ENDEIT
Giovanni Hidalgo
Photo: Andrea Colombara @ https://www.neroebianco.com/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Percussionists · b. 1963

Giovanni Hidalgo

Puerto Rican percussionist and music educator

Born
22 November 1963
San Juan
Country
United States
Discography
6 albums

Biography

Giovanni Hidalgo is a jazz musician who plays percussion instrument, conga and barril de bomba. Giovanni Hidalgo was born on 22 November 1963 in San Juan. The music is usually filed under samba and salsa. The discography here lists 6 albums, from “Villa Hidalgo” (1992) to “Jubilation” (2024).

Giovanni Hidalgo (born November 22, 1963, in San Juan, Puerto Rico), also known as "Mañenguito", is a Grammy Award-winning Latin jazz percussionist, widely regarded as one of the greatest conga players in the world. Renowned for his virtuosic speed, precision, and innovation, he revolutionized hand drumming by blending Afro-Caribbean rhythms with jazz, funk, and other global influences. Hidalgo gained international prominence in the 1980s through collaborations with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Palmieri, and Mickey Hart. He was a core member of Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra and co-winner of the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 1992 for *Planet Drum* alongside Mickey Hart and other percussion legends. A dedicated educator, Hidalgo served as a professor at Berklee College of Music and has mentored generations of percussionists around the world.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Villa Hidalgo 1992
Worldwide 1992
Hands of Rhythm 1997
Best Friends 2008
Jubilation 2024
Time Shifter

Also plays on

Albums where Giovanni Hidalgo is credited as a sideman

1991 Bolivia — Freddie Hubbard congas
1991 Reunion — Paquito D’Rivera feat. Arturo Sandoval percussion
1993 Danzón (Dance On) — Arturo Sandoval percussion, Batá drum, timbales, congas
1994 One More Once — Michel Camilo percussion, congas, bongos, timbales
1999 McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars — McCoy Tyner percussion
2005 Listen Here! — Eddie Palmieri congas, Batá drum, güiro
2008 The Body Acoustic — Mintzer, Hidalgo, Gonzales, Chesky & Brecker congas

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Giovanni Hidalgo play?

Giovanni Hidalgo is known for playing percussion instrument, conga and barril de bomba.

When and where was Giovanni Hidalgo born?

Giovanni Hidalgo was born 22 November 1963 in San Juan.

What are Giovanni Hidalgo's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Villa Hidalgo (1992), Worldwide (1992), Hands of Rhythm (1997), Best Friends (2008) and Jubilation (2024).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.