Babatunde Lea has been described as “one of those old souls—wise and serene, deeply in touch with spiritual essences, blessed with a culturally diverse perspective, and bubbling over with ideas and creative energies that strongly suggest he’s been this way before.”

Lea has forged a career steeped in the rhythms of the motherland of Africa and its Caribbean and South American diaspora. Raised in New York City and Englewood, New Jersey, he migrated westward during the late 1960s to the San Francisco Bay area, where he was further immersed in global rhythms.

Now an established session musician and performer, Lea offers an African-inspired jazz journey with his mastery of trap drums and hand percussion. San Francisco Weekly has honored him with its Best Jazz Musician award, and he’s been named First Place prize winner of the prestigious “Adventurous Programming” Award from Chamber Music America/ASCAP. Jazz Times calls his music “a wonderful tapestry of richly woven textures held together by the woof and warp of drums and percussion. The band clicks like magic with an impressive level of communication and understanding.”