Story by Gregg McQueen
Photo: Henry Lopez
Grammy-nominated Latin jazz drummer and composer Dafnis Prieto is no stranger to accolades.
The Cuban-born Prieto has been lauded with critical praise since coming to the United States in 1999.
With drumming techniques that are considered revolutionary, Prieto’s impact on the Latin jazz scene has been so profound that Modern Drummer magazine compared his arrival in New York to an asteroid hitting the city.
Despite such effusive acclaim, the unassuming Prieto insists that he is simply striving to improve his skills and create music.
And he is proud to call Northern Manhattan home.
“I like the cosmopolitan aspect of it, the variety of different cultures that I see,” said Prieto.
His frequent walks in Fort Tryon Park, soaking up the Hudson River views, help fuel his musical compositions.
“Being outside helps inspire my art,” he remarked.
Prieto obtained classical education at the National School of Music in Havana, and has refined his knowledge of Afro-Cuban music, jazz and world music since then.
Read more: On the beat, en el Alto Al ritmo en el Alto | Manhattan Times News.
Related:
For Dafnis Prieto, Sunday Is a Time for Meditation, and His Sticks | NY Times
A Propulsive Force for Jazz | WSJ.com
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