Berroa is best known for his work as a jazz drummer and Afro-Cuban musician. He was born in Havana in Cuba in 1953. Although he studied classical violin at first, he realized that he wanted to go a different path after hearing Glenn Miller and Nat King Cole. At 11 years old, he began drum lessons and was already performing in Cuba. Berroa made the move to New York in 1980. Dizzy Gillespie invited Berroa to join his quartet the following year. He spent the next ten-years playing in the trumpeter’s various bands. Berroa was equally adept in Latin percussion and jazz. He recorded and performed with Chick Corea and Chico Buarque. His first solo album Codes was released in 2006.
