Amaury Acosta
Amaury Acosta, aka King Klave, is a Cuban-American Drummer, Composer, Producer, Educator, Curator, and Entrepreneur hailing from New York. As a creative individual, he takes immense pride in crafting wild and innovative art concepts. Many have labeled him a pioneer in his field.
Known for a unique musical fusion of Jazz, Hip-hop, Funk, Soul, Afro-Cuban, and Electronica, his unique blend has allowed him to create unconventional and otherworldly pieces of art that captivate audiences and push the boundaries of traditional music.
Amaury attended LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts and graduated from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School in 2006. In 2008, he transferred to The New School For Jazz & Contemporary Music in New York City, it was during his time at The New School that he developed a deep understanding of the intricacies of music theory and honed his ability to create mesmerizing compositions. This is where he founded (U)nity, a collective of 5 young international musicians that fuse Afro-Cuban grooves with modern sounds. The group has been well-received in the artistic community and has done 5 international tours, performing in various cities worldwide.
He has worked alongside many music icons including Iggy Pop, Robert Glasper, Pino Palladino, Q-Tip, Bilal, Descemer Bueno, Gigi Hadid, Kimbra, Candido Camero, Jose James, Paquito D’Rivera, and numerous others. Beyond his active involvement in the dynamic music scene of New York City, Amaury is recognized for his bold musical perspective and adept composition and production abilities. He spends his time creating new music, refining his craft, And constantly lost in the childlike wonder of his discovery
He released his debut album “KingKlavé” in September 2022. The project features collaborations with over 20 musicians and combines Jazz, Hip-hop, R&B, Funk, and Afro-Cuban music. Recorded in New York City, it represents 10 years of creation and includes a multi-medium art project incorporating music, film, and painting. NPR named it the 2022 Staff Picks Album of the Year.
