NYC Afro/Cuban Bata Drum Workshops, presented by New York Jazz Academy, are now open for pre-registration. For Bata enthusiasts, ages 16 and older, these weekly workshops offer a hands-on exploration of Bata drumming in an intimate setting. Led by Bata drummer and bassist, David Ambrosio, these workshops are open to players at all levels. For more information on NYJA Bata Workshops and other adult programs, visit our website.

About Bata instructor David Ambrosio:

Bassist and Bata drummer David Ambrosio, originally from the New York area, has been a vital component of New York's Jazz scene for more than 15 years. Since the start of his career in New York City David has played with an extensive list of jazz greats such as pianist Kenny Werner, legendary vibraphone/clarinet duo Terry Gibbs and Buddy DeFranco, George Garzone, Joseph Jarmon and Ralph Alessi. David has toured and recorded with many groups that he is an integral part of including George Schuller's Circle Wide, the Matt Renzi Trio, Eri Yamamoto Trio, Vinnie Sperrazza Trio, Grupo Los Santos, Deanna Witkowski Quartet, Eric Rasmussen's School of Tristano, Adriano Santos Quintet, Rob Garcia's Sangha, the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly and the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra led by Jim McNeely and Michael Abene. In 2001, while on tour in Cuba with Grupo Los Santos and Max Pollack's Rumbatap, David had the opportunity to work with Afro/Cuban folkloric music and dance ensembles. During that experience his interest and study of Afro/Cuban folkloric music, culture and Bata drumming began and, consequently, has become quite active in NYC's Latin music scene. As an educator Mr. Ambrosio has had much experience over the years. Since 1997 David has been on faculty at the Queens College Center for Preparatory Studies in Music where he teaches young developing artists in both Jazz and Classical genres. David was also among the first clinicians to work for the Colden Center's City High School Jazz Residency Program, now known as the Kupferberg Performance Center, where he continues to share his music in NYC public schools where students have very little opportunity to explore Jazz music. On numerous occasions David has toured in Central and South East Asia on behalf of the US State Department as a performer and clinician. David has a Bachelor degree in Classical Composition from Manhattan School of Music and Master's degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College.

About New York Jazz Academy:

The New York Jazz Academy, recently featured on NBC television, offers classes, lessons, and programs for tots, kids, teens, and adults. Located on 86th and West End Avenue, in the heart of the Upper West Side, this new jazz school offers the highest quality jazz music instruction to New York City students of all ages. Recognizing the lack of opportunity among many NYC students to play in school jazz ensembles, the New York Jazz Academy offers weekly big band rehearsals, sectionals, jam sessions, and jazz improvisation seminars for kids, teens, and adults. NYJA also offers in-home private lessons throughout the boroughs.

The NYJA faculty roster is perhaps the school's most impressive feature. It includes saxophonists Wayne Escoffery, Charles Pillow, and Loren Stillman; trumpeters Chris Rogers and Philip Dizack; trombonist Mike Fahie; pianists Deanna Witkowski and Adam Birnbaum; guitarists Brad Shepik and Tom Dempsey; bassists Ike Sturm and Dave Ambrosio; drummers Pete (La Roca) Sims and Richie Barshay, composers Darcy James Argue and Miles Okazaki, and vocalists Carolyn Leonhart and Sofia Rei Koutsovitis, among others.

Those who are interested in signing up for New York Jazz Academy lessons and workshops may contact New York Jazz Academy program director Javier Arau at nyja@nyjazzacademy.com or (718) 426-0633. For more information, including curriculum, rates, locations and instructors, visit us on the web.