CHECK OUT LUDWIG AT PERCUSSION FORUM IN THE SPRING!      

Ludwig Afonso was born January 21, 1978 in Havana, Cuba and came to Miami, Florida in 1980. Surrounded by music at a early age, his father was his first and most influential teacher. Ludwigs father, a drummer as well, began taking him to gigs at a young age, giving him many opportunities to sit in. Ludwig never took music seriously, however, until he entered the sixth grade.

Alfredo de la Rosa was the band teacher at Ludwig's middle school and also happened to know his father. When he found out Ludwig was attending the school where he taught, he pulled him out of his regular class and placed him in the schools jazz band. After he entered the band, Ludwig realized that his technique wasnt as advanced as some of his classmates – he began practicing and started to take music seriously.

Ludwig obtained a Bachelors degree in Studio Music and Jazz Performance from the University of Miami in May 2002. As a student of the University of Miami, Ludwig was given the chance to play in the schools top ensembles winning a Down Beat music award and recording with Maria Schnieder.

Throughout his school years and thereafter, Ludwig was working regularly in Miami with local artists such as jazz legend Ira Sullivan, Latin Grammy winner Nestor Torres, as well with the Sammy Figueroa group, Othello Mollineux, and Eddie "GuaGua" Rivera. Ludwig also played in various R&B/Top-forty groups in the area.

Two years after graduating from UM, Ludwig decided to move to New York to seek greater opportunities. In addition to working on several projects with various musicians in the New York area, Ludwig  toured around the world with Spyro Gyra.

Currently one of New York’s premier jazz drummers, he has toured and recorded with Martin Bejerano, another UM alum.

He has been part of two Grammy-nominated recordings – Spyro Gyra’s, ‘Wrapped In a Dream’ and Sammy Figueroa’s, ‘The Magician’. He is currently traveling the world with Grammy-nominated pianist, Eldar Djangirov. He recorded Eldar’s most recent record, which includes special guests Joshua Redman and Nicholas Payton.  The album’s release is scheduled for August 2009.