Yissy Garcia
Drummer and composer Yissy García is one of the most respected artists to emerge from a particularly exciting new generation of Cuban musicians. Considered to be the islands most prominent female percussionist, and one of its most dynamic and innovative performers, she demonstrates the art of combining traps and percussion, drawing from both folkloric and popular Cuban music as well as contemporary jazz and funk styles.
Garcia has performed extensively – both nationally and internationally (USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, France, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay) – and with celebrated artists such as Dave Matthews, Esperanza Spalding, Joshua Bell, Omara Portuondo and Carlos Varela. She has been described by Tom Tom Magazine (New York-based women’s percussion quarterly) as Cuba’s answer to Terri Lyne Carrington, and by Jazz Times as ‘’…a star in the making’’. Since 2012 García has led Bandancha – a highly innovative quintet that combines Latin jazz, funk, hip hop and Cuban music styles. eir rst album, Última Noticia (2015), was critically acclaimed.
García and her band have appeared at some of the US’s most important venues – including a memorable session at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert (May 2018) and in performances at the Lincoln Centre, the Kennedy Centre, at the Los Angeles Music Centre and the SXSW in Austin, Texas.
García is also a member of the celebrated 8-piece women’s band, Maqueque, founded by Canadian sax player Jane Bunnett. Maqueque won the Juno Award for Best Group Jazz Album of the Year (2014) with their debut CD “Jane Bunnett and Maqueque”. Further credit and recognition came this year when their album ‘’Oddara’’ (2017) was nominated for the Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy Award.
She recently restructured Bandancha, dropping her DJ in favour of more traditional Cuban percussion and showcased their new sound at the prestigious Circulart 2018 (Latin American indie music market).
Two singles (Arroz con mango and Arrollando) are due for release and an EP of new songs will be released in early 2019.