Henry Cole is a drummer and teacher from Puerto Rico. He often teaches classes at the Manhattan School of Music and SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music, filling in for his mentor, John Riley. His quartet participated in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Rhythm Road” program, performing concerts and giving master classes. Henry has also led classes and clinics for Carnegie Hall, Marsalis Music, and other organizations.
Henry grew up in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and was the only drummer at his high school. He moved to San Juan to study at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, then attended Berklee College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. In San Juan, he played many styles of music, including rock, salsa, jazz, and electronic, all in the same week.
Henry believes that music from different cultures has deep meaning and stories. He says jazz is folk music from America, classical music is folk music from Europe, and bomba y plena are from Puerto Rico. When listening to musicians like Don Cherry or Ornette Coleman, he hears elements of folklore, even in free jazz. In New York, Henry found it challenging to fit into a specific music scene. Latin musicians thought he was too jazzy, while jazz musicians saw him as a Latin player. Over time, he realized jazz was a tool to help him discover his unique style, which combines different musical influences. In 2022, Henry presented a drum clinic titled “The Afro Caribbean Beyond Clave and Cowbells” at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). He endorses several drum equipment brands, including: Vic Firth drumsticks, DW Drums, specifically the Jazz Series kit, Latin Percussion (LP) instruments, and Zildjian Cymbals. Photos by George Burrows at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC)
