Kahlil Cummings, a Los Angeles native, is an acclaimed drummer, exceptional performer, composer, and educator. Kahlil was recognized as a child prodigy very early; since childhood, he has played with numerous reputable groups including Ballet Folclórico Do Brasil, Sona Sané, Abalayé, Mila Samba School, Inu Olorun, Debbie Allen Dance Company, Les Amazones, and Viver Brasil. Kahlil honed his rhythmic gifts with noted teachers including Mestre Amen Santo, Jose Ricardo Sousa, Kobla Ladzekpo, Esteban “Cha Cha” Bacallao (Ibae), and Sandy Perez. His studies in Guinea, Brazil and Cuba have helped to widely broaden his knowledge and musical strength. However, he is most profoundly influenced by West African master drummer Mamady Keita, with whom he has studied since the age of 13. Kahlil helped start the group Balandugu Kan, which was sanctioned by Keita as representing “the voice of Balandugu”--- the village where Keita was born. His compositions can be heard on his debut album Iniké Baba, recorded live in Guinea, West Africa.
Kahlil was the musical director for opening numbers for both the NAACP Image Awards and the Choreographers Awards in 2004. Since then, he has performed with several renowned artists such as Janelle Monae (American Idol), Shakira (music video “Waka Waka), and Gwen Stefani. He recently recorded percussion for Aloe Blacc in a song titled “Let the Games Begin,” which was featured in the movie “Race.” In addition, Kahlil performed with Pharrell Williams and Kendrick Lamar in the 2015 and 2016 Grammy Awards, respectively. His prolific abilities have even taken him as far as Japan, where he produced and recorded music for Takarazuka, an elite Japanese theater ensemble, and for Pomba, a well-known fitness company.
Currently Kahlil is the Founder of Extra Ancestral which began in 2017 as an ensemble that aimed to educate audiences through the fusions of hypnotic Afrobeat, Reggae, Jazz, Afro-Latin, and traditional African diasporic rhythms, narrated by powerful ancestral dancing. Kahlil also plays and tours with international recording artist Rocky Dawuni, and can be heard on the albums “Branches of the Same Tree,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album of the Year in 2016. And Beats of Zion 2019. Kahlil also performs and recorded on the latest album of Jazz icon Kamasi Washintom “Heaven and Earth” 2018. Kahlil is an endorsed artist of Latin Percussion Company(LP) and Istanbul Cymbals. Kahlil’s latest musical project, Extra Ancestral, the album his due later this year.
Kahlil is a board member of the Levitt Pavilion Foundation.
In 2021 Kahlil has performed at the MTV Movie Awards as well as The Voice show, Grand Performances, Hollywood Bowl, and Newport Jazz Festival.
Photographer: Farah Sosa
Musician: Kahlil Cummings