Nationality: Puerto Rico
Raúl Maldonado, Drummer / Composer and Two times Latin Grammy nominee, (Best Latin Jazz Album “Charlie Sepulveda & the Turnaround” May 2008 and Sepulveda Boulevard 2009) has been a fervent researcher of Jazz and Latin roots rhythms. He studied at Drummers Collective in New York with Kim Plainfield and Michael Laurence; in Puerto Rico with Anthony Carrillo, Giovanni Hidalgo and Héctor Matos. Has played, recorded or toured with masters like: Charlie Sepulveda, Giovanni Hidalgo, Dave Valentin, Anthony Carrillo, Grammy winner and platinum recording artist Olga Tañon, Claudio Roditi, Edsel Gomez, Cuatro virtuoso Christian Nieves (Ricky Martin), and recently, master conga player Paoli Mejias and Bernie Williams. Also has new recording with his jazz trio San Juan Collective is on the street since november 2009.