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Jack Duncan

Percussionist Jack Duncan started playing Conga drums at the age of 14. From the very beginning Jack became obsessed with learning the history and cultural significance of his chosen instrument. He is now recognized internationally for his work as a pion

About Me

Percussionist Jack Duncan started playing Conga drums at the age of 14. From the very beginning Jack became obsessed with learning the history and cultural significance of his chosen instrument. He is now recognized internationally for his work as a pioneer in the study and promotion of Afro-Cuban and African music. His quest for knowledge and belief in finding it at the source has taken him to Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Gambia where he studied with Master Drummers Dou Dou N'Diaye Rose and Petit Toure, director of the National Ballet of Senegal. From the roots of rhythm in Africa Jack has traveled to places such as Cuba, Colombia, Panama and Puerto Rico where these rhythms have had major influences on local music and culture. In Cuba he studied extensively with the The Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas as well as legendary Cuban percussionists Changuito, Anga, Julio Davalos and Regino Jimenez. Jack was a featured performer at the Havana Jazz Plaza Festival with the late Pucho Lopez and has performed or recorded with world renowned musicians including Chicago, Donna Summers, Ricardo Lemvo & the Makina Loca, Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval and J.J Johnson. He is the leader of his own Afro-Cuban Jazz group Conga Cartel as well as being a founding member of Hugh Frasers iconic big band the Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI). He is a member of John Korsrud's Hard Rubber Orchestra, Orquesta Goma Dura, Night Crawlers, Greasy G, Zapato Negro among others. Jack has appeared on over 60 CDs, including the Juno Award winning album The Messenger with Alpha 'YAYA' Diallo. Jack has appeared on numerous music soundtracks most notably the Grammy and Oscar Award winning animated movie Ratatouille Disney Pixar. He has also worked as an expert music and scene advisor for numerous Television productions.