UPTOWN NIGHTS
PEDRITO MARTINEZ
RUMBA CON FUNDAMENTO
Friday–Saturday, February 11–12, 2022, 7:30PM Harlem Stage Gatehouse Address: 150 Convent Avenue at West 135 Street, New York, NY 10031 Phone: 212.281.9240 ext. 19 | Website: www.harlemstage.org
@harlemstage
@myharlemstage
Photo Credit: Rog Walker
ABOUT THE EVENT Pedrito Martinez grew up in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Havana, Cuba. As a youth he would sit for hours, intently watching the aging “rumberos” in the park across from his house, while they played this African-derived, folkloric tradition combining percussion, song, and dance. Tonight we welcome Pedrito Martinez back to Harlem Stage, along with band members Issac Delgado, Jr., Xito Lovell, Manuel Marquez, and Sebastian Natal for what will be a spectacular celebration of the rumba tradition! Harlem Stage and Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) are proud to partner to co-present tonight’s concert. Thank you for joining us.
ARTIST STATEMENT After many years of focusing on efforts to create a new sound in Afro-Cuban music, playing a high-energy style known as timba, with a small group, something that had not been done before, I decided to create a few special shows that offer a look my folkloric roots and reflect how they remain the key to my music. Rumba, an African-derived tradition that is central to Cuban life, was the expression that first captured my attention as a young teenager, and Rumba Con Fundamento will give you an idea of what inspired me to follow the musical path I have traveled ever since.
PERFORMERS Pedrito Martinez Issac Delgado, Jr. Xito Lovell Manuel Marquez Sebastian Natal Kevin Perez Liethis Hechevarria
Percussion, Rumbero, Bandleader Keyboard Trombone Percussion Bass Dancer Dancer
BIOGRAPHIES
PEDRITO MARTINEZ
PERCUSSIONIST, RUMBERO, BANDLEADER
Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, Sept 12, 1973 and began his musical career at the age of 11, with a foundation in the rumba and Afro Cuban Yoruba traditions. Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Paquito D’Rivera, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen and Sting, and has contributed to well over 75 albums. A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum he is also the world’s first-call rumbero – playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups and contributing to, or appearing in, several important films, including Calle 54 (2000) and Chico and Rita (2010), and TV series, like Boardwalk Empire and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Pedrito was a founding member of the Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band, Yerba Buena, with which he recorded two albums and toured the world in the mid–to–late 90’s. Mr. Martinez’s career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation in NYC of the The Pedrito Martinez Group. The group’s first studio album was released October, 2013, was nominated for a GRAMMY®, and was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics’ Top Ten Albums of 2013. Habana Dreams, their second album, recorded largely in Cuba, was released on June 10, 2016. Guests include, Ruben Blades, Isaac Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, Angelique Kidjo. In February of 2019, Pedrito and Cuban pianist, Alfredo Rodriguez, released a duo album called Duologue to critical acclaim and which was selected by NPR for a First Listen. Quincy Jones was Executive Producer. In July 2019 Pedrito and Eric Clapton recorded a newly arranged version of Clapton’s song, My Father’s Eyes, for a new Pedrito Martinez album, called Acertijos (Riddles), which was released in early 2021. Throughout 2020, Pedrito was involved in streamed projects including Play On for CBS TV with Jon Batiste, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala, Saratoga Jazz Festival, NEA Awards at SF Jazz. He has also been once again awarded Jazz Percussionist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2021, Pedrito recorded two singles for and performed with Cuban superstar, Camila Cabello. His newest album, Acertijos (Riddles), featuring primarily 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.
BIOGRAPHIES ISSAC DELGADO, JR. KEYBOARD
Issac Delgado Jr was born in 1984 in Havana, Cuba to a family of music lovers. His father, world renowned singer Issac Delgado, introduced him to Latin music, classical music, and piano at an early age. Issac Jr, studied at the National School of Art in Cuba (ENA), graduated in 2003, and was immediately invited to start teaching piano. The following year he toured for the first time as the pianist for the Issac Delgado Orchestra. He has since toured in festivals across the world and has shared the stage with dozens of acclaimed artists. Issac has studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston also attended Berklee Valencia in its inaugural year and performed regularly at jazz venues in Boston with his own band LATIMBOP. In February of 2018 he joined acclaimed Cuban percussionist, Pedrito Martinez, as a full-time member of his group.
XITO LOVELL TROMBONIST
Born in Colón, Panama, Jose Antonio Lovell Montenegro (born October 7, 1993), better known as Xito Lovell is a trombonist, composer, arranger, performer, and singer based in New York City. At the age of seven, he began his music tutelage. In 2010, he enrolled in Conservatorio Nacional de Musica de Panamá, later graduating in 2012. Subsequently, he enrolled in Universidad Nacional de Panama, pursuing a trombone-performance major. Over the past few years, Lovell has participated in several events and festivals such as Panama Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz festival, American Folk Festival, Glastonbury Festival (England), Afro-Latino Festival (NYC), Atlas Golden Fest (Panama), Carmen from Havana and Back (Off-Broadway), among many others. In 2013, the trombonist received a full scholarship to study at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston, MA. In 2018,he graduated from Berklee with a Bachelor of Music Performance, specializing in Trombone. Also, in 2020 Lovell has won a Presidential Scholarship to study a Master In Music with a focus in Jazz Performance at the prestigious New Jersey City University, where he actually is attending his last semester. Throughout his career, the Panamaniannative has had the opportunity to share stages and collaborate with several world-renowned artists: Ruben Blades, Residente, Camila Cabello, Jon Batiste, Arturo O’Farril & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Pedro Capo, Tony Succar, Omar Alfanno, Luisito Quintero, Roberto Quintero, Carlos Garnett, Vitin Paz, Tia Fuller, Terence Blanchard, Pedrito Martinez, John Benitez, Orquesta Guayacán, Tony Vega; Not to mention, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ruben Rodriguez, George Garzone, Pedro Carrero, Charlie Cardona, Toto la Momposina, Liz Wright, Angel Lopez, Andy Montanez, Tito Nieves, Los Adolecentes, Camila Fernandez, Javier Limón, Ruben Rodriguez, Leo Genovese, Louie Vega, Mike Ciró, Sean Jones, Xiomara Laugart, and other notables.dness rarely matched between two musicians in any genre.
