Alfredo Rodríguez at Jazz Standard

The stories of Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez may seem similar: both started life in Havana and emigrated to the U.S. where they melded the music of their homeland with a wide variety of influences, each in his own deeply personal way. But pianist Rodriguez studied classical piano at two prestigious Cuban academies while playing popular music in his fathers orchestra by night. He was discovered by his future mentor and producer, the legendary Quincy Jones, while performing at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival. Percussionist 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...

read more

The stories of Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez may seem similar: both started life in Havana and emigrated to the U.S. where they melded the music of their homeland with a wide variety of influences, each in his own deeply personal way. But pianist Rodriguez studied classical piano at two prestigious Cuban academies while playing popular music in his fathers orchestra by night. He was discovered by his future mentor and producer, the legendary Quincy Jones, while performing at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival. Percussionist 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. Arriving in the U.S. in 1998, he appeared in the documentary film, Calle 54; cofounded the Latin fusion group Yerba Buena, with which he toured extensively and recorded several successful albums; and performed and/or recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Sting, Paul Simon, and Angelique Kidjo, just to name a few. Duologue (Mack Avenue Records, 2019) found the pair exploring a range of moods and influences, from Cuban classics to collaborative original compositions; their second release was recorded Live At Jazz Standard, and were delighted to welcome back two masters of the music, Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez! Alfredo Rodriguez pianoPedrito Martinez percussion

show less