Memo Acevedo is a New York city drummer, percussionist, composer and much in demand educator. He pioneered Colombia’s Rock music scene during his mid-teens. A self-taught musician, his passion for Jazz and Latin music compelled him to take it as a serious object of study after leaving Colombia. Having lived in Spain, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, Memo has acquired a vast experience in all styles of music.

In early 1996, Memo moved to New York City where he has recorded with the late greats Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, Gregory Hines and Joe Cuba; Jazz masters Mark Murphy, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Jackie & Roy, Cuban bands Klimax and Irakere among others. Broadway shows “The Lion King” and “Civil War.”

Memo taught and directed the Brazilian, Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban Ensembles at New York University from 1997 to 2011. He is the co-author of the Drummers Collective book “Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian Drumming” where he has been teaching since 1997. He has been in charge of the Education Department at LP/TOCA since 2004.

Memo is credited as the pioneer of Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Latin Jazz music styles in Canada, with live performances as well as educational programs; most notably at Toronto’s Humber College (10 yrs). His self-produced CD “Building Bridges” (Concord) features mentor Tito Puente, Dave Valentin and Gonzalo Rubalcaba.