We are Ritmos Unidos Productions
Meet Michael Spiro
Known for his work in the Latin music field, Michael Spiro is an internationally recognized percussionist, educator and recording artist.
Michael is a ten-time Grammy nominee, and has produced seminal recordings in the Latin music genre such as “Canto América”, “BataKetu”, “BataMbira”, “Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge”, and “Grupo Ilu-Aña”. His performing and recording credits cover an array of internationally known artists: from such pop artists as David Byrne, Carlos Santana, and Charlie Watts, to Latin music icons Eddie Palmieri, Israel Lopez (Cachao), and Richard Egues, to such jazz luminaries as Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Hutcherson, and McCoy Tyner.
In 2011 Michael was appointed Associate Professor of Percussion at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he developed the curriculum for Latin music and culture in both the percussion and jazz departments. He retired from that position in 2019, but remains dedicated to music education. His percussion books have set the standard for Latin music pedagogy, he has performed and produced internationally acclaimed DVDs and web content, and continues to be in high demand as a guest artist at universities and percussion organizations worldwide.
Michael remains an extremely active recording artist—in 2017 he co-produced “Canto America” with his long time working partner Wayne Wallace. It received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for a 2017 Grammy in the Latin-Jazz category. Most recently, Michael collaborated with Jose Luis Gomez to release a recording of contemporary Cuban rumba: “Mabagwe - a Tribute to the Elders”. Produced by his long time musical colleague Jesús Diaz, it is dedicated to his mentors Regino Jimenez and Esteban Vega Bacallao ("Cha-Chá"), and resulted in a nomination for a Cubadisco Premio in 2019. He is the first foreigner to receive such an honor!
As a performer, Michael co-leads one of the only remaining charanga groups in the United States, “Orquesta La Moderna Tradición”, and holds the conga drum chair in the internationally acclaimed (and 2011, 2014, and 2015 Grammy nominated) “Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet” which continues to record and perform throughout the United States.
Michael’s repertoire is extensive; find out more about Michael at www.mikespiro.com
Meet Joseph Galvin
Joe Galvin has taken a varied path to becoming a steelpan performer and Afro-Cuban percussionist. He studied piano and violin at a young age, and by high school he was drawn to the drum set. While in school, he sought out and participated in as many music groups as he could, accompanying ensembles on piano and drums, singing in choirs, and playing various strings in everything from orchestras to garage rock bands. This musical eclecticism led Galvin to begin college studying piano, but he quickly shifted his attention to percussion, where he fell in love with the steelpan.
Galvin has performed extensively over the years, the following are just a few performances of note: He performed as a featured soloist and ensemble member with the Aguavá New Music Group in 2005 at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C. He has been fortunate to share the stage with leaders in their fields such as steelpan virtuoso Liam Teague and marimbist Kevin Bobo. He has also performed several times at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Galvin had the fortunate opportunity to perform with the BP Renegades in Trinidad's Panorama competition in 2013 and again with the PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars, directed by Liam Teague, in 2016.
Dr. Galvin received his music degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, culminating in a doctorate of percussion performance with a focus of steelpan and Afro-Cuban percussion traditions. Upon Michael Spiro’s retirement from IU in January 2019, Galvin became Spiro’s interim replacement through the Jacobs School of Music Percussion department, teaching lessons, directing the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble, steelpan ensemble, and coaching the Latin Jazz Ensemble big band. This eventually led to the creation of new lecturer position at IU shared between the percussion department, jazz department, and Latin American Music Center where Galvin currently works, continuing Spiro’s educational legacy.
Aside from the various offerings through Ritmos Unidos Productions, you can also hear Galvin’s playing on two Grammy nominated albums: The Wayne Wallace Quintet’s Intercambio and Michael Spiro and Wayne Wallace’s Canto America with La Orquesta Sinfonietta.
Find videos of Joe Galvin on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/user/jcgdrummer
