Review: Pedrito Martinez Group & Quantic – 2012 Heineken TransAtlantic Festival

Afro-Latin beats, from Cuba to Colombia, dominated the second night of the 2012 Heineken TransAtlantic Festival, presented by the Rhythm Foundation. Taking the stage April 14 at the North Shore Bandshell on Miami Beach were the Pedrito Martinez Group and opening band Quantic.

Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez is a former member of the Grammy-nominated Latin fusion band Yerba Buena. Here, he leads a tight quartet in Afro-Cuban styles. The beats are explosive, and the melodies are smooth.

Martinez has incredibly fast hands, and shows he’s an expert not only in his musical talent but in his showmanship. Strutting across the stage with a mohawk, tattoos, sagging jeans and chains, Martinez definitely gives off a fun, bad-boy vibe.

But you soon realize how incredibly generous he is as a performer and a collaborator. It’s the Pedrito Martinez Group, but it’s not just the Pedrito Martinez show. All members of the band had their time to shine, taking over central percussions and lead vocals on a number of songs. It was a complete partnership. Keyboardist and singer Ariacne Trujillo impressed the crowd with her solos, while percussionist Jhair Sala showed that he could keep up with Martinez’s performance.

By the end of the night, the crowd was up on their feet, clapping, dancing and singing along. It was an all-out party.

The night began with Quantic, the pseudonym for Will Holland, a UK-born and Colombia-based DJ, producer, and musician. Holland, who dabbles in various musical projects and styles, was joined on stage by a few members of his larger band, Combo Barbaro, and Afro-Colombian folklore singer Nidia Gongora Bonilla. Armed with a laptop and later an accordion, Holland seamlessly blended the organic and the electronic, the modern with the traditional, mixing Afro-Latin percussions with downtempo, reggae, and cumbia.

The music was intriguing on its own, but lead singer Gongora made it truly come alive. With her distinctive voice, relaxed demeanor, and white, ruffled dress (which was later unraveled by an audience member), Gongora was the star of the show.

The crowd was timid at first, but by the end, Quantic had them shouting “Otra! Otra! Otra!,” requesting an encore in Spanish. Not bad for an opening band.

Spotted: This guy.