Carumba is a wonderful blend of the Caribbean Steel Drum infused with fiery Spanish Rumba Flamenco Guitar.

The music is a collaboration with John Gilliat – Guitar & Rossi Tzonkov – Steel Drum, Guitar & Bass. The group itself can be expanded from a trio with percussion to a much larger ensemble.

John Gilliat- John Gilliat has dedicated himself to a fiery, world beat fusion of Rumba Flamenco and Latin Jazz.This Westcoast Music Award Nominee has toured throughout North America and Japan. Performance highlights include representing Canada at Japan’s 2005 Expo, performing at Canada’s 2010 Winter Olympics and performing for Canada’s former Prime Minister Jean Chretien. John’s recordings have been used for radio, documentaries, TV and film in North America, Japan, Ireland and the UK.In 1995, John won “Best Acoustic Guitar Performance” in the Music West Star Frets Competition. He won Vancouver’s Unplugged Competition in 1996, in 1997 he became a finalist in Vancouver’s Global Star Quest and in 2009 competed at the Montreal Jazz Festival winning the Grand Prize at the BOSS Loop Station 2009 Championship National Finals.As a ‘guitar for hire’, John performed with the Vancouver Playhouse, Hinder, Jimmy D.Lane, Tomas Michaud, Michael Barabas, Radio Europe, Alyssa Nielsen, Gypsalero and opened for such notable artists as Cirque du Soleil, Mae Moore, and acoustic guitar masters Strunz and Farah.In May of 1999 John released his first independent instrumental CD titled “Freedom”. A showcase for his considerable guitar talents, Freedom embraced world beat musical elements of Rumba Flamenco, Pop and Latin Jazz.CD’s to follow were Peace (2001), Christmas (2003), a wonderful collection of holiday classics played on flamenco guitars, accompanied by bass and percussion, Beyond Boundaries for North America and Japan (2004), Winter Strings (2009), and How to play Fiery Rumba Flamenco Guitar (DVD – 2005).You can also visit John at www.JohnGilliat.com

Rossi Tzonkov- completed his Bachelor’s degree in music in the prestigious School of Music in Tshwane University (Pretoria, South Africa), where after the completion of his studies he was appointed as a lecturer. Rossi also lectured at the Pretoria University and T.I.M.E. Music Academy until he left South Africa and moved to Canada in late 2010. Above all, Rossi performs as Spanish guitarist, steel drum player and singer, focusing on Latin, Spanish, Brazilian, Italian and Mediterranean music. He also performs on a Steel drum adding a Caribbean flavour to his show.Rossi has performed at many prestigious venues around South Africa (including Carnival city, Emperor’s Palace, Montecasino, Sun City and many more) and has toured in Namibia and Mozambique, as well as Europe.Numerous entertainment agencies have signed and contracted Rossi for significant events – at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup Soccer 2010 at the corporate hospitality suites, in South Africa. He has performed for large companies such as Porshe, Revlon, Bobcat, Earnst & Young, Investec, Liberty Life, Medi-Clinic and numerous others. According to the occasion or client needs,Rossi’s services range from providing elegant background music to engaging the party to the dance rhythm as the main entertaining act and any other combinations of entertainment as required.To view Rossi’s bass guitar web page go to www.PlayBass.ca