Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martínez was born in Havana, Cuba. Here, he grew up in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, where rumba is played all day long. Then he began his musical career at age eleven, with a foundation in the rumba and Afro Cuban Yoruba traditions. Since settling in New York in 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, and Paquito D’Rivera. He has also worked with Bruce Springsteen, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, and Sting. Moreover, he has contributed to over seventy-five albums.

Pedrito Martinez

Dakota

Summer’s biggest party is back—now with a new partner! Since 1979, the two-day jazz festival has been a summer staple for adventurous listeners and fun-loving music fans in Los Angeles. In our first season with the Blue Note Jazz Club, you can go far out with jazz heroes like Lakecia Benjamin (whose Coltrane album you have to hear) or Joe Lovano’s excellent improv group the Paramount Quartet. NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater teams up with Grammy-winning pianist Bill Charlap, brass band royalty The Soul Rebels bring a little of that NOLA second-line spirit, and trumpeter Keyon Harrold shows why he was chosen to play Miles Davis’ parts in the Don Cheadle film Miles Ahead.

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Blue Note Jazz Festival

Hollywood Bowl

Spoleto Festival USA’s Jazz Curator Larry Blumenfeld speaks with artists from the 2024 Wells Fargo Jazz Series at the Emmett Robinson Theatre. These discussions are free (tickets required).

Jazz Talks

Charleston County Public Library

 The Riviera Theater

Two generations of brilliant Cuban musicians come together when Arturo Sandoval(Opens in a new window) and Pedrito Martinez(Opens in a new window) share a double bill at the Berklee Performance Center! Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is an undisputed legend. A protégé of Dizzy Gillespie, who helped him defect from Cuba, he helped redefine the sound of Cuban jazz as a founding member of Irakere. Percussionist Pedrito Martinez, born in Havana, grew up surrounded by rumba music, and became a specialist in rumba and Afro-Cuban percussion, bringing his folkloric music to partnerships with musicians from around the world.

Arturo Sandoval and Pedrito Martinez

Berklee College of Music

Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martínez was born in Havana, Cuba in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, where rumba is played all day long.  He began his musical career at eleven years old, with a foundation in the rumba and Afro-Cuban Yoruba traditions.

Pedrito Martínez Group

South Orange Performing Arts Center

Join us for an unforgettable evening of rhythmic delight and inspiration with the incomparable Pedrito Martinez at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This event, taking place on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 8:00 pm, promises to be a showcase of traditional Afro-Cuban music that will leave you mesmerized.

Pedrito Martinez, a superstar of Afro-Cuban music, has been praised by The New York Times for his unparalleled performances. Born in Havana, Cuba, in the vibrant neighborhood of Cayo Hueso, Martinez began his musical journey at the tender age of 11, deeply rooted in the rumba and Afro-Cuban Yoruba traditions. Since moving to New York City in 1998, he has collaborated with music legends such as Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, and Bruce Springsteen, contributing to over 75 albums. A master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum, Martinez is celebrated as the world's premier rumbero, captivating audiences with his playing, singing, and dancing.

Ticket prices for this Mahaiwe Member & Youth Discount Event range from $33 for Reserved seating to $58 for Premium seating, with special discounts available for Mahaiwe members and youth under 30. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the extraordinary talent of Pedrito Martinez in the intimate setting of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230.

Prepare to be transported by the powerful rhythms and soulful melodies of one of traditional Afro-Cuban music's brightest stars. Secure your tickets now for an evening that promises to be a highlight of the cultural calendar.

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, born into a prominent Cuban musical family, trained in classical conservatories, while percussionist Pedrito Martinez honed his deeply rooted Afro-Cuban folkloric percussion and vocal techniques on the streets of Old Havana.

Pedrito Martínez

Events

Upcoming events

Jan 24, 2026

Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez · Celebrity Series of Boston

Past events

Jun 24, 2025

Pedrito Martinez · Dakota

14 - 15 Jun, 2025

Blue Note Jazz Festival · Hollywood Bowl

About

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