Ilusión Óptica [MP3 Download] PRE-ORDER

“Ilusion Optica” is an album targeting an excessive amount of stimulation to whoever is willing to navigate deeply into beautiful melodies, lyrics, rhythms; where our brain and eyes are trying to speak the same language but the interpretation gets mixed up. For this reason, I consider this record a representation of different perspectives, cultures, visions and sounds from all over the world - Where you have an absolute freedom to dance and feel it, the way you want.  It means renovation, transformation, acceptance, unity, understanding, vision  and execution.

This record is about opening your mind to many different ideas and ways to compose, arrange, and mix, and let your intuition interpret what you feel. From my personal experience, it is about opening your musical skills to navigate in any kind of direction to being able to achieve your goals. 

My wife Maria, my daughter Ziona, and my family in general are my source of  inspiration. But, also the diversity of cultures, sounds and genres of music that I had the opportunity to absorb in  New York, in New Orleans, and specially in Cuba where the Afro-Cuban music and other genres are constantly renovating their sounds. All of this has influenced significantly the way I am composing, arranging, playing, singing, dancing and gives me endless motivation to try to open new chapters of creativity and authenticity for the next generation. 

Ilusion Optica sounds like a very tasteful gourmet food from a 5-star restaurant. In the middle of the desert, or the jungle and even in the middle of the ocean, where you just close your eyes and listen to all the sounds, the flavors, the combinations of colors, harmonies, melodies, dynamics and textures. It is a combination of different genres of music that build your adrenaline and take you to an unforgettable journey.” - Pedrito Martínez

About Pedrito Martínez:

“Pedrito is a genius…working with him has been a revelation to me.” - Wynton Marsalis

“The Pedrito Martinez Group is the real thing. They had the club JUMPING! It made me feel like a teenager!" - Quincy Jones

“The Pedrito Martinez Group is writing a new chapter in Cuban music history.” - NPR All Things Considered

Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, on September 12, 1973, in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Old Havana and began his musical career at the age of 11, with a foundation in the rumba and Afro-Cuban Yoruba traditions.

Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdez, Bruce Springsteen, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jackson Browne, Elton John, James Taylor, and Sting, contributing to well over 100 albums.

A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum, he is also the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups and contributing to, or appearing in, several important films, including Calle 54 (2000) and Chico and Rita (2010).

Pedrito 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 in the mid-to-late 90s.

His career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation of The Pedrito Martinez Group in NYC. The group’s first, self-titled, studio album, released in October 2013, was nominated for a Grammy and was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of 2013.

Habana Dreams, their second album, recorded largely in Cuba, was released on June 10, 2016. Guests included Ruben Blades, Isaac Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, and Angelique Kidjo.

In February of 2019, Pedrito and Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez released a duo album called Duologue to critical acclaim, which was selected by NPR for a First Listen. Quincy Jones was the Executive Producer.

In July 2019, Pedrito and Eric Clapton recorded a newly arranged version of Clapton’s song, "My Father’s Eyes," for Pedrito's album Acertijos (Riddles), released in early 2021. On September 22 of that year, Pedrito and Clapton performed the song together at Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas.

On March 12, 2020, at the Beacon Theater in NYC, Pedrito had the honor of performing as a special guest with Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band for the benefit concert Love Rocks NYC.

Since then, Pedrito has continued to make waves in the Latin jazz world. His album Acertijos earned him a Latin GRAMMY® nomination and has surpassed one million streams on Spotify alone. His NPR Tiny Desk performance has also reached over one million views on YouTube, cementing his legacy in the genre.

Pedrito has also collaborated with legendary actor Bill Murray and, in 2024, performed at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors alongside Chucho Valdez, Trombone Shorty, CimaFunk, and more. His unparalleled musicianship and electrifying stage presence continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

Looking ahead, Pedrito will be releasing a new album, Ilusión Óptica, in the summer of 2025, with singles dropping in the spring. Fans can expect his signature blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz innovation, and dynamic collaborations.

Pedrito Martinez proudly endorses LP Percussion, A. Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, DW drums, Remo drumheads, and Earthworks audio mics.