JANIAH "HAND" ALLEN

At age seven, was uprooted from the Country Club we call Key West, Florida, and was replanted in the northern region of Ecuador. Being raised in the depths of the third world helped him to appreciate many things that he would otherwise take for granted. Somewhere between avoiding being roasted by equatorial sun rays, dodging guerrillas, and fainting from living at an altitude of 9,500 ft, he picked up a guitar. That s how it began. From that moment he knew there would be no high paying office job in his future.

He discovered a passion for the BASS and played with a couple of bands in his home town of Otavalo, Ecuador. Mostly cover songs from North America that no one knew about in South America back then: Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, Rage Against the Machine, etc.

He returned to the USA to finish High School and met a man by the name of Vladimir Espinosa, a percussionist from Cuba. On that day he dove into the world of Afro-Cuban music. He learned to play many different instruments that have a role in Cuban and South American percussion. The congas were the main focus. He eventually took Vladimir s place as tumbador for the latin folklore and dance band SOLAZO. When the timbale player quit the band, he bought a drumset and taught himself to play. He is now one of a rare breed of solo drummers for a latin dance group and almost pulls it off. However deep in his mind a voice has been churning and more clearly than ever before says: IT S TIME TO ROCK. And who better to rock with than these awe inspiring artist who know nothing of limits and everything about pure and raw creation.

To see Janiah's gear, click here