Jimmy Le Messurier

About Jimmy Le Messurier

JIMMY LE MESSURIER (drums/percussion)

A noted percussionist/timbalero/drummer/ on the London latin music scene.

Born in Guernsey, Channel Islands. Joining his first band The Amazing Hat Show, as drummer at the age of 15, he was active on the local music scene for a number of years. He attended Berklee College of Music of Boston, USA, in the 80’s. It was here that he was exposed to Latin Music, as well as learning how to arrange, and sharpening his drumming skills.

After graduating he immediately moved to London, and immersed himself in the then burgeoning Latin music scene. He has lived and worked there ever since.

He was a member of, or appeared with, many leading UK - based Latin groups and Orquestas, including Orquesta La Clave (which he led and directed, and for which he produced all of the arrangements). In 2002, under the moniker of Jimmy le M y La Clave de Londres he released an LP of largely original compositions, Salsa Feeling - (International Records, 2002).

He also worked as a jobbing timbalero and percussionist with with UK-based artists Snowboy and the Latin Section, Sexteto Café, London Lucumi Choir, Omar Puente and the latin soul - inflected Grupo X, which Jimmy helped to found and with which he has appeared on 5 LPs.

Jimmy has also appeared with many international, mainly salsa artists, including Tony Vega, Tito Allen, Camilo Azuquita, Luisito Carrión, Jimmy Sabater, Lalo Rodriguez, Orlando Watusi, Alex d’Castro, Gabino Pampini, Pedro Brull, Frankie Morales, Paquito Guzman, Pedro Arroyo, David Pabón, Roberto Lugo, Cheo Acosta, Kim de los Santos, Adalberto Santiago, Mariano Civico, Joe Bataan, Alfredo Rodriguez, Jack Costanzo, and N.Y. trombone maestro Jimmy Bosch.


He is a founder member of the group Penya, and co-writer of its material. Penya has released three records to date, Superliminal (On the Corner Records, 2018), Penya Safari E.P. (On the Corner Records, 2020), and Penya (Liminal Recordings, 2021), plus an album of remixes.

A long-time student of Cuban religious and secular folkloric music, Jimmy was initiated into the Aña drumming fraternity in 2011, becoming an Omo Añá (a 'son of Añá'), which allows him to play the consecrated tambor de fundamento for religious ceremonies. In Cuban Orisha religious cosmology, these drums, called batá, contain within a deity called Añá that can communicate songs and prayers directly to the principal deity Olodumare.

In 2020 he became a member of WEMA, a collaborative musical project between the three members of Penya, N.Y.-based musician/producer Photay, and Tanzanian musician Msafiri Mawose. Wema's eponymous debut album was released in April 2022 on the iK7 label.

Qualifications: B.Mus (Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass, U.S.A.), Major in Professional Music.

Teaching experience: (as visiting tutor) Guildhall College of Music and Drama; Royal Academy of Music; Morley College; private tuition.