Dafnis Prieto (born July 31, 1974) is a Cuban-American drummer, composer, bandleader, and educator.
Career
In his home town of
Santa Clara, Cuba, Prieto studied percussion and guitar. During his teens, he moved to Havana to study at the National School of Music. He concentrated on classical music and Afro-Cuban music before paying more attention to jazz. In 1999, when he was twenty-five, Prieto moved to New York City, where he worked with
Eddie Palmieri,
Carlos Barbosa-Lima,
Arturo O'Farrill,
Dave Samuels, and
Michel Camilo, among many others.
Prieto has conducted master classes, clinics, and workshops. From 2005 to 2015, he was a member of the music faculty at
New York University. Since 2015, he has taught at the
Frost School of Music at the
University of Miami in Miami, Florida.
Awards and honors
2007 Grammy nomination,
Best Latin Jazz Album, Dafnis Prieto Absolute Quintet (Zoho Music)
John Zorn, Voices in the Wilderness (Tzadik, 2003)
Recorded by others
2001: "B. Smooth" recorded by John Benítez Trio, Descarga in New York (Khaeon)
2002: "El Guarachero Intrigozo (The Scheming Party Animal)" and "Masacoteando (In the Groove)" recorded by Caribbean Jazz Project, The Gathering (Concord Picante)
2003: "Against the Law" recorded by Caribbean Jazz Project, Birds of a Feather (Concord Picante)
2008: "Echo-dimensions" recorded by
Meridian Arts Ensemble, Timbrando (Channel Classics)
2008: "Song for Chico" recorded by Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Song for Chico (Zoho)
2008: "The Guiros Talk" and "Claveteando" recorded by Ethos Percussion Group, Building (Bribie )
2008: "Vida Sin Miel" recorded by Arturo O'Farrill & Claudia Acuña, In These Shoes (Zoho)
2009: "Trail of Memories" recorded by Jon Nelson, Fable (8bells)
2015: "The Triumphant Journey" recorded by Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Cuba: The Conversation Continues (Motéma)