Yamaha Artists Joe McCarthy and Dave Samuels Win Latin Grammys

Yamaha Artist Joe McCarthy

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Yamaha is pleased to announce that two of its artists, drummer Joe McCarthy and vibraphonist Dave Samuels, collaborated on a project that won the 2008 Latin Grammy Award for Best Jazz Album for their CD Heads Up.

McCarthy, who helms Afro Bop Alliance, is also the principal percussionist with the Naval Academy Band. He has performed with jazz greats Slide Hampton, Ray Vega and Poncho Sanchez. He plays Yamaha Absolute Maple Acoustic Drums.

Yamaha Artist David Samuels

Samuels has led the Caribbean Jazz Project, a collective of sorts, for the last 15 years and has performed with a broad scope of artists ranging from Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, Frank Zappa. He plays a YM-5100A 5 Octave Rosewood Grand Marimba and a YV-3910 3-1/2 Octave Gold Soloist Vibe.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division or Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; visit www.yamaha.com/band or www.yamahadrums.com.