Miami-based rapper Pitbull is riding high, enjoying worldwide mega-success with his 2011 release Planet Pit and his latest release Global Warming. The CD showcases the sharp-dressed Cuban-American entertainer’s engaging charisma and features collaborations with a who’s who of today’s hottest music artists, including T-Pain, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, and many others. Planet Pit is was smash around the globe, spawning four hit singles in the U.S. alone, including the chart-topping “Give Me Everything” with R&B sensation Ne-Yo. Pitbull recently turned in a guest spot of his own, appearing on Jennifer Lopez’s hit “On the Floor.”

Known as “Mr. 305” and “Mr. Worldwide,” Pitbull is always in the spotlight, on the road nearly non-stop for the last six years delivering his South Beach EDM sound to millions of fans. With a roster of personnel dubbed “Team Pitbull,” the artist has assembled a close-knit family of musicians, managers, and support staff for his travels around the globe. The Agents, his backing band, features a number of highly skilled young players from Miami’s multi-cultural music scene; with their backgrounds in jazz, salsa, rock, and pop music, these talented and versatile musicians bring Pit’s dynamic sound alive on stage with a unique edge, using an arsenal of Roland keyboards and samplers to get the job done night after night.

“Our relationship with Roland has been great from the very beginning, and I couldn’t be more thankful,” says drummer, programmer, and musical director Omar Tavarez. With a SPD-SX Sampling Pad set up next to his acoustic kit, Omar has a full array electronic percussion at his disposal to bring the sounds of Pitbull’s records to the stage. He’s recently transitioned to Roland’s latest sampling pad after years of using the previous-generation SPD-S. “When I first started the gig with Pit in 2008, I was using the SPD-S,” says Omar. “I personally bought my first SPD-S because I knew that the Roland gear was just right. It was hip, it was something different, something new, and now [the SPD-SX] is the continuation of something great.”

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Related links and articles:

• Omar Tavarez Explains Production Technique – MIDI Mapping Samples
• Omar Tavarez (Pitbull) Explains Playing Songs Live vs. The Album Recording
• Omar Tavarez (Pitbull): How I Use the SPD-SX

Like all members of the Agents (Pitbull’s band), Omar Tavarez wears many hats. When Pitbull is not touring, Omar is in the studio with Pitbull working on new songs and productions. Omar explains how using MIDI mapping of samples helps brainstorm ideas and significantly expedites production. (This is a common technique used in dance music. Omar’s example in this video is from Justice‘s 2007 hit D.A.N.C.E.)

Other news for the band include their recent iHeartRadio 2012 show in Las Vegas. Check out this quote from the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

If this show doubled as a survey of just about every mainstream radio format, Pitbull’s headlining set compressed them all into an indefatigable pastiche of hip-hop, dance, Latin music and even rock (his thunderous backing band played snippets of Lenny Kravitz’s “R U Gonna Go My Way” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” peppered with the only double bass drumming of the weekend).

For more news and reviews about Pitbull’s performance at iHeartRadio 2012, check out these articles:

• Celebrity-Gossip.net - Pitbull Spices Up The 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival
• Las Vegas Review Journal - iHeart Festival Finishes With A Fervent Flourish
• Billboard - iHeartRadio 2012: Pink, Pitbull and Prince Own Closing Night

More of Omar Tavarez:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram: drummer_305

Related Articles:

• Omar Tavarez (Pitbull): Playing Songs Live vs. The Album Recording
• Omar Tavarez (Pitbull): How I Use The SPD-SX
• Pick Your Poison – SPD-SX versus SPD-30

In this video Omar Tavarez, Musical Director and drummer for Pitbull‘s band, explains the dynamics of playing live the music from Pitbull’s recordings. Omar says that during the show he plays off the Pitbull’s vocal rhythm for added accents with drums and cymbals. According to Omar, in keeping to the integrity and familiarity of the original recording, Pitbull stresses to keep the playing and arrangements concise. This balance between the band’s talent, and keeping it simple, is what makes this show so exciting. While the audience comes to hear and watch something that is familiar to them from the radio or music videos, they also gain the added experience of watching The Agents deliver a world class performance. To conclude, Mr. World Wide (aka Pitbull) is backed by a world class band.

Pitbull’s band, The Agents consists of:

• Omar Tavarez- Music Director and Drums
  • Roland Gear: SPD-SX
• Jorge Gomez Martinez – Lead Keys
  • Roland Gear: Jupiter-80, Gaia SH-01, Fantom-G6, and Fantom-G7
• Leo Brooks – Bass
  • Roland Gear: Gaia SH-01
• David Palma- Keys and Sax
  • Roland Gear: Jupiter-80 and Fantom-G7
• Papayo- Percussion
  • Roland Gear: HandSonic HPD-10
• DJ Chino- DJ
  • Roland Gear: SP-404
    

Omar Tavarez of Pitbull at a soundcheck in Los Angeles with his Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad. (Check out the massive snare sample he uses.) Omar combines an SPD-SX, various V-Drums pads and Roland drum triggers in his live rig. Complex fills and hi-hat patterns are a signature part of Omar’s playing style.

More of Omar Tavarez:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram: drummer_305

Related Articles:

• Omar Tavarez (Pitbull): How I Use The SPD-SX
• Omar Tavarez (Pitbull): Survival Tips for Touring Drummers
• Aaron Rossi (Ministry): How to Land a World Class Gig

Omar Tavarez, drummer and musical director (MD) for Pitbull talks about how to stay healthy through a rigorous touring schedule. vitamins, stretching, exercise, and how having a great mental state all play a role according to Omar.

In playing live, Omar relies on the SPD-SX for triggering the electronic dance samples Pitbull’s sound is known for. In the studio and rehearsals Omar calls on the TD-15KV.

Related links and articles:

• The Benefits of Electronic Drums
• Learn to Play Electronic Drums
• Pick Your Poison – SPDS-SX versus SPD-30