Irizarry Takes The Show On The Road

By Andy Doerschuk Published July 20, 2009

It's a summer of reunions, and one of the most hotly anticipated will be when timbalero Ralph Irizarry takes the stage with his former bandmates from the '80s outfit, the Seis Del Solar band, including Latin music star Ruben Blades. The reunited band will also include Robby Ameen on traps; Oscar Hernandez on keys; Richie Marrero on keys, vibraphone, and percussion; Eddy Montalvo on trombone, tumbadora and percussion; bonguero Louis Rivera; and Mike Vinas on acoustic and electric guitar and banjo.

In a preview from the upcoming interview slated for the October 2009 issue of DRUM! Magazine, Irizarry told writer J. Poet, "Seis de Solar was the most innovative project I¹ve ever been involved with. When the band was formed in 1983, we had a series of meetings before we played one note of music. We discussed what we wanted to wear, what we wanted to get paid, what we wanted to play, and how we were going to play it." You don't want to miss this exclusive hand-drumming feature. Subscribe to DRUM! today.

Hailed as one of the brightest stars in Latin music, Irizarry has performed and recorded with many of the most renowned and respected musicians in the world, including Ray Barretto, Harry Belafonte, Celia Cruz, Paquito D’Rivera, Wynton Marsalis and Paul Simon. Irizarry. Irizarry’s own group, Son Café, is based in New York City.

On the road, Irizarry will play Ralph Irizarry Signature Series timbales (pictured above), which were designed in conjunction with the master drum crafters at Tycoon Percussion. The 14" and 15" Signature timbales provide the sound and power of high-quality, stainless steel shells and heavy-gauge, die-cast counterhoops finished in a durable, black gloss.