Phil Hawkins is a master percussionist, an accomplished jazz drummer and one of the leading innovators of music for the steelpan. As a percussionist and drummer he has traveled throughout the United States, the Caribbean and South America to perform concerts, teach clinics and study percussion. Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Phil completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music at Wichita State University. In 1998, Phil moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he quickly gained a reputation as a versatile drummer with Pete Escovedo, Ray Obiedo and the Novo Tempo Quartet. A friendship with world renown percussionist Michael Spiro eventually led Phil to begin work on his debut CD, “H2O.” He also met and collaborated with vibraphonist Gerry Grosz and bassist Jim Kerwin (David Grisman Quartet) on the 2001 release, “The Cosmic Buzz.” From 2002 - 2004 Phil lived in Los Angeles where he continued to work as a jazz drummer. While there he began recording “H2O,” employing the legendary Alex Acuña on drums and percussion. Phil also worked on other recording projects for Caribbean vocalist Jessica Vautor, singer Kathleen Grace, Disney Internet Group, the University of Southern California Vocal Jazz Ensemble and film score composer Patrick Kirst. Phil's new cd "Sugarcane Suite" has been receiving tons of airplay in the US and abroad and features: Jessica Vautor, Crazy, Randy Brecker, Ray Obiedo, Marc and Paul van Wageningen, Michael Spiro, Edgardo Cambon, Orlando Torriente, Dave Mathews, Michelle Hawkins and Murray Low.