The Pedrito Martinez Group

A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez is the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups. Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with, Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D’Rivera, Bruce Springsteen, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, and Sting, and has contributed to over 75 albums.

Mr. Martinez’s career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation in NYC of the The Pedrito Martinez Group. He has recorded four solo albums, the first one of which was nominated for a Grammy® in 2013 and was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums for 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of the same year. 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-90’s.