Frank Colón

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Frank Colón
Background information
Born	(1951-10-13) October 13, 1951 (age 69) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres	Jazz, jazz fusion, Latin jazz, world music
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Percussion/Composer
Years active	1960s–present
Associated acts	The Manhattan Transfer Wayne Shorter Harry Belafonte Tania Maria Milton Nascimento Aretha Franklin Gato Barbieri Airto Moreira Flora Purim Thalía Herbie Hancock
Website	www.frankcolon.com

Frank Colón (born October 13, 1951) is an American musician and martial artist of Puerto Rican descent.

Early life and education[]

Born in Washington, D.C.,^[1] Colón moved from there to Puerto Rico at the age of five. His musical instruction began at age eleven, beginning with classical piano lessons, under the guidance of Angelina Figueroa and Rafael Figueroa. He also studied Brazilian percussion, guitar, electric bass, and trap drums. He was active in municipal and collegiate sports, martial arts, and amateur theater, and worked with various local pop music groups.

In 1970, he moved back to Washington, D.C. to attend college at American University, where he majored in Political Science. During this time, his musical orientation changed from melodic instruments to percussion. Finishing his university requirements, he turned full-time to music.

Music career[]

In 1976, Colón moved to New York City to work with the drummer Julito Collazo. There he became proficient at playing the Batá drums.

Martial arts[]

Colón is a practitioner of capoeira, and a black belt instructors in the Israeli self-defense system Krav-Maga, certified by the Wingate Institute of Israel and Krav-Maga International, Inc. He was the first elected Vice-President of the American Association of Krav maga Instructors (AAKMI), nowadays known as The Krav maga Federation. He currently holds the rank of Professor Black Belt Dan 2.

Discography[]

As leader[]

• Live at Vartanjazz
• Latin Wonder
• Latin Lounge

As sideman[]

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With Tania Maria

• (CONCORD, 1985)
• (Concord, 1993)

With Ray Anderson

• Don't Mow Your Lawn (Enja, 1994)
• Heads and Tales (Enja, 1995)

With Michael Galasso

• High Lines (ECM, 2005)

With Mickey Hart

• Planet Drum (Rykodisk, 1991)

With The Manhattan Transfer

• Brasil (Atlantic, 1987)
• (Atlantic, 1991)
• Vibrate (Telarc, 2004)

With Wayne Shorter

• Joy Ryder (Columbia, 1988)

With Gato Barbieri

• Bahia (Fania, 1982)

With Milton Nascimento

• (Ariola, 1982)
• (Ariola, 1983)
• Canta Brasil (Ariola, 1993)
• (Ariola, 1983)

With

• Junkanoo (Verve, 1997)

With Janis Siegel

• (Telarc, 2001)
• (Medici, 1999)

With Airto Moreira

• (Montuno, 1986)
• (Montuno, 1988)
• (Rykodisc, 1992)

With Michael Wolff

• Intoxicate (Indianola, 2001)
• Impure Thoughts (Razor & Tie, 2000)
• Sexual Healing (Roving Spirits, 2002)

With Towa Tei

• Future Listening! (Elektra, 1995)

With

• (Evidence, 1994)

With

• Afoxê (CTI, 1991)

With Ivo Perelman

• (Enja, 1991)

With Michel Petrucciani

• Music (Blue Note, 1989)
• (Blue Note, 1994)

With

• (Milestone, 1988)

With

• (Lipstick, 1994)

With Robertinho Silva

• Speak No Evil (Ariola, 1995)
• (Gismonti, 1989)

With Wagner Tiso

• (Ariola, 1983)

With Bob Stewart

• (Verve, 2003)

With Mary J Blige

• My Life (Verve, 1994)
• Reflections (Columbia, 2006)

With David Bennett Cohen

• (Core, 2008)

With Babatunde Lea

• (Motema Music, 1991)

With George Clinton

• By Way of the Drum (Hip-O Select, 2007)

With

• Equanimity (Dr. Woo, 2007)

With

• (Adventure, 2003)

With

• (France, 2007)

With

• (Cecitenco, 2007)

With

• (PPP, 2002)

With

• (MarcusW, 2006)

With

• (AMJ, 1999)

Filmography[]

Colón appeared on an HBO television special with Harry Belafonte, titled "Don't Stop the Music", taped in Winnipeg, Canada; a Disney Channel Special with The Manhattan Transfer, titled, "Going Home"; a TV special with Tania Maria for the "Ohne Filter" show, out of Baden-Baden, Germany; a Brazil TVE special with Milton Nascimento "Live in Montreux"; two appearances on The Tonight Show with The Manhattan Transfer – one with Johnny Carson and the other with Jay Leno; a special on WIPR-TV in Puerto Rico, featured with Tania Maria, performing in the ; an HBO broadcast of the 40th Anniversary of Atlantic Records, in Madison Square Garden; an appearance on the Good Morning America show (ABC TV) with The Manhattan Transfer, and various other appearances performing with his own band throughout Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Moldova.

He also appeared in the film Calle 54 by director Fernando Trueba.^[2]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website