Giovanni Hidalgo

Giovanni Hidalgo, widely regarded as one of the foremost congueros of his era, entered the world in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during 1963 and began playing drums at age five. As the offspring of noted percussionist Jose "Manengue" Hidalgo, he absorbed Latin rhythms from an early age and often carried his congas on foot to neighborhood performances throughout his teenage years. The legendary Dizzy Gillespie soon took notice, resulting in a four-year stint with the United Nations All-Star Orchestra; Hidalgo likewise established himself as an in-demand session musician through recordings alongside Freddie Hubbard, Paul Simon, and Mickey Hart's Planet Drum project. His first solo album, Villa Hidalgo, appeared in 1992, followed by Worldwide the next year. The 1997 release Hands of Rhythm, a joint effort with pianist Michel Camilo, brought a Grammy nomination in the Best Latin Jazz Album category, and his Greatest Hits collection arrived the subsequent year.