With Duologue, their new album on Mack Avenue, pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and percussionist and vocalist Pedrito Martinez prove Thelonious Monk's postulate of “two is one.”
Both born in Havana, these two artists handily express their Afro-Cuban influences in such unlikely vehicles as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the theme from Super Mario 3. When they visited Morning Jazz this week, the duo also shared some emotionally charged vocals, which drew us in even closer to the spirited originals that make these two contemporaries smile.
Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez create much more energy than the sum of their parts, getting folks ready for a four-night run at Jazz Standard in New York. Here is some soulful footage of the duo — on vocals as well as their instruments — performing the closing track from their album, “Yo Volveré.”
Duologue, jointly produced by Quincy Jones, Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martiniez, is available now on Mack Avenue Music Group.
Videography: Sarah Kerson, Isaiah McClain, David Tallacksen
Audio Mix and Video Edit: Corey Goldberg