David Gonzalez

David González Arnesto is a drummer, and multi-instrumentalist from Madrid, Spain. His musicality and experience in styles like Flamenco, Cuban, Brazilian, jazz and rock, make him a very versatile and skilled musician.

After having been studying drums for over six years in Maestro Joaquin Rodrigo, in Madrid, he graduated with distinction on the 8th grade of Rockschool (British music degree) where he developed his drum playing in advanced stylistic grooves and complex time­-signature changes and syncopation. This course was based on Rock drumming but also metal, funk, pop and latin.

At some point in his career he decided to leave his hometown, Madrid, and move to The Netherlands, where he had found a unique program to study there in South Holland. He then studied a bachelor degree in Latin drums at Codarts Conservatory of Rotterdam.

That is when he discovered his real passion, Afro-cuban and Brazilian music. He learned most of the rhythms and techniques from this genres, apart from also learning latin percussion such as congas, timbales, bongos and other small percussion.

Apart from the drum set, David has many musical ambitions, that is why, at the same time he studied drums, he had also being learning an instrument called cajón flamenco, a percussion instrument from Perú but developed in the flamenco style in Spain. This different instrument has influenced as well the way he plays drums, and also has given him the chance to translate the different rhythms of Flamenco into the drum set.

All these influences can be noticed in his playing and specially in the music he makes with his bands and projects. One of them is a world music band called Trico, which musicians come from places such as Syria, Ecuador, The Netherlands and Spain. In this ensemble they create a crossover of Jazz, Afro-cuban, Flamenco and Arabic music.

His biggest influences on the drums are Dafnis Prieto, Horacio Hernandez, Edu Ribeiro, and on the cajón Paquito González and Israel Suárez. In the Netherlands he has performed in places such as North Sea Jazz Festival, Het Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Tivoli (Utrecht), Jazzcafe Dizzy, and more.

He plays in the bands Trico (World music, Jazz, Flamenco crossover), Karisma (Flamenco, jazz), Los Paja Brava (Cumbia, rock, ska) and Blind Surfer (Indie Rock). Before moving to The Netherlands he has played in the Jackson Tribute, having tours all over Spain and England; with the legendary Juan Jimenez (from Pekenikes) and Mika Selander; with Diego Cruz being part of his band in his Spanish tours, and also recording the new album Somos in 2016.

Music Qualifications & Achievements:

• More than 15 years of experience in drums
• Rockschool Grade 8th Drums
• Bachelor Degree in Latin Jazz Drums at the Conservatory of Rotterdam
• In the Netherlands he has performed in places such as North Sea Jazz Festival, Het Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Tivoli (Utrecht), Jazzcafe Dizzy, and more.
• He plays in the bands Trico (World music, Jazz, Flamenco crossover), Karisma (Flamenco, jazz), Los Paja Brava (Cumbia, rock, ska) and Blind Surfer (Indie Rock).