Hi, I’m Yahannes Malik. I’m a Drummer/Percussionist/Divine Tonal Health Advocate originally from Brooklyn, NY. I am a fan of music, writing, and travel. I’m also interested in arts and education for youth development and inspiration.

First I want to say thank you to all those who have paved the way for the drum to speak a message in song. Thank you to my familia Gregory and Walter Ince who continue to maintain the traditions of the ancient djembe, conga, and bongos, rooted in our Cuban heritage and blood. I would also like to thank my spiritual “fathers”, Walter Perkins and Louis Hayes, who assisted my journey through the surreal world of African classical music, JAZZ. Both of them shaped and molded my skills of the drum, from syncopation, technique and style to showmanship itself. I'm truly honored and blessed to have sat at the feet of these gifted master teachers. They paved the way for me as well as the new generation of “timekeepers” to come and represent the long line of “keepers of the flame”.

I know I've been blessed to be in music and to be in the divine circle of Papa Jo Jones. My mentor spent plenty of quality time with him and he's best known in our world as “granddaddy of the drums” and we call this the nucleus. Then there's Papalagie Camaron who taught my familia and Olatunji.

Walter Perkins was Omar Hakim and my first teacher, then Louis Hayes took me to the next level. I just wanted to give you a little background history of the power of the drums and percussion, from African to Latin.

This is OUR music, our culture, and I know we are the Keepers of this Flame through drum, percussion, Jazz, Gospel, Reggae, AfroCuban, and Brazilian sounds. My special mission is to show the universe the power of the drum in prayer and worship.

I also want to give a special shout out to my nephews on the scene, check them out, K. Black and Josh David Barrett—it's all on the one.

Now, I would like to leave you with some divine words of life Mahalia Jackson said about Jazz and the power of the musicians— Jazz IS and forever will be a “spiritual institution”.

So get your praise on. Keep the faith, baby.

And in the immortal words of GodFather Duke Ellington Love You, Madly!

For all press inquiries and to book Yahannes Malik, contact [email protected]