Manolo Badrena

The track record of Puerto Rican percussionist Manolo Badrena goes back to jazz drummer and bandleader Art Blakey's experiments combining percussionists from varying ethnic backgrounds. In the '70s, Badrena not only worked for several years with Weather Report, at that point one of the top modern jazz attractions, but also toured with the Rolling Stones as a supplemental percussionist. Although he continued to work with rock artists, the former did more for his career; it led to sunny days with players such as Steve Khan and to participation in Spyro Gyra. During the '80s, Badrena collaborated with Bill Evans (the saxophonist, not the pianist), and a stint with eccentric pianist and composer Carla Bley lasted somewhat longer. Active through the 2000s, he performed and recorded with the Zawinul Syndicate and Trio Mundo, and appeared on albums by Pete Levin, John Mayer, and longtime associate Ahmad Jamal. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi