When you utter the name Tamba Gwindi, it calls to mind what it means to be a Drummer / Multi-Percussionist / Educator in Trinidad and Tobago. Tamba Gwindi is Trinidadian by birth and has been performing for over thirty-five years. His inclination to rhythm was discovered, shaped and molded initially by his father Carlton Olton, The Nantambu Drummers and Michael “Toby” Tobas. His entry into the loc
al professional circuit came through the “National Action Cultural Committee” and Andre Tanker in 1983 and continued with artists such as Ella Andall, Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Sparrow, ‘’Happy’’ Williams, Clive and Carlton Alexander , David Rudder, Trinidad Theatre Workshop, Signal Alumni Choir, Andy Narell, Percy Sledge, Enrique Pla Garcia, Ronald “Boo’’ Hinkson, Ernie Ranglin, Theron Shaw, Wayne Bruno and the Rapid Response Band, T.K Blue, Fitzroy Coleman, Len “Boogsie’’ Sharpe and Phase 2 Pan Groove, Tunde Jegede , Imij and Company, Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore , Elan Lopez Mousa, Hugh Masekela, Lord Street Theatre company, Gerard Hayward, Ralph McDonald and the New York All Stars, Muhtadi and the world drummers, Sanga ,Marcos Santos and many more, live and in studio. Tamba is also the recipient of the Cacique Award 1994 for the Theatre production ‘Jean & Dinah’’. Clement Emancipation Award 1996, the N.A.C.C. top 20 Award 1999 and The Ujamaa Ambatana & Southern Emancipation Committee Awards 2004 & 2006. He has appeared on the international stage at the St. Lucia Jazz as recently as 2017 and Antigua Jazz festivals in the early 90’s, The Martinique Guitar Fest 2000, Muhtadi Drum Fest Toronto 2004, Plymouth Jazz 2005 & 2008, Jazz On The Hill [ B.V.I ] & numerous Pan Jazz Festivals locally.He has also been involved in music education programs through the Ministry of Education and Culture,’’ Pan in schools’’, N.I.H.E.R.S.T, The Emancipation support committee and at workshops at the University of Edmonton Canada.Tamba served as Musical Director of two Theatre Productions staged by the Creative Arts Center of the University of the West Indies Trinidad, “Sango Tale of the Orishas’’ in 1996 and ‘’Maria Antonia in 2013. In 2007, he landed an endorsement deal with the German Percussion manufacturer Meinl. He served as the manager of the Divine Echoes Orchestra [Office of the Prime Minister] between 2009 and 2012. He has performed recently with Louis and The Lynx Band, Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra, Akinola Sennon Cousoumeh project, Carlton Zanda and the Coal pot band, The Wayne Bruno Band, The Juliet Robin band and “Roots’’ with Pelham Goddard while pursuing his private tuition program and the production of his first solo Album.
