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Hugo Alexander Cruz Machado is a Cuban-born, award-winning, internationally renowned drummer and composer who has performed in South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Venezuela, and the United States. He is the leader of the fusion group Caminos, which had its Pittsburgh debut at the Pittonkatonk Festival in May 2019. Caminos has made appearances at the 2019 Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Fábrica de Artes in Havana, First Night Pittsburgh 2020, The Frick, Spirit Hall, Market Square, and Con Alma - all where they performed original compositions fusing rhythms, melodies, and harmonies of the African diaspora with Cuban and American influences. While a resident of Cuba, Hugo toured regularly with Síntesis, a leading Afro-Cuban rock-fusion group. In 2014, he won the award, “Best Drummer” at the Festival de Tambor in Havana, Cuba. Hugo is a graduate of the Instituto Superior de Artes.