Gustavo Cortiñas' "The Drum Also Sings" feat. Dave King & Isaiah Spencer

A night of transcendent rhythm, spiritual improvisation, and collective healing comes to Milwaukee’s Big Red Church with The Drum Also Sings — a powerful new work that transforms percussion into prayer. Led by Gustavo Cortiñas, named Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz 2025 for the depth, vision, and social resonance of his work, this unforgettable performance brings together master drummers Dave King and Isaiah Spencer for an immersive evening of rhythm, storytelling, and sound.

Rooted in percussion-driven composition, The Drum Also Sings explores the emotional and spiritual resonance of rhythm through music that speaks to joy, grief, resilience, and renewal. Emerging from moments of introspection and uncertainty, the project approaches the drum not only as an instrument, but as a voice — one capable of carrying memory, prayer, ancestry, and transformation.

Drawing from the melodic drumming traditions of masters like Max Roach, Papa Jo Jones, and Roy Haynes, the ensemble creates an expansive sonic landscape of grooves, textures, improvisation, and collective expression — music rooted equally in virtuosity, vulnerability, and healing.