Miguel Garcia Fernandez
I graduated from the National School of Art in 2002, I attended part of the Elementary Level, graduated from the Higher Secondary Level, completed my social service and where since approximately 2005. I have worked as a full time professor, teaching xylophone, timpani, but with greater emphasis on the study of the snare drums and for approximately two school years (since 2012), the study of the bata drum, an essential or vital source of learning the roots and aspects of our Afro-Cuban percussion.
Since 1998, of course without having graduated, I worked with the Canada-Cuba company (Festival Cultural-Sport) specifically in the Elegua Project together with the now deceased Chuck Silverman (Palito), one of the greatest masters of percussion in the Angeles-United States, courses in which I had the pleasure of giving classes and conferences to percussionists from almost all parts of the world until 2012, the year in which this great friend-teacher with whom I not only co-taught classes, but also served as the backbone of my learning and experience as a teacher.
But the knowledge that I have been able to impart would not have been possible without establishing a duality as an interpreter. I have had the joy of working with several figures of Jazz, Salsa or Timba Cubana, for example in my beginnings Denis & Swing, Tumbao Habana, Haila María Monpie. I had the honor of playing, recording and touring with Luis Frank and his group Soneros de Verdad, work that I alternated with the now deceased Pio Leiva, both belonging to the Buena Vista Social Club catalog, with which also served as cover for sharing the scene with various figures such as: Pedro Calvo, Mayito Rivera, Omara Portuondo, among others, as well as with other artists with whom I have worked unofficially.
I also worked with the Otra Visión orchestra led by Orlando Valles (Maraca) and Los Amigos, a project directed by maestro Emilio Morales, with whom I have had the pleasure of recording, doing national and international tours and collaborating in important Jazz Festivals, both in Havana and abroad. I may have others left to mention, but in one way or another, I feel that these are the musicians who have most influenced my career and learning, both personally and as a performer.
At present, I am working with Klimax, one of the most popular bands in Cuba lead by Master – Geraldo Piloto.