Giovanni Hidalgo Concerts

Experience Giovanni Hidalgo

Giovanni Hidalgo is a Puerto Rican percussionist renowned as a leading figure in Latin jazz and a virtuoso of the *pandereta* (tambourine). Born in 1964, he began his professional career at age 12, touring with his father’s orchestra. He quickly gained recognition for his innovative techniques and dynamic playing, expanding the pandereta’s role beyond traditional accompaniment.

Hidalgo’s discography includes numerous solo albums like *La Comparsa* (1990) and *Zoom* (1993), showcasing his compositional skills alongside his instrumental prowess. He's collaborated extensively with prominent artists across genres, including Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera, and Arturo Sandoval. A long-standing member of the band Mambo Montuno, he further solidified his influence within Latin music circles.

He is celebrated for blending Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms with jazz improvisation and incorporating elements of flamenco and other world music traditions. Hidalgo has received multiple Grammy nominations and awards, including a Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2008 for *Organic Evolution*.