
Trumpeter, vocalist, and percussionist Pete Rodríguez carries the bloodline of Nuyorican salsa and takes the tradition of Afro-Caribbean jazz to new places. The son of renowned salsero Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez and godson of Fania Records bandleader Johnny Pacheco, Rodríguez cut his teeth, backing some of the great names in Latin music. He became his father’s musical director at the age of nineteen.
Coached by pianist Oscar Hernandez, the former director for “El Conde” and Ruben Blades, Rodríguez played trumpet, sang coro (chorus), played maracas, and gave cues to the band. As a vocalist, he sang on Tito Puente’s Grammy-award-winning Mambo Birdland. As an instrumentalist, he’s appeared with legends, including Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Chico O’Farrill, and Bebo Valdez. Now, as a bandleader, Rodríguez is drawing on these experiences and taking his unique brand of Afro-Caribbean jazz in exciting new directions.
Rodríguez’s music comes from a deeply personal place, reflecting on his connections to his father and heritage and other unexpected influences. Rodríguez lived through the birth of Hip Hop during his early childhood in the Bronx, New York. As a sharp contrast, after moving to Puerto Rico, he focused on classical music, performing trumpet with the Symphony of Puerto Rico at age 15. While in the United States Army, he discovered his love for jazz and made it the focus of his professional and educational pursuits after leaving the military. The diversity of these life experiences can be heard both in Rodríguez’s compositions and playing style.
While pursuing his musical career, Rodríguez has also always made time to prioritize education. He holds bachelor’s and master of music degrees in jazz from Rutgers University. Also, he obtained his doctorate of musical arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 2007.
