pedrito martinez

Biography

Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born on September 12, 1973, in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Old Havana, Cuba. He began his musical career at age 11 as a vocalist and percussionist, performing with Cuban legends such as Tata Güines and Los Munequitos de Matanzas, and immersed himself in the rumba traditions of numerous Cuban groups. In 1998, he toured Canada with Jane Bunnett's Spirits of Havana and decided to stay in North America, settling in New York City that fall, where he quickly won first prize in the 1998 Thelonious Monk Competition for Afro-Latin Hand Percussion at the Kennedy Center.[1][2][7]

Martinez's career accelerated in New York as a founding member of the Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band Yerba Buena around 2003-2004, recording albums President Alien (2003) and Island Life (2005, which reached No. 62 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums Chart), and touring worldwide. In 2005, he formed the Pedrito Martinez Group with a residency at Guantanamera restaurant in Manhattan, attracting stars like Eric Clapton and Paul Simon. The group's self-titled debut album in 2013 on Motema Music earned a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album, NPR's Favorite Albums of 2013, and Boston Globe's Top Ten. His 2016 album Habana Dreams, recorded in Cuba, featured guests like Wynton Marsalis, Rubén Blades, Angélique Kidjo, and Issac Delgado.[1][2][3]

Known for his charismatic fusion of afro-cuban jazz, timba, son cubano, and latin jazz, Martinez blends traditional rumba, conga, and batá drumming with modern jazz and vocal prowess. A member of Jazz at Lincoln Center's Nuevo Jazz Latino program, he has contributed to over 100 albums and performed with icons like Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Chucho Valdés, and Eddie Palmieri, establishing a lasting legacy as a bridge between Cuban roots and global jazz innovation.[1][2][3][7]

Fun Facts

• His 2005 Pedrito Martinez Group residency at Guantanamera restaurant in NYC drew celebrity fans including Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Steve Winwood, Taj Mahal, and Roger Waters.[1]
• Featured in the 2000 documentary Calle 54 on Cuban music shortly after arriving in New York.[1]
• Contributed to Eddie Palmieri and Brian Lynch's 2010 Grammy-winning album Simpático.[3]
• His debut album as leader was praised by NPR and the Boston Globe as a top release of 2013.[2][3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Tata Güines - Early performance partner and Cuban percussion legend (Live performances with rumba groups) [1980s]
• Los Munequitos de Matanzas - Performed as vocalist and percussionist with this renowned rumba ensemble (Live performances) [1980s]
• Jane Bunnett - Bandleader who brought him to North America (Spirits of Havana tour) [1998]

Key Collaborators

• Yerba Buena - Founding member of Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band (President Alien (2003), Island Life (2005)) [2003-2005]
• Wynton Marsalis - Frequent recording and performance guest (The Pedrito Martinez Group (2013), Habana Dreams (2016)) [2013-2016]
• Pedrito Martinez Group members (e.g., Edgar and Sebastian) - Core band members (Group albums including debut (2013)) [2005-present]
• Rubén Blades - Guest artist on album (Habana Dreams (2016)) [2016]
• Angélique Kidjo - Guest artist on album (Habana Dreams (2016)) [2016]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia