Artist: Pedrito Martinez

Pedrito Martinez is a Cuban percussionist, drummer, singer, dancer, bandleader, songwriter, composer, and educator. He plays the Batá drum, conga, cajón, timbale, and bongo drums, among other percussion instruments. Pedrito learned his craft from the streets of Havana, Cuba, and has performed with Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo O'Farrill, Brian Lynch, and Bruce Springsteen.

He is a founding member of the band Yerba Buena. They recorded two albums. In 2003, President Alien, and in 2005 their album Island Life was No. 62 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums Chart.  

Martinez became leader of the Pedrito Martinez Group in 2005. Their first album The Pedrito Martinez Group was released in 2013, with guest artists Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, and Steve Gadd.  

He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Sting, Steve Turre, Bill Summers, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Lovano, Brian Lynch (musician), Stefon Harris, Jane Bunnett, Issac Delgado, Eliane Elias, Stefon Harris, Angélique Kidjo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Conrad Herwig , Edie Brickell, Rubén Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Esperanza Spalding, Alfredo Rodríguez, Elton John, and Los Hombres Calientes and has contributed to well over 50 albums.

Martinez is a member of the Nuevo Jazz Latino program which is a part of Jazz at Lincoln Center.