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Pedro Pablo œPedrito 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 DRivera, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne and Sting, and has contributed to well over 75 albums.
A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the bata drum he is also the worlds 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-90s.
His career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation in NYC of the The Pedrito Martinez Group. The groups first studio album was released on Motema Records, October, 2013, was nominated for a Grammy, and was chosen among NPRs 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 also on Motema. 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 which was selected by NPR for a First Listen: npr.org/2019/01/24/687794667/first-listen-alfredo-rodr-guez-pedrito-martinez-duologue
In July 2019, Pedrito and Eric Clapton recorded a newly arranged version of Claptons song, My Fathers Eyes, for a new Pedrito Martinez album. On September 22, Pedrito and Clapton performed My Fathers Eyes together at Claptons Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas.
Pedrito Martinez uses LP Percussion, A. Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, DW drums, Remo drumheads, and Earthworks audio mics
œPedrito is a genius¦working with him has been a revelation to me.
Wynton Marsalis
œThe Pedrito Martinez Group is the real thing. They had the club JUMPING! It made me feel like a teenager!" Quincy Jones
œThe Pedrito Martinez Group is writing a new chapter in Cuban music
history NPR All Things Considered
