Nissim Malul
Born to Moroccan parents, Nissim has had an affinity to Middle Eastern music since he was very young.
At the age of 18 he begun doumbek classes with Salem Darwish, a local musician and teacher.
He then continued his studies in the US with Souhail Kaspar, master percussionist.
Yearly Nissim attends Middle Eastern Music Camp in Mendocino, CA to further his immersion in and understanding of mid east music. Currently Nissim takes Arabic ensamble classes at PCC where is picked up the Oud, directed by Wael Kakish in Pasadena, CA. Nissim resides in LA and works with local bands and DJ's.
More info can be found on his site: www.NissimMalul.com
At the age of 18 he begun doumbek classes with Salem Darwish, a local musician and teacher.
He then continued his studies in the US with Souhail Kaspar, master percussionist.
Yearly Nissim attends Middle Eastern Music Camp in Mendocino, CA to further his immersion in and understanding of mid east music. Currently Nissim takes Arabic ensamble classes at PCC where is picked up the Oud, directed by Wael Kakish in Pasadena, CA. Nissim resides in LA and works with local bands and DJ's.
More info can be found on his site: www.NissimMalul.com
Simon Thompsen
Drummer, percussionist and composer based in Los Angeles. Simon is currently a member of The 562nd Air Force Band of the Southwest. He performs with theatrical percussion ensemble Scrap Arts Music; Afrobeat Down; Percuti Rhythm Ensemble; Cricket and the 219; and Ray Rivera. Past credits include Santos De Los Angeles; Dannielle Gaha; pit orchestra for The Music Man and H.M.S. Pinafore; and The Metropolitan Wind Symphony. His composition debut was made in 2001 with his percussion ensemble piece, Junk. He can be heard on the recording of the world premier production of George Anteil's Ballet Mechanique. Simon received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sound Recording Technology and Performance from The University of Massachusetts, Lowell. He has studied with world-renown musicians Luis Conte, Ed Shaughnessy, Jamey Hadad, Fred Buda and Jeff Fischer.
Daniel Placencia
Drummer/Percussionist Living and playing in Los angales, CA Im originally from Northern California. Turlock, CA is were i grew up. I studied music at LA Music Academy. I playing anything from country to heavy metal and anything in between. Im in love with Afro-cuban music and salsa! it just grooves so good and i cant stop listening to it! I have been playing and loving music since i was a young kid. I first started playing drums when i was 6 years old. I was the church drummer! Crazy i know. since then i have been addicted to music. Since iv been in LA iv played with several artist including Andy Taylor, Illiana Rose, Aaron Serfaty, Sean beale rosano, Darrin Stafford And i studied with Brad Rabuchin, Mark Guitierrez, Aaron Serfaty, Ralph Humpery, Mike Packer and many more!
Ryan Knudsen
Ryan Knudsen was born and raised in Wichita, KS where, after honing his skills performing and teaching throughout his high school years, he was awarded a Gates Millennium Scholarship and began his college career at the University of Kansas studying under Kevin Bobo.
In the fall of 2007, Knudsen was invited to transfer to the prestigious Jacob’s School of Music at Indiana University. While there, he continued his classical percussion studies with Kevin Bobo, but quickly transitioned to studying drumset and world percussion full time with Steve Houghton and Michael Spiro.
Ryan graduated from IU in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance, and had also amassed a large variety of teaching, performing, lecturing, and recording experiences.
Between musicals under the direction of Terry LaBolt, recording albums with Michael Spiro and Sylvia McNair (to name a few), attending workshops like the Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum workshop in Arcata, CA, performing at both the 2009 and 2010 PASIC conventions (where he won first place honors in the World Drum Set Category in the 2010 Drum Set Competition), and travelling to Rio de Janeiro with master drummer, Jorge Alabe, to study and play, Ryan has been able to diversify his skills and knowledge in very extreme ways.
In August of 2011, Ryan relocated to Los Angeles where he has been ever since. Los Angeles acts as a “home base” for Ryan as he spends the majority of his time traveling around the nation playing with acts and performers in all different styles.
Ryan’s most notable project, the Media Noche Trio (with Coleman Cook and Max Marshall), has been on two national tours of the United States, recorded three albums (two to be released in 2013), and a 2 month Celebrity Cruise of the Mediterranean.
Currently, Ryan is freelancing out of LA, plays for dancers like Kati Hernandez and Anna Carla, is the drummer for the Indie band, Animals of Kin, and is co-leading the Samba based drum ensemble, Bloco Otimo with friend and fellow drummer, Kyle Traska.
Ryan is an artist for LP Percussion and Remo Drumheads.
In the fall of 2007, Knudsen was invited to transfer to the prestigious Jacob’s School of Music at Indiana University. While there, he continued his classical percussion studies with Kevin Bobo, but quickly transitioned to studying drumset and world percussion full time with Steve Houghton and Michael Spiro.
Ryan graduated from IU in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance, and had also amassed a large variety of teaching, performing, lecturing, and recording experiences.
Between musicals under the direction of Terry LaBolt, recording albums with Michael Spiro and Sylvia McNair (to name a few), attending workshops like the Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum workshop in Arcata, CA, performing at both the 2009 and 2010 PASIC conventions (where he won first place honors in the World Drum Set Category in the 2010 Drum Set Competition), and travelling to Rio de Janeiro with master drummer, Jorge Alabe, to study and play, Ryan has been able to diversify his skills and knowledge in very extreme ways.
In August of 2011, Ryan relocated to Los Angeles where he has been ever since. Los Angeles acts as a “home base” for Ryan as he spends the majority of his time traveling around the nation playing with acts and performers in all different styles.
Ryan’s most notable project, the Media Noche Trio (with Coleman Cook and Max Marshall), has been on two national tours of the United States, recorded three albums (two to be released in 2013), and a 2 month Celebrity Cruise of the Mediterranean.
Currently, Ryan is freelancing out of LA, plays for dancers like Kati Hernandez and Anna Carla, is the drummer for the Indie band, Animals of Kin, and is co-leading the Samba based drum ensemble, Bloco Otimo with friend and fellow drummer, Kyle Traska.
Ryan is an artist for LP Percussion and Remo Drumheads.
Andrew G. Brown
Andrew was born in Philadelphia in 1983. At age 10, he started playing percussion in the school band. By the time he was 17 he had begun performing and recording drums professionally. He spent most of his time working with local artists in Old City Philadelphia and Manhattan. He toured all over the northeast, including New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. During his spare time he studied music theory at Bucks County College. In 2002 he won best drummer award at “Emergenza’s” battle of the bands contest. After performing with the Tri-County Big Band for 2 years he relocated to Los Angeles where he studied percussion at Musicians Institute. There he received a Degree in Contemporary Music. He began his teaching career in 2005 after he was hired as the drum instructor at Los Angeles City College. Since then, he has authored three different drum books and is currently working with various Latin, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Pop Artists in the LA area.