Brandon Marger has been bringing Afro-Latin rhythms to the Western MA area for over twenty years as both a performing musician and a dedicated teacher. Brandon plays the authentic instruments and traditional rhythms of Latin American and the Caribbean, with a strong focus on the musics of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Brazil. Besides playing these musics in their native forms, Brandon also adapts these instruments and rhythms to modern musical styles such as jazz, funk, reggae, and a wide range of popular musics.


Brandon Marger has studied at the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba in La Habana, and at the  Balé Folclórico da Bahia in Salvador, Brazil, as well as with master percussionists here in the New England area. For more than two decades he has been gigging with a wide variety of bands throughout the US and the Caribbean, and has also been accompanying Afro-Latin dance classes.


Brandon Marger has been teaching Afro-Latin drumming and percussion since 1991 in both ensemble classes and private lessons. He has also taught special workshops at many of the region’s colleges. Brandon teaches students of all ability levels, from people with no previous musical training to veteran musicians who are looking to learn something new. Brandon’s extensive experience as a performing musician is one of the cornerstones of his teaching.


Brandon Marger is available for:

Teaching private lessons in his studio ‘El Bohio’

Special workshops, ensemble classes and teaching residencies

Recording studio session work

Gigging and performances

Dance class and dance performance accompaniment








Brandon Marger plays the following drums and percussion instruments:


Brazil

Agogô, apito, atabaques, berimbau de barriga, caxixi, chocalho, cuica, ganzá, pandeiro, pau de chuva,   reco-reco, requinto, tamborím, tarol, timbal, surdo


Cuba

Batá, bombo criollo, bongó, cencerro, claves, chéquere, guataca, güiro cubano, katá, maracas, timbales, tumbadoras, sartenes


Dominican Republic

Güira, tambora


Puerto Rico

Barriles de bomba, cuá, güicharo jíbaro, panderetas de plena




Download Brandon Marger’s musical CV