X8 Drums teamed up with professional percussionist Michael Wimberly to record a huge selection of djembe models as video demonstrations for the website. We had a great time with him in the studio and would like to share his story and teaching services with you.Michael Wimberly is a drummer, percussionist, and composer writing for several prominent dance companies in New York. Even though he is a percussionist playing more traditional rhythms, he is known for playing music that is cutting edge, as he blends audio and visual components at the same time. Wimberly also plays more contemporary jazz music.

Michael Wimberly grew up in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1970's, and in 1982 he headed to New York City. Once in the Big Apple, he quickly carved his own niche, not playing in hand percussion circles, but by playing in duets, quartets, and larger groups with unique as well as experimental instruments. For example, he has collaborated with Steve Coleman on many musical projects, including the Five Elements, where more radical conceptual pieces were refined for the performance. He earned a Master's Degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and he is currently a faculty member of the Drummers' Collective.

Michael Wimberly has had the chance to create scores for such dance companies as Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Urban Bush Women, Forces of Nature, Complexions, Philadanco, and The National Song and Dance Company of Mozambique. Being a percussionist, Wimberly has performed with such artists as Paul Winter Consort, Parliament Funkedelics, Vernon Reid, David Murray, Charles Gayle, Henry Rollins, Blondie, Mickey Hart, D'Angelo, and Angie Stone.

In the last decade, he has both created and produced a number of events. Recently, he created a project "The Power of Drum" in New York City that has allowed him to find his voice as a producer. This production is held every year and has featured some of the more well-known percussionists, such as Terri Lyne Carrington and Will Calhoun, Mike Clark, Warren Smith, Eli Fontain, Clayton Cameron and Aaron Scott, virtuoso marimbist Valerie Naranjo, and Eriko Daimo. The production has also featured amazing tap dance artists such as Jason Samuels Smith and Dormeshia Sumbrey Edwards.



To find out more, visit the Micheal Wimberly MySpace page.