Daniel Stone

Daniel Stone is one of Canada’s most versatile percussionists. A self-taught musician, he has a unique style that is marked with an instinct for enhancing the music he performs.

Daniel was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began his musical studies there, focusing on Cuban rhythms. In 1995, Daniel moved to Toronto. He quickly became a well-known face in the city’s music scene, and established a reputation for bringing to each gig an appropriate yet distinctive percussive backing. An eager learner, he has developed a unique sensibility on a broad range of Latin instruments, including congas, bongos, shakers, timbales, and flamenco cajon. His expertise in percussion has led him to perform in an array of musical genres spanning salsa, flamenco, Brazilian, pop, r&b, funk and jazz; it has earned him a place as a first-call hand drummer in the city.

Over the years, Daniel has appeared with a wide variety of artists and ensembles. He has played for award-winning artists like Nelly Furtado, Jane Bunnett, Alex Cuba, Brandi Disterheft, Pavlo and The Parachute Club, touring all over The Americas and Europe. Other artists that Daniel has played and/or recorded with include Alfredo De La Fe, Frankie Negron, Eddie Santiago, Tito Rojas, Apostle of Hustle, Feist, K’naan, Eliana Cuevas, Dione Taylor and Louis Simao. He has recorded on over 40 commercially released albums, and has songwriting credits on 7 of those.

Daniel is also an accomplished bandleader, composer and arranger. He is a founding member of Toronto’s Fiercest Salsa Band, Caché, and has served as the band’s co-director since its inception in 2001. Caché has released two full-length albums, and won “Best Independent Latin Group of the Year” in the 2006 Canadian Independent Music Awards. Daniel also leads the Latin jazz outfit Mamboso, and recently branched out to start his own brand of salsa with his new band, La Plancha.

Aside from performing, Daniel has been actively involved in music education. In recent years he has organized and taught percussion workshops to drummers and non-musicians alike, and also participates in workshops while on the road.