Tonga Ross-Ma’u

Tonga Ross-Ma’u is a multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, bass, saxophone, drums), composer, songwriter, and producer from San Diego, CA. He has been a part of the San Diego music scene since he started playing with his father’s band (Semisi and Fula Bula) when he was 13. He studied jazz at Wheaton College (MA) and continued his pursuit in the art working with Kamau Kenyatta since he moved back. Over the years he’s played with various groups in town covering different styles including Joe Garrison and Night People, The Earful, One Drop, and Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, along with his own projects like Ascent Trio and Chief Nasty. Throughout these last 15 years he’s taught jazz harmony, composition, and electronic production in school programs and private lessons and worked with ensemble classes around San Diego and LA.