ALBERTO NACIF - CONGAS, BONGOS

Alberto Nacif was born in the isthmus state of Oaxaca in Mexico's west coast where Cuban derived rhythms were part of the everyday music . He began playing conga and bongo drums at a young age with local musicians. 

He immigrated to Michigan as a teen, and became involved in the music scene by playing with Jimmy Stefanson's "La Combinacion".  Originator and host of the Cuban Fantasy program on WEMU-FM for 10 years, Alberto honed his percussion skills with conga/bongo master Armando Peraza (of Santana fame). Alberto also studied Cuban percussion with Esteban Vega Bacallao "Cha-Cha", Jesus Alfonso, Danilo Perez, of Los Munequitos De Matanzas, Tomas "Panga" Ramos of Cubanismo, and Manuel "Anga" Diaz, of Irakere. He has performed nationally and internationally with Dizzy Gillespie, John Faddis, Jane Bunnett, Munequitos de Matanzas, and Frank Emilio Flynn.

He led the Latin Jazz group “Cubop” in the early 1990’s, and has recorded with the Lunar Octet, Francisco Mora, Marcus Belgrave, Tumao, Tumbao Bravo.  Nacif was also on the board of directors at U of M’s prestigious University Musical Society and was instrumental in hosting many Cuban music shows including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz. Albita, El Canario, Arturo Sandoval, Afro Cuban All Stars, Buena Vista Social Club, Ibrahim Ferrer, Cubanismo! and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.  He co-directs a busy medical practice in Brighton, MI and  composes music and plays regularly with Tumbao Bravo.