New Cuban Masters: Kali Rodriguez-Peña Jazz Quintet with Guest Artist Pedrito Martinez
About Kali Rodriguez-Peña
“In the previous Havana JoJazz festival-competition, I heard the sound of his trumpet for the first time. It was wonderful to listen to the quality of his music and to see that he was so young” – Havana Times
Trumpet player and composer Kali Rodriguez-Peña was born in Havana, Cuba and resides in New York City. He has played with renowned Cuban and international musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Arturo O’Farrill, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdés, Anat Cohen, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Miguel Zenón, Bobby Sanabria, Cándido Camero, Bobby Carcasses, among others. Kali arranged and produced his own album, Gente de Colores, in 2011.
In New York City, Kali has played in venues like Birdland, Symphony Space, Rainbow Room, Zinc Bar, Subrosa, ShapeShifter Lab, and more. A graduate of the prestigious Amadeo Roldan Conservatory in Cuba, Kali is currently studying at Manhattan School of Music, where he was awarded a full scholarship for jazz performance.
Kali’s style blends traditional Cuban sounds with influences from Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Wayne Shorter. Listen to the sounds of Kali Rodriguez-Peña Jazz Quintetbelow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibYGD0Sv7e0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax3x2sp8Gm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LXlzzenboc
Follow Kali Rodriguez-Peña on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kalirodiriguez
About Pedrito Martinez
“Pedrito is a genius…working with him has been a revelation to me.” – Wynton Marsalis Sept, 2014
Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba. He began his musical career at the age of 11, performing as a vocalist and percussionist with such Cuban legends as Tata Guines and Yoruba Andabo. Since his settlement in New York City, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D’Rivera, Bruce Springsteen and Sting and has contributed to well over 75 albums.
A master of Afro-Cuban folk music and the batá drum, Pedrito is also the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of groups and contributing to or appearing in several important films, including Calle 54 (2000) and Chico and Rita (2010).
Pedrito’s career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation of the The Pedrito Martinez Group. The Pedrito Martinez Group’s Grammy-nominated first studio album was released in 2013 and features special guests Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield and Steve Gadd. The album was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of 2013.
For more information about Pedrito Martinez, visit www.pedritomartinezmusic.com