Pedrito Martinez
Cuban-born percussionist Pedrito Martinez is an acclaimed musician who plays a dynamic mix of traditional Cuban rumba, Afro-Latin jazz, and Spanish flamenco music. Martinez initially grabbed attention after moving to New York in the late '90s and playing with the Yerba Buena collective, Claudia Acuña, Mark Weinstein, and others. He has also won praise for his solo work, including garnering a Grammy nomination for 2013's Pedrito Martinez Group.
Born in Havana in 1973, Martinez began performing professionally before his teens with such local legends as percussionist Tata Güines, as well as the folkloric ensemble Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. In 1998, his involvement with saxophonist Jane Bunnett's Spirit of Havana ensemble found him traveling to Canada, where he remained. That same year, he moved to New York, and quickly established himself as a world-class percussionist. In 2000, he took first place in the inaugural Afro-Latin Hand Drumming portion of the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. He has also worked with such artists as Claudia Acuña, Mark Weinstein, Eliane Elias, Paquito d'Rivera, Steve Turre, Brian Lynch, and others. In addition, Martinez has released two albums with the Afro-Cuban/Afro-beat band Yerba Buena. As a leader, Martinez issued Rumba de la Isla and the self-titled Pedrito Martinez Group albums in 2013. Both were widely acclaimed by critics. The latter, produced by Steve Gadd, made numerous publications' year-end lists and was nominated for a Grammy.
After American President Barack Obama announced a normalization of U.S. relations with Cuba in 2014, Martinez was enthusiastic to record in his homeland. Taking his band to the island nation, they collaborated with a wide variety of guests at the historic Egrem Studio in Havana. The session included Cuban singers Descemer Bueno and Issac Delgado, and rapper Telmary Diaz, as well as Ruben Blades, Wynton Marsalis, and Angelique Kidjo. Habana Dreams was released in June 2016 and entered the Latin and Jazz digital charts inside the Top Five. In 2019, Martinez paired with Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez for the duo album Duologue.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
Discography
10 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Duologue
Alfredo Rodriguez, Pedrito Martinez
Latin America - Released by Mack Avenue Records on 1 Feb 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Rumba de la Isla (Pedrito Canta a Camarón de la Isla)
Jazz - Released by Calle 54 Records on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Acertijos
World - Released by Eshuni Entertainment Inc - Immediate Family LLC on 19 Mar 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Father's Eyes (feat. Eric Clapton)
World - Released by Eshuni Records on 21 Aug 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yo Si Quiero (feat. Eric Clapton & Kenny Garrett)
World - Released by Eshuni Records on 19 Jun 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Niño del Tambor (The Little Drummer Boy)
Pedrito Martinez, Sofia Rei, Bria Skonberg
World - Released by Sofia Rei on 18 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jingle Bells - Single
Alfredo Rodriguez, Pedrito Martinez
Christmas Music - Released by Mack Avenue Records on 9 Nov 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Transiciones En Azul
Dayramir Gonzalez, Pedrito Martinez
Jazz - Released by Re Mayor Records on 10 Nov 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Gozadera
Manny Marquez, Pedrito Martinez
World - Released by Chongo Productions LLC on 25 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Jicamo Me Hablo
Jazz - Released by Eshuni Entertainment Inc - Immediate Family LLC on 13 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo