Cliff Almond was born in Tallahassee, Florida USA. His family moved to California soon after he was born and Cliff ended up being raised in San Diego. Coming from a mostly Classical background, Cliff's parents were both musicians (his father a Choral Conductor, and mother a piano teacher), and they started him on the violin at the age of five. While studying violin Cliff began to gravitate toward the drums. By the time Cliff was 8 or 9 Years old he was playing constantly at home and began to gradually progress on the instrument. He began playing in the local Youth Symphony , playing in pit orchestras, accompanying various vocal jazz ensembles in High School and soon began performing with rock and jazz groups in the area.When Cliff was eighteen years old he attended PIT in Hollywood California and upon graduating returned to San Diego. He spent the next year practicing and playing in local venues, and occasionally teaching at PIT until the age of twenty. Soon after he was spotted by then Chick Corea Drummer, Dave Weckl who recommended Cliff to pianist Michel Camilo. Cliff Landed the gig at the age of 21 and began recording and touring with Camilo.
Since this time Almond has gone on to perform/record with such artists as: Michael Brecker, Richard Bona, Bob Berg, Jeff Berlin, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Bunnie Brunell, Michel Camilo, The Commodores, Celia Cruz, Danish Radio Big Band, Paquito d'Rivera, John Faddis, Claire Fischer, Jeff Golub, Antonio Hart, Toninho Horta, Giovanni Hidalgo, Wayne Johnson, Yuka Kawamura, Ketama, Wayne Krantz, Manhattan Transfer, Eric Marienthal, Patti Labelle, Chuck Loeb, London Symphony Orchestra, Chris Minh Doky, Eddie Palmieri, John Patitucci, Tito Puente, Quruli, Bud Shank, Ricky Skaggs, Sounds of Blackness, Mike Stern, Terrance Blanchard, Clark Terry, Umo Jazz Orchestra (finland), Hikaru Utada, Dave Valentine, Victor Wooten, Akiko Yano, and others.An endorser of Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, and Vic Firth Drumsticks, Cliff has been featured in various music publications throughout the world such as Modern Drummer Magazine (US), Sllagwerkkrant (Netherlands), Keyboard Magazine (Japan), Sound and Recording (Japan), and Drums Magazine(Japan). He has also performed on television and radio broadcasts throughout the US, Japan, Europe and the UK, including CBS Nightwatch, Austin City Limits, Evening at Pops, Prairie Home Companion and on various broadcasts for the BBC. In addition, Almond has also been involved as a producer/co-producer in a number of projects and continues to be active in playing, composition, and music production.Cliff Almond currently resides in New York City.
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