Results for "Pedro Martinez"

Pedrito Martinez

Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, Sept 12, 1973 in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Old Havana, and began his musical career at the age of 11.Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdez, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, Elton John, James Taylor and Sting, and has contributed to well over 100 albums.  A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum he is also the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups and contributing to, or appearing in, several important films, including Calle 54 (2000) and Chico and Rita (2010).

Pedrito was a founding member of the highly successful, Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band, Yerba Buena, with which he recorded two albums and toured the world in the mid- to late-90’s.

Mr. Martinez’s career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation in NYC of the The Pedrito Martinez Group. The group’s first, self-titled, studio album, was released October, 2013, was nominated for a Grammy, and was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of 2013.”

Habana Dreams, their second album, recorded largely in Cuba, was released in June 10, 2016. Guests include, Ruben Blades, Isaac Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, Angelique Kidjo.In February of 2019, Pedrito and Cuban pianist, Alfredo Rodriguez, released a duo album called Duologue to critical acclaim and was selected by NPR for a First Listen. Quincy Jones was Executive Producer. In July 2019, Pedrito and Eric Clapton, recorded a newly arranged version of Clapton’s song, My Father’s Eyes for a new Pedrito Martinez album, called Acertijos (Riddles), to be released in early 2021. And on September 22, Pedrito and Clapton performed the song together at Clapton’s, Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas.On March 12, 2020 at the Beacon Theater in NYC, Pedrito had the honor of performing as special guest, with Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band, for a benefit concert called Love Rocks NYC. In June of 2020, Pedrito began releasing singles that were recorded for album, due in early 2021, Acertijos—starting with Yo Si Quiero, an original by Isaac Delgado Jr, Mitchell Delgado, and Pedrito, followed by My Father’s Eyes, a duet with Eric Clapton.

David Ullmann talks Jazz Guitar

by Nick Davies
April 17, 2019

This week we talk to David Ullmann about his new album Sometime. We then mix up new releases and tracks from the archives with a special focus on the album of the week, Cycle by Rain Sultanov & Isfar Sarabski Playlist Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez “El Punta Cubano" from Duologue (Mack Avenue ...

Drummer Daniel Freedman Leads An All-Star Quintet On Imagine That, With Rhythmically Infectious Originals, A Radiohead Cover And Guest Vocal On "Baby Aya" By World Music Star Angélique Kidjo

March 16, 2016

Drummer Daniel Freedman Leads an All-Star Quintet on Imagine That, with Rhythmically Infectious Originals, a Radiohead Cover and Guest Vocal on “Baby Aya" by World Music Star Angélique Kidjo The album—to be released in the U.S. by Anzic Records on April 15, 2016—finds Freedman in league with a group of kindred spirits: guitarist Lionel Loueke, keyboardist ...

Yosvany Terry: Yosvany Terry: New Throned King

by Steve Bryant
July 31, 2014

Yosvany Terry is part of the new wave of young Cuban players who have come to these shores during the last decade and established a solid presence based on their artistry and virtuosity. What has distinguished Terry from his counterparts, however, is that while most of the Cubans are either pianists or drummers, his instruments of ...

Alex Brown: Pianist

by Edward Blanco
October 1, 2011

With a little help from Cuban-born saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera the jazz world heralds the entrance of 22 year-old Alex Brown, capturing but a glimpse of his talents on a monster recording debut simply entitled Pianist. It was actually D'Rivera's bassist, Oscar Stagnaro,who began to gig with pianist around the Boston area, ultimately introducing Brown to D'Rivera, ...

Detroit Jazz Festival: Detroit, MI September 2-5, 2011

by Matt Marshall
September 12, 2011

32nd Annual Detroit Jazz FestivalDetroit, MISeptember 2-5, 2011 In its 32nd year, the Detroit Jazz Festival decided to drop “International" from its name, only to turn around and proclaim “We Bring You the World." An interesting distinction, but the festival's scope was covered, nonetheless. The celebration brought to Detroit not only artists and ...

Brian Lynch and Spheres Of Influence: ConClave Vol. 2

by Dan Bilawsky
August 13, 2011

Trumpeter Brian Lynch's ConClave Vol. 2 arrives six years after the first installment and, while the personnel are completely different on each date, both volumes boast collections of intelligent arrangements that juxtapose Latin rhythms and Afro-Cuban musical elements against modern jazz ideals. Lynch's ability to create hybrid forms of music that blend seemingly dissimilar elements with ...

Panamericana Suite

By Paquito D'Rivera

Label: MCG Jazz
Released: 2010
Track listing: Waltz for Moe; Con Alma; Preludio No. 3; Tojo; Panamericana Suite; Fiddle Dreams; Serenade; Song for Peace.

Alex Brown: Pianist

by Raul d'Gama Rose
October 29, 2010

Even for a pianist with as prodigious a talent as Alex Brown, having a heavyweight in the music pantheon such as Paquito D'Rivera produce the debut album, must have largely been a dream. However, to pull off a debut as fine as this is a feat in itself. As a pianist, Brown has remarkable technique. Although ...