The track record of Puerto Rican percussionist
Manolo Badrena goes back to jazz drummer and bandleader
Art Blakey's experiments combining percussionists from varying ethnic backgrounds. In the '70s,
Badrena not only worked for several years with
Weather Report, at that point one of the top modern jazz attractions, but also toured with
the Rolling Stones as a supplemental percussionist. Although he continued to work with rock artists, the former did more for his career; it led to sunny days with players such as
Steve Khan and to participation in
Spyro Gyra. During the '80s,
Badrena collaborated with
Bill Evans (the saxophonist, not the pianist), and a stint with eccentric pianist and composer
Carla Bley lasted somewhat longer. Active through the 2000s, he performed and recorded with
the Zawinul Syndicate and
Trio Mundo, and appeared on albums by
Pete Levin,
John Mayer, and longtime associate
Ahmad Jamal. ~ Eugene Chadbourne