By Brenda Hillegas<\/p>\n
When Alfredo Rodr\u00edguez and Pedrito Mart\u00ednez<\/a> take the stage together, the result is not just a performance but a musical dialogue\u2014one shaped by Havana street rhythms, classical conservatory training, and the restless evolution of modern jazz.<\/p>\n On Jan. 22, as part of Ensemble Arts Philly\u2019s 2025\u201326 Jazz Series<\/a>, the Grammy-nominated Cuban artists will bring that conversation to Philadelphia<\/a> for a rare, one-night-only performance at the Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n “What Alfredo Rodr\u00edguez and Pedrito Mart\u00ednez create together is more than music; it\u2019s a conversation between worlds,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “When they meet, you hear the past, present, and future of jazz all at once.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The duo\u2019s collaboration began in 2012, when Mart\u00ednez joined Rodr\u00edguez on ‘The Invasion Parade.’ Opportunities for them to perform together have been rare, making each appearance a sought-after event. Their creative partnership deepened with ‘Duologue,’ a critically acclaimed album produced by Quincy Jones that firmly established Rodr\u00edguez and Mart\u00ednez as one of contemporary jazz\u2019s most compelling pairings.<\/p>\n “What makes this duo completely different is that I came from the folkloric side and Alfredo\u00a0 came from the classical side,” said Mart\u00ednez. “You put those things together and you come out with an extraordinary and different sound.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Rodr\u00edguez, a trained classical pianist, was discovered by his mentor Quincy Jones at the\u00a0 Montreux Jazz Festival. He trained in Havana’s classical conservatories and shaped his artistry as much by Bach and Stravinsky as by Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz. <\/p>\n Mart\u00ednez honed his craft on the streets of the Cayo Queso neighborhood of Old Havana, learning deeply in the rooted percussion and vocal styles of Afro-Cuban folkloric and religious music. Over the years, he has collaborated with icons such as Sting, Paul Simon, and Wynton Marsalis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n