Marlon Aldana is a drummer and percussionist born in Guadalajara, Mexico. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2012. Over the years, he has become a versatile accompanist, session player, touring musician, and educator, with experience across genres including Afro-Cuban, Salsa, Timba, Flamenco, Cumbia, Jazz, Funk, Rock, Pop, Reggae, and Afro-Mexican rhythms such as Son Jarocho.

An active member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) San Francisco Chapter, Aldana earned a full scholarship to the California Jazz Conservatory in 2017, recognizing his diverse musical background and career trajectory.

He has collaborated and performed with a wide range of acclaimed artists, including Grammy winners Javier Cabanillas & Christian Tumalan, multi-Emmy-winning producer and guitarist BZ Lewis, multi-Grammy-winning flamenco guitarist Antonio Rey, legendary Bay Area rumbero John Santos, former Pedrito Martinez pianist Edgar Pantoja, producer John Cuniberti, Emmy Award-winning flamenco dancer and choreographer Yaelisa, multi-award winner flamenco dancer and choreographer Fanny Ara, multiple appearances with the Oakland Symphony under conductor Omid Zoufonoun, renown Flamenco pianist Alex Conde, bassist Jeff Chambers, — and many more. Aldana has also collaborated extensively with flamenco dancers, singers, and musicians from Spain.

As an educator, Aldana has worked for several years in a row with the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music (AIM) program, providing rhythm and music education to students in elementary, middle, and high schools throughout San Francisco’s public school district, with a strong focus on inspiring young people to connect with music and drumming. He also offers private and group drum instruction to students of all ages and experience levels.

In 2018, he joined the Golden Bell Music Collective as a DJ, drummer, and event lead, performing across and beyond the U.S. in hybrid live/DJ productions.

Aldana is currently expanding his work internationally, collaborating with musicians and faculty from the State Conservatory in Turkey and exploring cross-cultural projects throughout the Middle East. At the same time, he is building his independent recording studio — Majestic 13 — where he provides local and remote drum tracking with up to 20 channels, delivering work to clients across the U.S., Mexico, and Turkey.

After years of collaborating with other artists and supporting their projects, Aldana is now focused on creating original music inspired by a wide range of rhythmic and cultural influences.

Follow on Instagram @aldana.music for the latest projects, performances, and updates, or visit www.marlonaldana.com.