Percussionist Elizabeth Pupo-Walker is based out of New York City, often performing and recording with artists in the Daptone Records family. She has worked with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, John Legend, Mark Ronson, Elvis Costello, Harry Styles, and with Netflix and HBO for score/soundtrack work. Elizabeth has performed on The Late Show with James Corden, Conan O’Brien, at Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center to name a few. Currently, Elizabeth serves as a teaching artists for JAZZ HOUSE @ Trinity in NYC.
Her primary focus of study has been the research of Afro-Cuban percussion, primarily congas. Elizabeth is of Cuban descent and studied in Havana, Cuba at Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, and in Matanzas, Cuba with the world renown percussion ensemble Los Munequitos de Matanzas. She has sought out specific instructors throughout her career delving into the drumming dialects of Brazilian Batucadas, Carribean rhythms of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and more.
In 1992,Elizabeth moved to Seattle, Washington and formed the eclectic percussive jazz group, Manah, featuring celebrated New York improviser Stephen Gauci on tenor saxophone. Elizabeth soon became a member of the band Tuatara, led by Barrett Martin, with members of R.E.M., Los Lobos, and Screaming Trees. She also recorded and toured with the band BRAD, featuring members of Pearl Jam.
Elizabeth moved to New York City in 2004 and formed the seven-piece latin jazz group La Buya, sharing composer credits with acclaimed west coast saxophonists Skerik, Cochemea Gastelum and Jessica Lurie. La Buya is thrilled to have recently released a new album on the Zipamusic label. Elizabeth has been featured in DRUM! magazine, and tours internationally. She was co-composer for the entire Cochemea album, All My Relations, on Daptone Records which reached #4 on Billboard World Music charts, and #7 on the Billboard Jazz charts in 2019. Many of the groups Elizabeth works with have achieved critical acclaim from The New York Times, Pitchfork, Downbeat, Rolling Stone, JazzTimes, NPR, and more.