BORN IN: Guatemala, City

LIVES IN: Guatemala, City

DRUMMING SINCE: 1992

CURRENT BAND/PROJECTS: Malacates Trebol Shop / Jazzimba / Session

BIGGEST INFLUENCES: Vinnie Colaiuta, Lele Melotti, Carter Beauford, Jeff Porcaro

FAVORITE ALBUM YOU PLAYED ON: A quien corresponda.

FAVORITE ALBUM YOU DIDN’T PLAY ON: I don’t have a favorite one.  It depends on my mood.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Recording with KC Porter at the Steakhouse Studios in North Hollywood.

FAVORITE SABIAN CYMBAL: Big and Ugly

Born in Guatemala City on July 3rd, 1978, Leonel enters the Musical Studies Center “Polyrhythms” in 1997, where he graduated in 1998, and almost simultaneously joins the teachers staff. In 1999 he joins the band Malacates Trebol Shop (www.malacates.com) with whom he had recorded 4 of their 5 edited albums: Sí! (2002), Sólo éxitos…(dicen) (2005), De qué sirve querer? (2009) and A quien corresponda (2015).

Besides being a permanent member of Malacates Trébol Shop, he also plays with a Jazz project called Jazzimba, and works as a session drummer with several artists. With Malacates Trébol Shop he has had the opportunity to play, besides all important cities of Guatemala, in Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Suiza (Olten, Thun, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Shaffhausen), U. S. A. (Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Oakland, Fresno, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington, Chicago), Barcelona. He has also played in festivals such as: L.A. Soundsystem, Skandalo Nacional, Festival Vive Latino and in important venues such as The Troubadour, 4th & B in San Diego and the emblematic House of Blues in Hollywood.