443 - Pepe Jimenez: Coming to Vegas from Puerto Rico, Playing with Lady Gaga and The Raiders Band

Working Drummer

Jose “Pepe” Jimenez has played drums professionally since the age of 16 and is known for his versatility in different musical styles. He’s product of the Escuela Libre De Musica (Puerto Rico Performing Arts School), Musicians Institute and the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. Pepe has played with Lady Gaga, Santana, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jerry Gonzales, Mark Anthony, and The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra to name a few. Recordings include Ricardo Arjona, Olga Tanon, Armando Manzanero, Elvis Crespo, Ilan Chester, and Glenn Monroig among others. Since movingh to Las Vegas in 2002, he has worked in various production shows and bands including Storm, Mamma Mia, Cirque du Soleil Zumanity, Criss Angel Believe, The Lion King, Latin Grammys, Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, Pop Evolution Orchestra and his solo project The Groove Culture.

In this episode, Pepe talks about:

• Getting handpicked by Lady Gaga to be part of her Vegas orchestra, and what that show entails
• How to make the click your friend
• Playing with the Raiders Band - a different kind of stadium gig
• The developing scene for jazz, Latin, and independent music in Vegas
• Instilling good technical foundation in all his students
• Defining his drum identity not by genre or style of playing, but his respect and love for the role