Horacio "El Negro" Hernández has been called everything from "monstrous" to the "human octopus", and for good reason: he is perhaps one of the most powerful, versatile and virtuosic drummers to emerge within recent years. Born in Havan, Cuba in 1963, "El Negro" (as he is affectionately called by all who know him) began his prolific career as a hard rock drummer. Coming from a family with a rich musical heritage deeply rooted in traditional Cuban music and well-versed in American jazz currents, Hernández' diverse playing style made him one of the most in-demand studio musicians in Cuba. In 1980, he joined piano virtuoso Gonzalo Rubalcaba's ground-breaking fusion group, Proyecto, where he would further develop his distinct drumming technique - a potent mixture of Afro-Cuban, jazz, rock, funk and other elements - making him an artist of extraordinary musical versatility.
In 1990, Hernández re-located in Rome, where he immediately became an energizing force in Jazz, Rock and Latin music circles, and chaired the Latin Drums Department at the Universita della Musica's Percussion Center while conducting clinics throughout Italy. Upon his arrival in New York in 1993, El Negro began working immediately with numerous premiere Latin jazz artists, including Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Valentin, Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra, the Fort Apache Band, Ed Simon and others.
More recently, Hernández has recorded and toured with pianist Michel Camilo, the TropiJazz All-Stars, Tito Puente and David Sánchez. In the Winter of 1995, he was a featured artist in Cuba Jazz' production of Irakere West. Special guest Carlos Santana was so overwhelmed by his playing that he approached El Negro to join the group for a 1997 recording date and world tour. Earlier this year, Hernández released a powerful educational demonstration video for DCI/Warner, in which he is accompanied by bass virtuoso John Patitucci, and is the first Cuban drummer ever to grace the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine. He is featured in the September '97 issue. He is currently at work on a method book for drummers, focusing on his extraordinary techniques of independence.