RICHARD BONA WITH A. RODRIGUEZ & P. MARTINEZ

Richard Bona and Alfredo Rodriguez first became aware of one another’s talent through their shared mentor, Quincy Jones. After years of friendship, the duo went into the studio to work on Rodriguez’s album Tocororo, produced by Quincy Jones, where they released two songs together – “Raíces” (Roots) and “Ay, Mamá Inés” – that showcase how their unique musical backgrounds can cohesively come together to produce inspiring sounds. They are now adding to their diverse duo, Cuban percussionist and vocalist, Pedrito Martinez.

After meeting Quincy Jones at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2006, Alfredo Rodriguez left Cuba behind to emigrate to the United States to pursue his dream. Alfredo was schooled in the rigorous classical conservatories of Havana. His riveting artistry is informed as much by Bach and Stravinsky as it is by his Afro-Cuban and jazz roots. Over the past decade, Alfredo grew from a young local Cuban artist to a globally recognized GRAMMY-nominee.

Hailing from a small town in Cameroon, Richard Bona became fascinated with the great American bassist, Jaco Pastorius, at a very early age. Pastorius inspired him to pick up the instrument, and years later, Richard would eventually become one of the most highly-acclaimed bass players in the world. In 2007, his fourth-studio album Tiki was nominated for “Best Contemporary World Music Album” at the 49th Grammy Awards. He has dedicated his 30+ year career to promoting peace, happiness, and unity through his music, and is currently fulfilling his mission of touring every country in the world.

Pedrito Martinez’ musical training, as percussionist and singer, came directly from the streets of Cayo Hueso, the Havana neighborhood where he was raised. Since moving to NYC in 1998, Pedrito has taken the percussion and jazz world by storm, and has subsequently played or recorded with artists like Sting, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and Wynton Marsalis, and has also led his own group.