PEDRO MARTÍNEZ PROJECT WITH ILEANA SANTAMARÍA
"CHANGÓ CELEBRATION"

SOB'S NEW YORK CITY DECEMBER 3, 2007

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY TOM EHRLICH ©2007

PEDRO MARTÍNEZ PROJECT WAS:

PEDRO MARTÍNEZ - Leader, vocals, dance, percussion

MAURICIO HERRERA- drum set, congas

AXEL TOCA LAUGART - keyboards

PANAGIOTIS ANDREOU - bass

RON BLAKE - sax

MICHAEL RODRÍGUEZ - trumpet

ILEANA SANTAMARÍA - vocals and dance

Pedro Martínez

The Pedro Martínez Project performed at SOB's in New York City in what was billed as a Changó Celebration. The music was an exciting combination of rumba, timba and yoruban and other afro-cuban chants/rhythms. For most of the two sets timba type music predominated, keeping the dance floor full. Pedro Martínez, one of the best young percussionists in the world, is a first call percussionist and afro-cuban singer for many dance and jazz projects, as well as being a major member of the New York City group, Yerba Buena. Pedro did perform a few rumba type numbers on congas with Mauricio Herrera also on congas. Mauricio is a former member of Paulito's band as well as Pachito Alonso's. He is a dynamic, butt kicking drummer on the drum set as well as on the congas. Ileana Santamaría, the youngest daughter of the legendary Mongo Santamaría, shared vocals and dance duties with Pedro. She combines a good voice and dance skills with a great stage personality. The horn section included two heavy duty jazz players, Ron Blake on sax and Michael Rodríguez on trumpet. Both of these players have their own groups and recordings as well as playing on many other jazz projects. All in all this was a great band with an exciting sound, with strong performances by all. The only suggestion I would have is more horn parts would have improved the arrangements. My appologies for not including a photo of bass player Panagiotis Andreou.

In-between sets, the Afro-Peruvian group Kambalache Negro performed, including two different Afro-Peruvian dance groups. Their percussion based music was also exciting and they kept the crowd engaged during their performance.

After Pedro Martínez's second set, Pedro and two other drummers broke out the batás and performed an authentic Changó ceremony which included dancer Félix (Pupy) Insua, who performed with the famous group Yoruba Andabo in Cuba.

The crowd got more than their money's worth with this show, with a great variety of Afro-Caribbean music presented by producer Pagán and SOB's.

Check out Ileana Santamaría's group Timba/Son/Rumba with Pedro Martínez at SOB's in NYC on 12/16/2007 for a San Lázaro Celebration for some more exciting afro-cuban dance music.

Ileana Santamaría and Pedro Martínez

Mauricio Herrera - drum set and congas

Axel Toca Laugart - keyboards

Ron Blake, sax and Michael Rodriguez, trumpet

Ileana Santamaría vocals and dance

Ileana Santamaría and Pedro Martínez

Mauricio Herrera

Ileana Santamaría and Pedro Martínez

Pedro Martínez

Ileana Santamaría and Pedro Martínez

Ileana Santamaría and Pedro Martínez

Drummer with Kambalache Negro (Afro-Peruvian Group)

Jhair Salas with Kambalache Negro

Afro Peruvian Dancers with Kambalache Negro

Afro Peruvian Dancers with Kambalache Negro

Ileana Santamaría and Pedro Martínez

Ileana Santamaría

Pedro Martínez

Román Díaz, Pedro Martínez and Mauricio Herrera

Ileana Santamaría

Pedro Martínez and Ileana Santamaría

Pedro Martínez and Mauricio Herrera

Pedro Martínez and Ileana Santamaría

Pedro Martínez, Ileana Santamaría and Román Díaz

Pedro Martínez on batá during Changó ceremony

Felix (Pupy) Insua - dancer during Changó ceremony