Also this year, for the first time, the final competition for the Carlos Vega Memorial Scholorship took place after the clinic, at 4:30pm. The winner was Bennie Rogers.

There were many give-aways, raffle items, and silent auction items including a brand new drum kit, snare drum, pedal, cymbal, and wind chimes, courtesy of DW, Paiste and Meinl.

8th Annual Carlos Vega Memorial Birthday Concert

For drummers, it was the hottest ticket in Hollywood. For fans of the world's finest jazz, fusion, and Latin music, it was THE place to be. For the many whose lives were touched musically and/or personally by drumming legend Carlos Vega, it was a place of remembrance and celebration.

For one special day in December, Hollywood's Musician's Institute played host to the 8th annual Carlos Vega Memorial Tribute Concert. As in years past, the Tribute was spearheaded and hosted by one of Carlos's closest musical brothers, David Garfield.

In classic Garfield fashion, the LA keyboard icon assembled a cream-of-the-crop lineup of players and singers. The concert began with an explosive set by Los Lobotomies, featuring Garfield on keys, John Pena on bass, Chad Wackerman on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, Brandon Fields on sax, and Kurt Dohy on guitar. But before long, the stage filled with stellar guests, such as Luis Conte, Ritchie Garcia, Walt Fowler, Mike Porcaro, Gregg Bissonette, Ricky Lawson, and more <click here for lineup>. The highlights were plentiful, but no drummer in attendance will forget the animated drum duel between Gregg Bissonette and Walfredo Reyes, Jr., or watching Lenny Castro rip through the Lobotomies classic "Dismemberment" on drum kit.

What made this year's tribute all the more memorable was the inclusion of a Chad Wackerman drum clinic and the Carlos Vega Drum Scholarship competition before the concert. The end result was an unforgettable afternoon and evening of musical education and entertainment, and all to honor one of the world's greatest groovers.

The musical legacy of Carlos Vega will live forever, but thanks to David Garfield and this annual event, Carlos?s flame burns brighter than ever.

-Greg Rule