Joe McCarthy is the leader/founder of Afro Bop Alliance, an Afro-Cuban Jazz septet based in the Washington DC area. Joe is also the Drummer with The United States Naval Academy Band’s Jazz Ensemble, and Principal Percussionist with The USNA Band’s Concert Band. Joe has performed and/or recorded with Poncho Sanchez, Slide Hampton, Dave Samuels, Antonio Hart, Arturo O’ Farrill, Michael Mossman, Ray Vega, and Jimmy Bruno. Afro Bop Alliance is featured on the Grammy award winning Caribbean Jazz Project’s latest recording on the Heads-Up International label. Afro Bop’s last cd, Camino Nuevo, was awarded the 2006 WAMA award for the best Latin recording. Joe is co-leader of the Vince Norman/Joe McCarthy Big Band, with their debut release “Words Cannot Express” on Origin/OA2 Records. Active in education, Joe was an Associate Professor of Percussion/Theory at Texas Wesleyan University prior to his appointment to Georgetown University and has done clinics throughout the nation. He has been published by Jazz Improv Magazine, All About Rhythm, Zildjian and Innovative Percussion. Joe is a clinician for Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Latin Percussion and Innovative Percussion.
www.afrobop.com, www.joemcdrum.com