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Guy Frometa
Drummer & Producer

 

He  is  the touring drummer for 2 times GRAMMY & BILLBOARD Awards Winner Juan Luis Guerra & 440 (Bachata Rosa 92'/ No es lo Mismo ni  es Igual 2000 / Para Ti 2005’). Also the  drummer in Chichi Peralta's "De Vuelta al Barrio" Latin GRAMMY Winner 2001.

Born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Guy’s affection to music  became an  a early age through his parents records collection. They were  serious “jazz listeners”, ranging from Miles Davis different  outlet’s  to the  more “out there”  Keith Jarret's ECM recordings.
And of course, a  huge variety of latin music and singers  of the era.
But  probably  his  biggest influence was in  the  family itself….
His uncle Billo Frometa  was a  big  star in Venezuela’s  latin music scene and  his fame spread all over  Latin America and United States.
His uncles were also part  of Billo’s Caracas Boys.. (Guy's father played guitar and most of his cousins are musicians too!!)
Growing up  in a musical environment it’s  the  perfect  recipe  for anyone  who  desires  “music”  as  a life commitment….(not always!!)
 Guy  pick up the  drums at 5,  and  has been  his  main  instrument  since..
When  he  was  a  child,  he studied with Luis Alberti (author of famous merengue “ Compadre Pedro Juan ”)

After  that,  he  took music as  serious as can get..  playing  with  different  bands, TV shows,.etc.. All  this while  on his teens!
At  16  he  was playing  with Luis Dias & Transporte Urbano, a  group that mixed rock  with Dominican folcklore…from that band,  Guy got  his life’s motto… to  become a “Dominican Drummer”.

In 1988 at 23, he move to  New York  to  study  Jazz Improvisation at Manhattan School of Music (1 year) and Drummers Collective (2 years).
It  was  the  1st time  that  he took formal  drum lessons  in  his  life (he  took music classes in Sto.Dgo,  but  never drum lessons!!)

When   arrived  at  the lesson,  his  teacher (Kim Plainfield) could not believe what  he  saw.. Guy  held the  sticks in  a very  ackward way..  Traditional, but his  left hand hold the  stick  between his index & middle finger!!
And,  his  right hand palm down..!

From  there   he  went  on to  perfectioning  his  craft,  thanks  to  a  lot  of  people  who  help him  out  through those years… Joel  Rosenblatt  took him  under  his  wing,  and became  one  of  his  closest friends and his  idol!!
Guy also studied  with  Zack Danzinger, Marvin “smitty” Smith and Sam Ulano.

92’ thru 96’ while living in New York,  opportunity “ knocks the door ”  and he got to  play  with very well known musicians.
Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Michel Camilo, Gato  Barbieri, Leni Stern, Arturo O’farrill, Dave Moreno, Eddie Palmieri, Don Cherry, Mongo Santamaria, Wayne Krantz, Michael Katz, David Mann, Josh Workman, Daniel Ponce, Howard Prince, Kip Hanrahan, Tony Strong, Andrew Wyatt, The Interns.

In 1996  he move back  to Dominican Republic to pursuit  a long awaited dream of “Dominicanize” his  drumming…..
Right away  he  began to submerge one more time in  the folkcloric movement..  shedding an investigation…and  lots  of  playing!
He’s from  the generation of dominicans musicians that puts “his”  culture first..

Since then he has performed / make TV appearances / recorded & toured with diferent bands & artists, among these are :
Arturo Sandoval, Luis Dias, Xiomara Fortuna, Patricia Pereyra, Tribu Del Sol,  Miguel Bose, Spyro Gyra, Giovanni Hidalgo,  Nestor Torres, Victor-Victor, Alejandro Sanz, Ana Belen,  David Sanchez, Manuel Tejada, Negro’s, El Bule, Los Hombres Calientes, JLS, Pavel Nuñez, Ruben Blades, Papolosonoro, Amparo Sandino, Chichi Peralta & Son Familia, Oscar Micheli Trio, Jose Ant. Rodriguez, Sandy Gabriel & PP Jazz Emsenble, Eddy Herrera, Ilegales, Sergio Vargas,
Jandy Felix, Diego Torres, Luis Enrique, and many more.

During Summer 2005  Guy traveled  worldwide with Juan Luis Guerra & 440 
“ 20 Años Tour" .
The beggining of 2007 reunited him with longtime friend and virtuoso bass player Ramon Vazquez.. "He called me out of the blue, and says, Guy we're  here at the studio waiting for you with  Chucho Valdez!.."  This recording will be out soon in Ramon's new cd "TRIOS"..
He also records the new Marteovenus cd, and he'll be doing some live dates with the group.

Recently,JLG & 440 has been hitting the road thru Colombia, Spain, Mexico and USA promoting their new cd “ La Llave De Mi Corazon “..   Be ready for the 2007 tour!

Right now Guy it's an international clinician & endorser  for  MEINL Cymbals, VIC-FIRTH Sticks, FACTORY METAL PERCUSSION, ATTACK Drumheads and MAPEX Drums. Performs in different Jazz Festivals & venues with his own jazz group,  and records  his drums  for  local & international artists at his home studio in Santo Domingo.