Jozef ,,Jose,, Berk was born in Slovakia in Banska Bystrica city in 1981. Started with traditional african drumming, later he fell in love with congas and started exploring latin and world percussion with a company of contemporary dance (Studio Tanca/ Dancing Studio). Playing with various music bands in Slovakia in Folk, Swing, Cabaret jazz, Funk and Nu jazz music styles, he discovered a passion for Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music. In 2006, performed at the Fribourg Jazz Parade and Payerne La Fiesta festival in Switzerland with Papa Steph's Jazz Band. Since arriving in London in 2006, he improved his technique through Noda Oreste (Ska Cubano) guidance. In 2007, he participated in a percussion master class seminar at the London Centre of Contemporary Music lead by tutors: Giovanni Hidalgo, Luis Conte, and Equie Castrillo. Late 2007 Jozef studied in Cuba, (Matanzas) with Puchito (Afro-Cuba de Matanzas) the fundamental Afro-Cuban styles of music, such as Rumba, Salsa, Bembe, Mozambique and many others. He spent some time in Cuba also with international artistic group Korimakao artistico projecto, where he was a guest of percussion section in 14 piece salsa bigband. In Cuba attained a new passion for playing timbales and a respect for the Bata drums and tradition. Jozef currently lives and performs in London while continuing his development in the art of music.
