Crispin Robinson has been a professional musician since 1989, working
in pop, jazz, dance, roots and world music.
He has studied and played batá music for nearly 20 years, being fortunate enough
to learn with such legendary masters of the tradition as Angel Bolaños, Amelia Pedroso, Esteban 'Chacha' Vega, Clave y Guaguanco,
Los Rumberos de Cuba, Octavio Rodriguez, Pancho Quinto, Abbilona and others.
He
holds a masters degree in ethnomusicology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where he
is currently researching a PhD on Afrocuban drumming.
He has taught ethnomusicology
at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at SOAS and was convenor for the 'Music in Africa' course in 2005/6.
He
has worked with the charity Leap on their gangs program, using drumming to transform the experience of young people and teach
aspects of self-discipline, listening, sharing and commitment.
He has trained and
performed extensively with Jan Blake, one the UK's leading storytellers, and works in primary schools using music and story
to delight and entertain small children.
Recent projects include:
authoring Cuban Music article for Classroom Music magazine
aimed at Key Stage 3 children; delivering workshops on Afrocuban drum music for the national Portrait of a Nation
project on identity for young people;
performing at Glastonbury and RISE festivals with Routes
to Roots, a project mixing traditional African music with urban grime and hip-hop.
A
forty-something mixed race father, he has a lifelong interest in Afro-Atlantic music, history and culture, and a passion for
communicating this knowledge through music, words and song.
Regular members of
Rumba Orisha include:
Dave Pattman is a world-renowned percussionist and easily
the most knowledgeable performer of Cuban percussion in the UK. He has performed with Omara Portuando, Anga Diaz, Snowboy,
Roberto Pla, Afro-Cuban All Stars to name but a few, and is in high demand as a session musician, performer and Cuban consultant.
Flavio Correa is a percussionist and singer specialising
in Afrocuban folkloric music. He directs his own salsa group The Sugar Kings and performs regularly around Britain.
JP Courtney is a percussionist who plays both Afrocuban
and Brazilian styles to a high degree. He has toured with Monobloco from Rio de Janiero and studied rumba and batá with Los Rumberos de Cuba amongst others. He is musical director of the Bloco Toque
Tambor and teaches and performs drum music around Britain.
Hamish Orr is a percussionist and educator who has
been amongst those responsible for introducing Afrocuban folkloric music to the UK. He performs and teaches regularly around
Britain.
Vicky Jassey is a singer and percussionist
who is the driving force behind rumba group ‘Los Rumberitos de Londres’, she
is also director of ‘Bombo Productions' a
company that promotes Afrocuban folkloric music through performance, education and events. As well as performing she teaches Afrocuban music in primary schools around
London.
Hannah Bee is a drummer, percussionist and singer who has had a marked
impact on Afrocuban music in London. Holding workshops and performances she has contributed enormously to the growing interest
in Afrocuban music. She teaches and performs around Britain.
Ronald Thomas is a tremendous singer and percussionist who has a long
pedigree in Afro-Atlantic music. He has toured with the London
Afro Bloc playing Bahia-style samba reggae and regularly performs Afrocuban music with Kevin Haynes Grupo Eleggua.
