“Alfredo, one of the greatest piano players of all time!” – Quincy Jones
“[Martinez is] an incomparable performer… a traditional Afro-Cuban music superstar” – New York Times
Painted in the broadest of strokes, the stories of Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez may seem similar. Both started life in Havana, discovered their gifts and passions for music and headed to the United States. There, they melded the music of their homeland with a wide variety of influences, each in their own deeply personal way.
Rodriguez was born into a musical family, his father a popular singer and TV host. Martinez, on the other hand, honed his craft on the streets of Havana, learning the deeply rooted percussion and vocal style of Afro-Cuban folkloric and religious music.
“What makes this duo completely different is that I came from the folkloric side and Alfredo came from the classical side. You put those things together and you come out with an extraordinary and different sound.” – Pedrito Martinez
Pianist Alfredo Rodriguez’s sound embodies the collective sound of Miami, blending Latin pop, timba, salsa, bachata, tango, reggaeton, and bolero. It’s a musical fusion that encompasses the diverse Latin community while celebrating individuality and fostering unity. It calls upon Rodriguez’s roots just as much as his newly learned experiences, representing a new phase of life.
Pedrito Martinez is a consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum. Since settling in New York in 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, and Paquito D’Rivera. He has also worked with Bruce Springsteen, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, and Sting. Moreover, he has contributed to over seventy-five albums.
Furthermore, he is also the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups. Pedrito was a founding member of the highly successful Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band Yerba Buena.
Recommended for fans of Poncho Sanchez, Chucho Valdés, Afro-Cuban All Stars and Eddie Palmieri.
📸: Anna Webber
