Founded in 2007 as a percussionists’ collective and based in London, Grupo Ase now comprises five drummers and a dancer, and is busy playing gigs and leading workshops and clinics in London and the South East.

The group plays a repertoire of traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms and songs – these ‘toques y cantos’ come largely from the Lucumi (Yoruba) legacy in Cuba; specifically from the musical tradition of Santeria, and are played on Batá - a family of three hourglass shaped drums - and a gourd rattle (Achere). The songs are sung in Lucumi.

Grupo Ase also plays Rumba; the music, and some would say, the religion, of the street in Cuba.

Rumba is played on Congas, Cajon, Clavé, and Shekere, and the songs are sung in Spanish.

The group’s Batá and Rumba set gives a flavour of the energy, beauty and richness of Afro-Cuban religious and secular music.

 

Dave ‘Booey’ Gallagher

Longtime session percussionist on the London scene, credits include; Galliano, James Taylor Quartet, many Acid Jazz and Talking Loud sessions, also many years duty as performer and workshop leader for Stomp! An enthusiast for Afro-Cuban music from way back, Dave has studied Rumba and Batá with some of the leading UK players and visiting Cuban masters and has also lived in Brazil, furthering his knowledge of both the music and religion of the North East.

Mike Bennett

Began playing professionally in the early 90’s with seminal UK hip hop artists Ruthless Rap Assassins, went on to work with many of the luminaries of the 90’s London scene; Izit, Baby fox, Vanessa Freeman. Late 90’s saw Mike working with drum and bass legend Bukem’s Good Looking label and with DJ and producer Blame, and furthering his hip hop credentials with MC Mell’o. Mike teaches percussion and drumset and lectures at the City Lit, London, Academy of Contemporary Music, Guildford and Chichester University World Music Dept; and has been working with Dave since the mid 90’s.

Naomi Richards

The group’s dancer; Naomi trained as a dance specialist at Middlesex University with a focus on contemporary dance. Along with her experience in this field, she has studied many West African and Caribbean dance forms, including work with Irie! dance theatre.
Naomi worked as a performer with Stomp! Until 2006 and continues to be involved in their workshop teaching programme in both the UK and Europe.
Naomi also works as an actress.

Jaz Crampton

A member of Grupo Senzala Capoeira, and workshop leader for Capoeira Communities; also sambista with an 8 piece Pagode group. The newest  member of Grupo Ase; a great Berimbau player and singer with an ever expanding knowledge of Afro-Cuban styles.

 

Mikey Forde

An experienced percussionist and drumset player, Mikey is comfortable in a wide variety of musical genres, from Steelband through Salsa, Congolese and Latin-jazz.
Has toured extensively, and apart from his work with Grupo Áse is also playing timbales with the group Latin Dub.