Fidel Morales

Fidel Morales is a Cuban Drummer, Percussionist, Composer, Arranger, Author, and Educator. As a drummer, he has played with musicians such as Giovanni Hidalgo, Eddie Gómez, Danilo Pérez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Nicolás Reynoso, John Faddis, Mark Kramer, Mike Orta, Gary Campbell, Gary Keller, Vic Juris, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Eddie “Guagua” Rivera, Carlos Garnett, and Charlie Sepúlveda, among others.

He has also accompanied soloists such as Omara Portuondo, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Elena Burke, Celeste Mendoza, Bárbara Wilson, Roberto Roena, Albita, María Martha Serra Lima, Basilio, Chichí Peralta, and Noriko.

Fidel has toured extensively around the world, having traveled on music engagements through Austria, Hungary, Canada, Brazil, México, Guatemala, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the United States.

He is the composer of Cuban dance classics “La Expresiva” and “Mamina”, among others. Artists from Cuba, the United States, and Puerto Rico have recorded his compositions. He contributed as well in the CD “Bajando Gervasio”, by Amadito Valdés, nominated for 2004 GRAMMY Awards. The documentary "Seguir a través de los años" (“To Follow Through the Years”), by Daniel Diez, is inspired in his music.

His album "Salsa Son Timba" was released in 2005, and his latest production “Omío” in August, 2016. Fidel has worked as Lecturer of Percussion in Panama’s National Conservatory. He has taught Drum Clinics & Workshops in Europe, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Chile, and United States, for students from the Berklee College of Music, the New England Conservatory, the Drummers Collective, the University of Miami, the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, and the University of Puerto Rico, among many others.

Morales is former director of the Jazz and Caribbean Music Department of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, where he is Head of Jazz Drums since 2006. He also offers private lessons, and is, as well, an active clinician. Fidel is director of his own bands: Fidel Morales Trio and Fidel Morales Afro-Cuban Jazz Group.

He is the author of the books "Afro-Cuban Techniques for Drum Set & Percussion, Volumes 1 & 2" and is an exclusive artist of Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar, Paiste, Vic Firth and Latin Percussion (LP).

- - - “His talent is undeniable. It takes only a few seconds to listen to him to realize it ... But besides that, if you consider his more than 15 years of succesful career and his work as band leader and arranger, there is no doubt that the cuban musician Fidel Morales is a genius of percussion.” Mariela Fullana, Primera Hora (Puerto Rico)

- - - “Besides being a master drummer and percussionist, Fidel is a creative arranger and composer”, Wilbert Sostre, JazzTimes

- - - “The authenticity of production [Salsa, Son, Timba] shines throughout the record, and leaves no doubt as to how this music should be played. The musicians and singers simply do what they do best, and the final outcome is superb.” James Nadal, All About Jazz

- - - “Morales knows how to captivate the audience with his music and, as an artist, represents a goldmine of knowledge in this area.” Omar Batista, La Prensa (Panamá)