Juma Santos

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Juma Santos, also known as James P. Riley and Dr. Juma Santos (January 15, 1948 - September, 2007) was a percussionist and master drummer known for his extensive work over four decades with African music, caribbean music, jazz, fusion, and R&B artists. He was a pioneer in experimental forms in American Jazz Fusion and Cross Over music, combining and fusing styles and playing techniques on varied African musical instruments, experimenting with rhythms, songs, and chants with modern jazz harmonies and melodic forms and structures. His career included performing with many noted artists on projects of historical significance, including recording on more than 75 albums and maintaining a constant international touring schedule.

1 Collaborations
2 Albums
3 Personal history
4 External links

[edit] Collaborations

Recorded on Miles Davis's Bitches Brew and toured with Davis for a year. Also toured and recorded with Nina Simone, David Sanborn and Taj Mahal. Other performance residencies include stints with Ahmad Jamal, Dave Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis, Jack DeJohnette, Gato Garcia, Don Alias, Freddie Hubbard, The Fabulous Rhinestones, Harvey Brooks, Roy Ayers, Don Moye, and his own groups, Rosewater Foundation, Afro Jazz Messengers, The Pan-African Drum Ensemble, The Juma Society, and Sounds of the Urban Forest.

[edit] Albums

Bitches Brew, Miles Davis
Ubiquity, Roy Ayers
Paul Pena, Paul Pena
Atlantico, Gato Garcia
Black Gold, Nina Simone
David Sanborn, David Sanborn
David Sanborn Band, David Sanborn
He's Coming, Roy Ayers
The Rising Sun Collection, Taj Mahal and the International Rhythm Band
Nina Simone Live at Berkeley Community Theatre, Nina Simone
What It Is, Edwin Birdsong
Chico Freeman, Chico Freeman
Terrific Jones, Tom Jones and David Horowitz
Roy Ayers: Anthology, Roy Ayers
Compost, The Compost Band
Life is Round, Jack DeJohnette

[edit] Personal history

Born James P. Riley, Juma Santos served time in prison in upstate New York twice, was homeless for a time, and lived in Harlem and Brooklyn before moving to Detroit in 2000. Recently he had been spending much of his time in Ghana. He passed away in September, 2007, in Chicago, apparently of complications from malaria, at the age of 61.