Tosin Aribisala
A renaissance force to be reckoned with, the music of composer, vocalist and percussionist Tosin speaks highly of his African origin, coupled with his exploration of jazz, funk, rock, reggae and Latin American music. Over the years, he has drawn inspirations from his musical influences in the likes of Tony Allen, Art Blakey, Bob Marley, King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, Majek Fashek, Keziah Jones, Sting, and Ebo Taylor. As a prolific composer, Tosin writes and sings in Yoruba, Pidgin English and English. In his own words, Tosin professes that, "my music is a mixture of African rhythmic textures and some elements of jazz and blues, with lyrics of hope, love and human realities."
Possessing infectious groove sensibility and versatility, Tosin has shared his talents with various groups and artists including Carolyn Malachi, Taj Mahal, Baba Maal, Fatoumata Diawara, Spyro Gyra, Julie Dexter, Femi Kuti, and many producers.
In 2017, Tosin received the Individual Artist Award for best World Music Compositions from the Maryland State Arts Council. In the same year (2017), Tosin appeared on Drumeo Channel for instructions on African rhythms for the drum set. In 2016, Tosin appeared at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention as a clinician/performer. With passion for teaching, Tosin continues to inspire both the young and older generations of drummers through his teaching programs. In the same vein, he does not relent in writing new materials. This is evident in his 2018 release: Afrika Rising on Ropeadope Records.