This Havana born virtuoso at age 33 accounts for a 20-year music career. At an early age, he studied at the Vocational School of Arts in Pinar del Río, Cuba, graduating in percussion with complementary studies in piano. He continued his percussion training with José Luis Quintana "Changuito" studying trombobe, music history and vocals at the National School of Arts.
In the course of more than two decades, Tomas (universally acknowledged to be among the top three timba drummers in the world) has authored three books entitled "The Conga Method Volume I, II abd III", awared 4,5 stars by "Modern Drummer Magazine".
His first working experience was at the Cabaret Parisienne of the "Hotel Nacional" in Cuba. Since then and over the years he had played with renowned artist like Paulito FG y su Élite, Giblerto Santa Rosa, Oscar D´León, Tito Nieve, Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Manolín El Médico de la Salsa, Arturo Sandoval, Cachao, among others. He has toured the world with some od them and accompanied other to numerous and prominent jazz festivals. "Tomasito", as endearlingly loved and known, has been parto to three Grammy winning cd´s with Alejandro Sanz, Willy Chirino and Arturo Sandoval.
Recordings:
Paulito FG Y Su Elite: El bueno soy yo
Paulito FG Y Su Elite: Con la consciencia tranquila
Issac Delgado: Con la punta del pie
Homenaje a Juan Formell: Gracias Formell
Homenaje a Pablo Milanés: Para vivir
Manolín el médico de la salsa: El Puente
Luis Bofill: Homenaje a Juan Gabriel (Juan-Ga)
Maruja Boogaard: Homenaje a Celia ruz “Bemba Colorada”
Alejandro Sanz: No es lo mismo
Arturo Sandoval: Live at the Blue Note
Arturo Sandoval: Rumba Palace
Willie Chirino: Son del alma
Celia Cruz: La Cuba mía
Tropiucana Allstars: Tributo a Benny Moré
Andy Montañez: Salsatón
Roberto Torres: Chachachá Allstars
Felipe Lamogla: Dimensions
Ignacio Berroa: Codes
El Kid de la Salsa: Mi realidad
Shared the Stage:
Israel Lópz Cachao
Eddie Palmieri
Tito Puente
George Benson
Al Jarreau
Kool and the Gang
Kenny Garry
Dave Hollands
Michael Brecker
Herbie Hancock
Tito Nieve
Luis Enrique
Arc Anthony
Willy Chirino
Celia Cruz
Mario Rivera
Alexander Peter
Emilio Estefan
Armando Manzanero
Olga Tañón
Banda el recodo
Cheo Feliciano
Grupo niche
Manolín el médico de la salsa
Oscar de León
Alejandro Sanz
Israel Kantor
Paquito Echevarría
Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Paquito de Rivera
Dave Valentín
Néstor Torres
Carlos Vives
Shakira
Alicia Keys
Arturo Sandoval
Andy García
Isaac Delgado
Paulito FG
Roberto Torr
Gloria Estefan
Giovani Hidalgo
Rey Ruiz
Melina León
Chucho Valdez
Gilberto Santarosa
Grupo Guayacán
Music Videos:
Celia Cruz “La Cuba mía”
Arturo Sandoval “Live at the Blue Note”
Giovani Hidalgo “Clinic at Sam Ash”
Giovani Hidalgo “Clinic at Guitar Center”
Tropicana Allstars “Tributo a Benny Moré”
The Tomás Cruz Conga Method I, II, III (instructional DVD)
Magazines:
Miami Herald, 2001
Modern Drummer Magazine, 2006
San José Mercury, 2006
Ocean Drive Magazine, 2006
LP Magazine, 2006
Tycoon Magazine, 2007
Drums Only, Europe, 2008
Books:
The Tomás Cruz Conga Method Vol. I, II, III
Television:
Univision 23
Canal 41
Telemundo
Mega TV
BET Jazz
Grammy-winning recordings:
“No es lo mismo”, Alejandro Sanz
“Son del alma”, Willy Chirino
“Rumba Palace”, Arturo Sandoval
Grammy-nominated recordings:
“No es lo mismo”, Alejandro Sanz
“Tributo a enny Moré”, Tropicana Allstars
“Son del alma”, Willy Chirino
“Codes”, Ignacio Berroa
“Rumba Palace”, Arturo Sandoval
Festivals & Performances:
Azúcar Festival, Cancún, Mexico, 1990 (Paulito y su Elite); Guadalajara Festival, 1990 (Paulto y su Elite);
Francia Festival, 1993 (Paulito)
New Morning, Paris, 1993 (Paulito)
Montpellier Festival 1993 (Paulito
Toulouse Festival 1993 (Paulito)
Berlin Festival 1993 (Paulito)
Campanelli, Italy, 1993 (Paulito)
Argentina Festival Salsón 1997 (Paulito)
Hollywood Jazz Festival 1999 (Israel Cachao López)
Tennessee Jazz Festival 2000 (israel Cachao López)
San Francisco Jazz Festival 2000 (Israel Cachao López)
Hialeah Carnaval 2001 (Willy Chirino)
Calle Ocho Festival 2000, 2001 (Willy Chirino)
Seattle Jazz Festival 2003 (Arturo Sandoval)
Key West Jazz Festival 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Newport Jazz Festival, 2005, 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)Barbados Jazz Festival 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)
Playboy Jazz Festival 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Montreal Jazz Festival, 2005, 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)
Montreux Jazz Fstival, Switzerland, 2005 (Arturo Sandoval)
NorthZea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam, 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)
New Orleans Jazz Festival, 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Dayton Jazz Festival, Texas, 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Murcia Jazz Festival, Spain, 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)
Madeira Jazz Festival, Portugal, 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)
Connecticut Jazz Festival, 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Heineken Jazz Festival, Canary Islands, 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)
Heineken Jazz Festival, Puerto Rico, 2006 (Arturo andoval)
San Francisco Jazz Festival, 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Tortosa Jazz Festival, Spain, 2006 (Arturo Sandoval)
Miracle Mile Jazz Festival, Miami, 2003-2007, (Arturo Sandoval)
Call Ocho Festival, Miami, 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Calle Ocho Festival, Miami, 2001 (Celia Cruz)
IBM Festival, Perth, Australia, 2007 (Arturo Sandoval)
Europe workshop tour, Sept 2007
New Port Jazz Festival 2007, (Goerge Benson & Al Jarrau)
Latin Billboards Showcase, 2008
Cd Release, Candela. 2 concerts, Costa Rica, Nov. 2008.
Central America Tour, Mayo 2009, 3 concerts with Special guest Rey Ruiz
Central America Tour, July 2009, 11 concerts with Apostol Richard
Roberts & Nu-Day coro de voces.
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