Dafnis Prieto

/ OneBeat 2012
Master Artist

Drummer

New York City, United States

Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques have had a powerful impact on the international Latin and jazz music scenes. After obtaining a thorough classical education at Cuba’s best music schools and moving to the US in 1999, Prieto quickly became a sought-after drummer by many prominent bandleaders such as Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, and Michel Camilo. As a composer, he has created music for dance, film, chamber ensembles, and most notably for his own bands, featured on six albums on his Dafnison Music label, including the most recent Proverb Trio.  A 2011 MacArthur Fellow and multiple Grammy nominee, Dafnis Prieto has also received new works commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America, Jazz at Lincoln Center, East Carolina University, and Meet the Composer. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes and workshops and, since 2005, been a member of the NYU Music Faculty. Dafnis Prieto joined OneBeat 2012 during our residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, FL.