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| photo: Dr. Jolan Kovacs-Mazza, KoSA Projects Coordinator & Co-Founder
(left); Giovanni Hidalgo (center) & Aldo Mazza, KoSA Artistic Director & Founder
(right) |
The KOSA summer
percussion camp, held at the hilly Johnson State College campus in Vermont from
August 7 - 11, revealed that it has transformed into a major initiative in percussion
and drumset education. Students flocked from adjacent states, provinces, and
from around the world to take part in one-on-one lessons, master classes, and
performances with the leading percussion proponents of our time.
LP is proud to say that we've been an integral part of Kosa since day one.
This year was no exception and we sent an unprecedented number of performers
to the lush green hills of Vermont to teach and perform, including Antonio
Sanchez, Jamey
Haddad, John Amira, Cassio
Duarte, Gordon
Gottlieb, Carlos Cornier, Allan Molnar, Giovanni
Hidalgo, Dom Famularo, Kenwood
Dennard, and, of course, Kosa artistic director/founder Aldo
Mazza, himself a veteran LP artist. In addition, LP Education Coordinator
Memo Acevedo was present to report on the activities and to take an active
part, specifically demystifying Colombian percussion and drum set rhythms.
In a touching moment, LP artist Giovanni
Hidalgo received a special Lifetime Achievement Award, conferred by Aldo
Mazza and his partner Jolan. The award reflects Giovanni's pursuit of excellence
on his chosen instrument and pays tribute to the many benchmark performances
he has given us, both live and in the studio. He is truly a drummers' drummer.
At one point, Giovanni was accompanied by wire brush phenom Clayton Cameron.
Their duet of congas and snare drum was well received by the Kosa attendees.
Antonio Sanchez demonstrated his extraordinary complex drumset rhythms, which
derive from Latin and modern fusion trends, while Jamey Haddad showed how Middle
Eastern drums could be employed in contemporary music. From Gordon Gottlieb's
classical snare drum to John Amira's bata to Cassio Duarte's examination of
the pandeiro, all of the LP artists delighted the Kosa participants.
LP salutes Kosa for providing a unique drumming event that is educational
and fun!
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