Sam Who?

If you happen to be an ENTRAIN fan you might recognize Sam Holmstock as the guy behind the congas or playing the djembe, timbales or Cajun rub board – when he’s not playing trombone that is. Sam has forged a career out of doing what he loves to do – that is explore world rhythms and present them to audiences around the world.

He is one of the co-founders of the world fusion ensemble, ENTRAIN, and has performed with this incredible group of talented musicians for 16 years. In addition to his work with ENTRAIN, Sam has had the honor of playing music with artists such as Babatunde Olatunji, Bo Diddley, Gil Scott-Heron, Kate and James Taylor, Bob Weir, and even Bill Clinton.

What’s Really Important

It is through his study, teaching and collaborative experiences that he has learned the vital importance of not only having the ability to adequately understand the language of African and Latin Drumming; but also the importance of having the ability to integrate this knowledge into the music we listen to everyday. Sam’s focus in teaching is to build the skills required to play with confidence and build the vocabulary necessary to communicate with other musicians.

From Berklee to Belize

Sam Holmstock earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition from Berklee College of Music. He continued his formal studies at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York where he studied Composition and Improvisation under Karl Berger, Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman. His World Percussion Studies brought him under the tutelage of such percussion notables as Robin Lobe, Jerry Gonzales, Roberto Borell, Louis Romero and culminated with Alejandro Guerra at The National School of Music in Havana, Cuba.

A Great Time to Collaborate

Given the emerging culture of world drumming and growing artistic diversity in the Cape Cod area, this is an exciting and relevant time to join in this region’s very unique community of musicians who are celebrating the art of drumming and embarking on a journey of true collaboration.