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. 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. He quickly established himself as a world-class percussionist and even took first place in the inaugural Afro-Latin Hand Drumming portion of the 2000 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. Also in 2000, Martinez relocated to New York City. As a sideman, Martinez has worked with such artists as Claudia Acuña, Mark Weinstein, Eliane Elias, Paquito d'Rivera, Steve Turre, Brian Lynch, and others. He has released two albums with the Afro-Cuban/Afro-beat band Yerba Buena. As a leader, Martinez released two solo efforts in 2013, Rumba de la Isla and The Pedrito Martinez Group.