Giovanni Hidalgo

About the Artist

A titan of the congas

Giovanni Hidalgo is widely regarded as one of the greatest conga players who has ever lived. A Grammy-winning percussionist and a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, he revolutionised hand-drumming with a speed, melodic touch, and independence that expanded what the congas could do — bringing the technical vocabulary of the drum kit and the melodic sensibility of a soloist to the Afro-Caribbean tradition.

He has performed with the giants — Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri — and was a central voice in Mickey Hart's Planet Drum alongside Zakir Hussain. Born in Puerto Rico into a family of musicians, he is a living bridge between the deep roots of Latin percussion and the global stage.

This is not an ordinary class. It is an intimate encounter — a small, close circle where you don't watch a master from afar, but sit beside one.

What to expect

This is a live online masterclass — not a recording, but a real conversation as much as a lesson. Giovanni will share his life and musical journey — from a family of musicians in Puerto Rico to the stages of the world's greatest bands — and the insights behind his legendary technique: his approach to practice and to hand independence, the melodic possibilities of the congas, the deep art of accompaniment in Afro-Caribbean and jazz settings, and the spirit and feel that have influenced percussionists across every tradition.

More about Giovanni Hidalgo: Instagram

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