Pedrito Martinez (photo Andrew Lepley)
(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – MCLA Presents!, a performance series of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), will kick off its 2012-13 season on Saturday, September 15, 2012, at 3 p.m. in the MCLA Quad with Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez and his Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat Band. Deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban Rumba tradition, Martinez and his ensemble will bring a new mix of music to campus with bata rhythms and vocal chants of the music of Yoruba and Santeria.
A native of Havana, Martinez is a conga player, singer and bandleader who tours with artists such as the Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. According to Jonathan Secor, director of special programs at MCLA, the College wanted to bring Martinez to MCLA to welcome students back to campus while, at the same time, celebrating Hispanic Heritage month with members of the greater community.
Pedrito Martinez Group (photo Petra Richterova)
“MCLA Presents! brings artists and performers from around the world to North Adams, connecting MCLA to it surrounding community via some amazingly talented musicians, actors, dancers, poets, and all those that fall in-between,” said Secor “It’s great to go to an event like this in the quad, or in the gym during the winter, like our annual Blues and Funk Festival, and see hundreds of people dancing and having a great time – students, MCLA staff and faculty and MCLA’s neighbors. Think of it as a great big ‘mixer’ for North Adams!”
Tickets to The Pedrito Martinez Group are $10 for general admission. Tickets for MCLA alumni are $8, $5 for staff and faculty, and members and students are free.
Tickets may be reserved by calling MCLA Presents! at 413.662.5204.