Cuban Musician Pedrito Martínez Merges Cuban and Flamenco Rumba on New Album, Rumba De La Isla

Album Features Songs Once Interpreted By Camarón de la Isla

Sony Masterworks in partnership with Calle 54 Records will release Cuban musician Pedrito Martínez’s new album Rumba de la Isla on March 12th, 2013. Featuring songs once interpreted by Camarón de la Isla, the legendary flamenco icon, Rumba de la Isla is produced by Fernando Trueba and Nat Chediak. The album celebrates the convergence of both the Cuban and Flamenco rumbas. The great rumbero Pedrito Martínez manages to integrate, in his own personal way, classic songs by Camarón de la Isla in a unique tribute to the greatest flamenco artist of all times.

Alongside Pedrito Martínez (vocals, conga drums, chekeré, cowbell and harmonies), Rumba de la Isla features many important musicians, “essential figures of Cuban music and flamenco.” On the Spanish side, collaborators include Niño Josele, playing the guitar and Piraña (the cajon flamenco) and John Benítez, a double bass and bass player from New York. Adding to the list are Alfredo de la Fé ~ the legendary violin player born in La Habana and currently residing in New York, and Román Díaz (cajón, batás, spoon and vocals). Xiomara Laugart and Abraham Rodriguez are contribute to the harmonizing vocals.

From the daring first track, “Que a mí me vió de nacer,” to the last, “Homenaje a Camarón”(written by Pedrito Martínez and Román Díaz), Rumba de la Isla boasts originality and moves away from well-trodden musical paths while providing a creative marriage of Cuban and flamenco music. The record does not include any trite “rumbita-con-son” tracks; instead, it has a percussion basis which ~ along with delightful guitar and violin arrangements ~ enriches the songs musically and dives directly into the essence of Cuban music.

Pedrito Martínez was born in La Habana in 1973, but has lived in New York since 2000. He has recorded and toured with Paquito D’Rivera, Brian Lynch, Steve Turre, Me’shell Ndege’Ocello, Eddie Palmieri, Bill Summers and Los Hombres Calientes, Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill, Stefon Harris, Bebo Valdés, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Lovano, Isaac Delgado, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Edie Brickell, Eliane Elias, and Sting. He also took part in the film Calle 54, directed by Fernando Trueba in 2000. Pedrito Martínez has received six Grammy® nominations, winning for Simpático, on which he collaborated with Eddie Palmieri and Bryan Lynch. Martínez was also a member of Yerba Buena, a band he recorded and toured with worldwide, accompanying artists like Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.

Tracklisting

1 Que a mí me vió de nacer

2 Yo vivo enamorao

3 Dos estrellas relucientes

4 Sólo vivo pa’ quererte

5 Volando voy

6 Quiero quitarme esa pena

7 No naqueres na’ de mí

8 Gitana te quiero

9 Homenaje a Camarón

Sony Masterworks comprises the Masterworks, Masterworks Broadway, OKeh, Portrait, RCA Red Seal and Sony Classical imprints. For email updates and information, please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com.