With more than 25 years of professional experience, Randolf Jimenez is an accomplished Venezuelan- Canadian session drummer, percussionist, composer, educator and published author. Since moving to Canada in 2013, he rapidly became “the most sought-after latin drummer in Toronto”.
His work has been featured on websites, newspapers and magazines in Venezuela, Europe, Japan and Canada including: Billboard Magazine, All About Jazz, Malta Core, Drum Fills Kafe, Acid Conga, Tokyo Jazz Review, Latinos Magazine, Ultimas Noticias, A UNO Magazine, CARAS Magazine and many others. ‘Billboard Magazine’ named him one of today’s greatest Latin American drummers. He has also appeared on several TV shows in Venezuela and most recently on NET TV (Europe), Rogers TV and Univision (Canada). Randolf’s style, impeccable timing and solid technique has not only earned him the respect of his fellow musicians, but also the title “The groove” in the Venezuelan music community.
This extremely talented drummer has toured all over Canada and has also played in some of the most renowned venues and stages in Ontario such as Meridian Centre for the Arts, Nathan Phillips Square (City Hall), Harbourfront Centre, Dundas Square, Daniel’s Spectrum Theatre, Opera House, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Glenn Gould Theatre at CBC and many more.
Randolf has worked, toured or recorded with many acclaimed international award-winning artists such as: Latin Grammy-Winner producer Sergio George, Latin Grammy-Winner recording engineer Guillermo Mandrafina, Latin Grammy Nominee Gerald Chacon, JUNO Award Winner Quique Escamilla, Shahin Najafi, Babak Amini, Victoria Buleeva, We are Domi, Alexander Tishchenko, Yahaira Plasencia, Katie Angel, Mackie, Bill McBirnie, Sasha Boychu, Latin Jazz trio Cruzao, Sina Bathaie , Miguel de La Bastide, Leonardo Barilaro, Stanislas Vitort, Serge Grinkov, Nicole Lisa Craig, Alexandra Templier, Maria Rivas, Cheo Valenzuela, Roberto Lugo, Aisha Stambouli among many more. He has also actively toured with his own Band.
Randolf stays active in education by teaching an average of 70 students per week in the Toronto area. Over the years, he has also taught hundreds of students privately and has conducted masterclasses, clinics and workshops in different parts of the world. Randolf is currently the Drum and Percussion teacher at El Sistema Toronto and a Percussion accompanist for the Dance Program at York University.
His drum method “The Groove Schoolbook” is currently distributed worldwide through Mel Bay Publications.
Randolf is an official endorser for Sonor drums, Paiste cymbals, Tycoon Percussion, Vater drumsticks, Audix microphones, Focusrite interfaces and Humes&Berg cases. He is also a voting member for LARAS (Latin Grammys)
