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Concert on the Lawn
Pedrito Martinez
Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center
Friday July 1, 2022 at 8:00pm
Adults / $55
Children / $25
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Friday July 1, 2022 at 8:00pm
You’ll find it hard to resist dancing to the Grammy-nominated Pedrito Martinez and his cutting-edge band! As one of the most in-demand percussionists, Martinez’s unique and irresistible mix of Afro-Latin music fused with jazz and funk will leave you jumping with joy.
Please bring your own seating for this concert, as it takes place on our grassy Friends Field. You can even bring or purchase a picnic dinner!
Artists
Pedrito Martinez, percussion and vocals
Sebastian Nata, bass and vocals
Isaac Delgado Jr, keyboards and vocals
Manuel Marquez, percussion and vocals
Xito Lovell, trombone and vocals
“Groundbreaking … [Pedrito] is at the top of his game. His fierce combination of deep Afro-Cuban folklore fused with the jazz, hip-hop, and funk elements have molded him into a unique talent with international appeal.”
– Univision
About the Artist
Pedro “Pedrito” Martinez began his music career at a young age in Cuba, playing in the rumba and Afro-Cuban Yoruba traditions. Since settling in New York City in 1998, he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Paquito D’Rivera, James Taylor, and Sting, among others. He was a founding member of the highly successful Afro-Cuban/Afro-beat band, Yerba Buena, and has performed with dozens of Cuban rumba groups, contributed to over 75 albums, and appeared in several films.
His career as a band leader began with The Pedrito Martinez Group in 2005. Their first studio album, self-titled, was nominated for a Grammy Award and chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of 2013. Habana Dreams, their second album, was released in 2016 and included guest artists Ruben Blades, Isaac Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, and Angélique Kidjo.
In 2019, Martinez and Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez released Duologue to critical acclaim. That same year, Martinez and Eric Clapton recorded a newly arranged version of Clapton’s song, My Father’s Eyes, for Martinez’s new album, Acertijos (Riddles), released in early 2021. The album — featuring original compositions and special guests Gilberto Santa Rosa, Eric Clapton, and Issac Delgado — was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Tropical Album of 2021.
In 2020, Martinez’s projects included Play On for CBS TV with Jon Batiste, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala, Saratoga Jazz Festival, and NEA Awards at SF Jazz. He was also named Jazz Percussionist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2021, he recorded two singles and performed with Cuban superstar Camila Cabello.
Martinez uses LP Percussion, A. Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, DW drums, Remo drumheads, and Earthworks audio mics.
To learn more about Pedrito Martinez, please visit his website.
To learn more about our Health & Safety policies, please click here.
