The Pedrito Martinez Group & Watussi - Keystone Festival Bar

Shake your cha chas because Pedrito Martinez is one of the world's best congueros! With his Peruvian, Venezuelan and Cuban bandmates he brings Sydney a one-night-only Afro-Cuban party. Watussi's rocking roots bass lines and blustering horn section will have you howling for more.

Since arriving in the United States at the end of the 1990s, the Cuban percussionist Pedro Martinez has been all over the place, putting rumba and guaguancó into the weave of all kinds of groups. But when his drums, singing and writing are the focus – as is the case in his new band– he’s an incomparable performer. - Ben Ratliff, New York Times June 25, 2010

The Pedrito Martinez Group has its roots planted firmly in the Afro-Cuban Rumba tradition and in the bata rhythms and vocal chants of the music of Yoruba and Santeria. Ben Ratliff summed it up aptly for the New York Times (June 15, 2010) calling it, “complex, blenderized Africa-to-the-New-World funk.”

With a home base gig in Midtown Manhattan the group has built a fan base that includes Steve Gadd, Ravi Coltrane, Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton, John Scofield, Roger Waters, Derek Trucks, Herlin Riley, and Will Lee. The band members include percussionist, Jhair Sala, from Lima, Peru; electric bassist, Alvaro Benavides, from Caracas, Venezuela; and keyboard player/vocalist, Araicne Trujillo, from Havana, Cuba.

Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, Sept 12, 1973. Pedrito began his musical career at the age of 11, performing as vocalist and percussionist playing with such Cuban legends as Tata Guines, Munequitos de Matanzas. He was brought to Canada in 1998, by Jane Bunnett, to tour with her group, Spirits of Havana.

Since settling in New York City in 2000, Pedrito has performed, recorded, and/or toured with Paquito D’Rivera; Brian Lynch; Steve Turre; Me’shell Ndege’Ocello; Eddie Palmieri; Bill Summers and Los Hombres Calientes; Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill; Stefon Harris; Bebo Valdés; Cassandra Wilson; Joe Lovano, and Sting, (for his rainforest benefit, with Elton John and Bruce Springsteen) and featured in the documentary film on Cuban music, Calle 54.

Watussi’s 2008 ARIA-nominated debut album ‘Tequila, Sangre y Fuego’ was hailed a work of genius. It earned them a series of accolades and found its way into the hands of Brian Eno, who handpicked the band to perform at the Sydney Opera House in 2009 as part of his curation for the inaugural Vivid LIVE festival.

Watussi’s new album, El Olvido (The Oblivion) was released on the 16th September 2011 through MGM, accompanied by a full East Coast tour. If you didn’t shake your cha chas to the reggae cumbia stylings of Cuando Sera in June, then this January  is your chance to yell “Olé” back at the most handsome eight-piece on the east coast of Oz.

Watussi can now justifiably be regarded as the No 1 Latin band in the land – Tony Hillier – The Australian , November 5, 2011

Live visuals by Slinky & Snudis.

Late Night At The Bar: Tribalismo
Tribalismo perform live Latin Tribal House, featuring a wall of drums, big vocals, and a barrage of movement and dance, "think Cuba & Africa with a deep-house backbeat." The collective's super energetic monthly residencies at Argyle and Burdekin have earned them a devoted following. Tribalismo features Merenia Gillies, Vincent Sebastian, Cyndi Tan and Djs Dante Rivera, Nestor Martinez, Kate Monroe. 
Free from 11.30pm 

Playing Times
Tribalismo DJs from 8pm
8.30pm -9.30 Watussi
9.50pm-11pm The Pedrito Martinez Group
11pm-11.20pm Late Night at the Bar: Tribalismo (live)