Pete Rodriguez El Alquimista/The Alchemist CD

Trumpeter, vocalist, percussionist and composer Pete Rodriguez has played with some of the best musicians in the world, including many of Latin music’s luminaries, such as Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, La India and Tito Puente, including singing on Puente’s Grammy and Latin Grammy winning album, Mambo Birdland. Pete is the son of Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, a music legend in the Latin music world who gave “Lil’ Pete” the responsibility of directing his 12-piece orchestra while also playing the trumpet and singing. While excelling in the Latin field, Pete also pursued his love for jazz and has been fortunate to have performed with such high profile bandleaders as Eddie Palmieri, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Chico O’Farril, and Carlos “Patato” Valdez, including performing on Eddie Palmieri and Brian Lynch’s Grammy-winning album, Simpatico. Pete is currently performing internationally with Eddie Palmieri as well as with both the nonet and all-star big band of the legendary Afro-Cuban jazz bandleader Bebo Valdez. Pete’s recently recorded third CD, El Alquimista/The Alchemist, has just been released. El Alquimista/The Alchemist includes all original compositions, featuring Grammy-winning saxophonist David Sanchez, as well as Luis Perdomo, Henry Cole and Ricky Rodriguez. His debut CD, Mind Trip, released in 2006, received critical acclaim, garnering the attention of, among others, jazz great Kenny Barron, who said the following about Pete’s playing and compositions on Mind Trip:“He possesses a full rich sound on both trumpet and flugelhorn and his technique is incredible…. [But] it is as a composer that his development is even more amazing. The melodies he writes are full of complex and quirky rhythms, making unusual dips and turns. … Each of the original compositions, of which there are eight, on this CD is a unique entity unto itself, full of surprises and strange twists and turns. However, one can be assured that Mr. Rodriguez does have a full grasp of the history of the jazz tradition. One need only listen to his reading of Mal Waldron’s beautiful ballad ‘Soul Eyes,’ or Herbie Hancock’s tone poem, ‘Dolphin Dance,’ to hear his respect and love for tradition. I, for one, look forward to many more musical statements from this evolving young artist.”