Eguie Castrillo is one
of the most prolific studio and session timbale artists
in the world today. In addition to being an Associate
Professor of Percussion at the Berklee College of Music,
Eguie tours regularly with the Arturo Sandoval Band.
Eugie has performed with
legendary timbalito Tito Puente (whom he credits
as being a mentor and close personal friend), Steve
Winwood, Michael Brecker, Ruben Blades, Paquito D'Rivera,
Michel Camilo, KC and the Sunshine Band, Dave Valentin,
and Giovanni Hidalgo.
"I want to give my students
not only the knowledge of Latin rhythms, but also
give them my experience as a touring musician. I have
played with a lot of the big guys in Latin music, and
they sat with me and told me stories. I want to pass
that on.
If you want to really know the
language of any instrument or any music, you have to
go to the roots. I always say, I can teach you A-B-C-D-E-F-G
until Z, but if I don’t teach you how to put
those letters together, to make words and make sense,
you don’t know
what to do with them. Students have to learn—go
back to the roots—no matter what instrument they
play."
