South Milwaukee PAC Presents The Pedrito Martinez Group
Friday, February 13, 7:30 pm
The Pedrito Martinez Group
(South Milwaukee, WI) – Jump start your heart and join us this Valentine’s weekend at SMPAC. Bring your sweetheart! Tickets for the Friday, February 13 performance are $25 to $35, with discounts for seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased online at www.southmilwaukeepac.org, by phone at (414) 766-5049, or in-person at the Box Office at 901 15th Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172. The show will start at 7:30 p.m.
The Pedrito Martinez Group’s music can be described as, “complex, blenderized Africa-to-the-New- World funk,” according to the New York Times’ Ben Ratliff. He also states, “Since arriving in the United States at the end of the 1990s, the Cuban percussionist Pedro Martinez has been all over the place, putting rumba and guaguancó into the weave of all kinds of groups. But when his drums, singing and writing are the focus- as is the case in his new band- he’s an incomparable performer.”
The group’s roots provide a merging of bata rhythms, the Afro-Cuban Rumba tradition, and vocal chants of Joruba and Santeria’s music.
“Pedrito is a genius…working with him has been a revelation to me.”
Wynton Marsalis Sept, 2014
Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, Sept 12, 1973. He began his musical career at the age of 11, performing as vocalist and percussionist with such Cuban legends as Tata Guines and Los Munequitos de Matanzas.
Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded and/or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D’Rivera, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, and Sting.
Mr. Martínez was a founding member of the highly successful, Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band, Yerba Buena, with which he recorded two albums and toured the world.
The Pedrito Martinez Group was formed in 2005 with fans that include Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Wynton Marsalis, and Quincy Jones.
The Pedrito Martinez Group’s, Grammy-nominated, self-titled, first studio album, was released, October, 2013, features special guests, Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield and Steve Gadd and was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013, NPR’s First Listen and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of 2013..”
The well-known percussionist has been on six Grammy nominated albums. His collaboration with Eddie Palmieri and Brian Lynch, called “Simpatico,” was awarded with a Grammy in 2007.
About the SMPAC
The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center (SMPAC) provides the greater Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin communities with creative, innovative and diverse performing arts. Located on the South Milwaukee 6-12 campus, it serves the students of the city of South Milwaukee and provides professional services for more than 500 shows, performances, rehearsals and other events annually.
Our 13-14 season was filled with flamenco dancers, the award-winning improvisation group Baby Wants Candy, the stunning Milwaukee Ballet II, and other fantastic performances. 2014-15 artists include Davell Crawford, the Pedrito Martinez Group and Jerome Kitzke.
Student matinees, workshops and talk-backs for all grade levels are provided by some season artists, including Robert Glasper, the Milwaukee Ballet II, Avner Eisenberg and Sybarite5. Other artists and organizations that provide performing arts experiences for students include the Florentine Opera, Danceworks, Still Waters Collective and the Missoula Children’s Theatre.
The SMPAC also opens our doors to other presenters for artists such as Lindsey Buckingham, Arlo Guthrie, Jesse Cook, Ruthie Foster, Tommy Emmanuel, John Hiatt, Ian Hunter, Joe Lovano, Cantare Chorale and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The SMPAC provides a home to the School District of South Milwaukee events and the Grant Park Players, the local community theatre.
The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is located at 901 15th Avenue in South Milwaukee between College and Rawson Avenues. It is easily accessible from I-94 and 794. Free parking is located in the northwest parking lot. Patrons should enter door #9. For tickets or directions, call 414-766-5049. For more information about the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, visit southmilwaukeepac.org. Performances are supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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