Pianist Alfredo Rodríguez and percussionist/vocalist Pedrito Martinez pay homage to their Cuban roots with fiery Latin infusions. From sacred Santería rhythms to a rumba rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the duo dazzles with their rhythmic explorations.
Rodríguez, a protégé of Quincy Jones, studied classical piano at the prestigious Conservatorio Amadeo Roldán and Instituto Superior de Arte. Martinez honed his craft on the streets of Havana, learning the deeply rooted percussion and vocal style of Afro-Cuban folkloric and religious music.
If such a thing as “musical soulmates” exists, this is it. Rodríguez and Martinez are sublimely in sync, their virtuosic talents melding together intricate rhythms and deep grooves with explosive results.