Rhythmic master/educator John Santos leads a thumping class on percussion as part of CSU Summer Arts.

In 1976, John Santos joined Carlos Santana’s band as the lead timbales player. After three weeks, he was booted from the act.

Santos never looked back.

“That was my blessing in disguise,” he says. “It sent me on my path to teach and travel and study. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

That path includes five Grammy nominations in categories including Latin Jazz and Best Traditional World Music. Just a few weeks ago, Santos and his sextet were commissioned by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival to compose eight works for the Art of the Descarga concert at The Gardens in San Francisco. Last Monday, he kicked off a two-week residency at CSU Monterey Bay focusing on the history and musical traditions of Cuba and Brazil, as part of the month-long CSU Summer Arts programs.

This Monday, Santos’ course includes an open-to-the-public interactive concert/percussion class with fellow master drummer Mario Pam called “Percussion Discussion: A Creative Exchange of Ideas, Rhythms and Inspiration.”

Santos serves on the Smithsonian Institute’s Latin Jazz Advisory Committee, runs clinics worldwide and is resident artistic director at the new SFJAZZ Center. He recently curated a week of music there featuring talents from around the globe: Indian tabla drummer Abhijit Banerjee, Ukrainian-born Cuban singer-songwriter Pavel Urkiza and Japanese taiko drummer Kenny Endo all performed. Renowned Cuban vocalist Ernesto Oviedo, of the Buena Vista Social Club era, was also on hand; earlier this year, Santos released Siempre Clasico, which features Oviedo and Cuban percussion innovator Orestes Vilató. Sept. 28, Santos unveils “Unusual Standards,” a multicultural powerhouse featuring the JS Sextet and special guests Calvin Keys, Maria Márquez, Ed Reed and Terri Odabie.

That would meet most mortal quotas of productivity, but not Santos’. In August, he’ll join the faculty at Lafayette Summer Music Camp as a guest with the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band for their Armando Peraza tribute at the San Jose Jazz Festival. In September, he directs a concert showcasing Cuban percussion great Walfredo de Los Reyes at Jazzschool Berkeley and the following day he’s presenting another performance at the Oakland World Percussion Festival.

On top of all of that, Santos’ regular teaching gigs at the California Jazz Conservatory and College of San Mateo start up again in the fall.

Who has time for Santana?

THE PERCUSSION DISCUSSION happens 7pm Monday, July 7, at CSUMB World Theater, Sixth Avenue, Seaside. $15; $13/students, seniors, military. 262-2714.