BIOGRAPHIES MANUEL MARQUEZ PERCUSSIONIST
Manuel “Manny” Marquez is a talented percussionist with a swiftly growing career in New York City. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Manny began his musical training at four years of age and is known for his virtuosity and musicality and his complete command of instruments including, timbal, tumbadora (congas), bongos, drum kit, and traditional Venezuelan instruments. Manny’s mastery of various genres and reputation for creativity and precision has allowed him to work with world renowned artists including, Pedrito Martinez, Jon Faddis, Ruben Blades, Camila Cabello, Eric Clapton, Kenny Garrett, David Sanchez, Miguel Zenon, and Gilberto Santa Rosa. Manny currently plays alongside Pedrito Martinez, one of the world’s most influential percussionists, with a connectedness rarely matched between two musicians in any genre.
SEBASTIAN NATAL BASSIST
Sebastian Natal is a Uruguayan born, multi-genre, multi-instrumentalist, seasoned performer, and music producer. He is proficient in piano, bass, percussion, trumpet, trombone and vocals, across a range of genres including salsa, samba, tango, Afro-Peruvian music, Cuban timba, Latin Jazz, candombe, Argentine Folklore and son. Sebastian’s range of talents have landed him many opportunities all over the world, touring with and playing alongside a range of artists including, Eric Clapton and Camila Cabello, in Argentina, Europe, Uruguay, Asia, Latin America and North America. He has also produced albums with Grammy®-Award winning producer, Willy Torres, and currently enjoys a position as bassist with Pedrito Martinez, whose Havana Dreams album was Grammy®-nominated for the Best Latin Jazz Album in 2014, and his 2021 album, Acertijos-on which Sebastian contributes bass and vocals-was nominated by the Latin Grammys® for Best Contemporary Tropical Album of 2021.
BIOGRAPHIES LIETHIS HECHEVARRIA DANCER
Liethis Hechavarria, an exceptional and innovative dancer, instructor, and choreographer, was born and raised in Santiago de Cuba until the age of 13, then moved with her family to New York City. Hechavarria began her dance training at the age of four. She has been the first dancer, assistant director, and administration for 15+ years for the only Afro-Cuban established company in NYC, Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble. She is teaching and dancing at locally, nationally, and internationally reknowned venues and events such as Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Williams College in Massachusetts, Tulane University in New Orleans, Brown University in Rhode Island, The Salsa Congress in New York, El Festival del Caribe, Dance Africa, Chase Latino Cultural Festival, Heritage Sundayat the Lincoln Center Out Doors, The 60th anniversary of Ballet Folklorico Cutumba, La Mama, Annex Stage, Music Festival, Los Angeles Center Outdoor Dance Festival, Minnesota’s International Children’s Festival, Houston International Dance Festival, PBS’s Bare Feet, Corazon de America, and ABC News. Ms Hechavarria is a young Afro-Cuban entrepreneur who gives back to her community and the beautiful world she lives in through the power of dance, holistic, and storytelling. She advocates for humanity’s wellbeing through dance and wellness. She looks forward to the exciting future and to more growth in the performing arts, and life!
KEVIN PEREZ DANCER
Dancer, choreographer and educator, Kevin Perez, graduated from the National School of Dance in Havana, Cuba, studying modern-contemporary and Cuban folklore. Currently, Perez is the Artistic Director of the Los Cubanitos Cuba Project and former first dancer of the Cucalambe Folkloric Ballet.
OUR SUPPORTERS
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council. Harlem Stage’s Programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
ABOUT HARLEM STAGE Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas. For nearly 40 years our singular mission has been to perpetuate and celebrate the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. We provide opportunity, commissioning, and support for artists of color, make performances easily accessible to all audiences, and introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts. We fulfill our mission through commissioning, incubating, and presenting innovative and vital work that responds to the historical and contemporary conditions that shape our lives and the communities we serve.
Board of Directors Courtney F. Lee-Mitchell, President Jamie Cannon, Vice President Michael Young, Secretary Mark Thomas, Treasurer Stefany Bergson Angela Glover Blackwell Jamila Ponton Bragg
JoAnn K. Chase Patricia Cruz Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes Trevor Gale Jenette Kahn LaChanze Sapp-Gooding Tamara Tunie
Administration Staff Patricia Cruz, Artistic Director & CEO MANAGEMENT Eric Oberstein, Managing Director DEVELOPMENT Shamar Hill, Director of Development Shanté Skyers, Associate Director of Development Julia Marrero, Development Associate PROGRAMMING Carl Hancock Rux, Associate Artistic Director/Curator-in-Residence Yunie Mojica, Programming Manager MARKETING Deirdre May, Senior Director of Digital Content and Marketing Andre Padayhag, Marketing Manager and Graphic Designer BOX OFFICE Daniel Im, Box Office Manager PRODUCTION Amanda K. Ringger, Director of Production David Barrett, Deck Crew Clarence Taylor, Lighting Operator Orlando Alvarado, Audio Engineer Julio Collado, Audio Crew OPERATIONS Rodney Bissessar, Director of Operations Lamont Askins, Operations Assistant Acey Anderson Sr., Maintenance
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