Sacha Kloostra

Sacha is a drummer passionate about all musical styles, from small combo jazz to Cuban salsa to blues, funk and fusion. Sacha plays in a number of groups and works freelance in Brisbane, Australia. Over the years he has performed with a vast array of Brisbane’s most esteemed artists and groups and performed at some of Australia’s biggest music events, such as the Woodford Festival, and the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.

Sacha enjoyed a very rich, fulfilling introduction to the drum kit; his teacher Bob Peele encouraging him to explore all styles of music, and all approaches to drum kit playing. Discovering a particular interest in jazz/fusion music, Sacha was influenced by the heavyweights early on – Steve Gadd, Bill Cobham, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, and so on – the usual suspects. While still in high school, Sacha’s sister loaned him a compilation disc entitled simply ‘Latin Jazz’. This collection of modern latin jazz recordings was extremely influential to Sacha, perhaps the lead cause of his next obsession – Latin music and Afro-Cuban Jazz. Of particular interest was Cuban drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and his early recordings with Michel Camilo. Hernandez took the textures and rhythms from traditional Cuban music and applied them on the drum kit with results that were nothing short of spectacular. Sacha experimented with a similar approach and began developing a true passion for the sound and feel of Afro-Cuban music.

It was while studying at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music under Paul Hudson and Ken Edie that Sacha became more aware of the finer aspects of jazz drumming and group improvisation, as well as opening up his conception of how ‘time’ can be used in music and drumming. Further exposure to the classic jazz drumming of Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Max Roach and others gave Sacha a more relaxed, intuitive feel to his playing and a better understanding of the roots of his instrument. Today Sacha uses his broad skill set performing all over Australia with many groups and in various styles of music, and teaches drum kit privately in Brisbane, Queensland.

For information on private tuition, workshops/masterclasses or a performance requirement, please contact Sacha.