CCMusic.com

• Track Listing

Though he has overcome many obstacles and achieved much in the pursuit of his musical career, trumpeter Pete Rodriguez regularly feels that he needs to dodge others' assumptions about him and truly introduce himself... and as emphatically as possible. Rodriguez's new recording, I'm Pete Rodriguez, Volume 1, is a bold declaration of intention and identity, not only musically but personally. The son of a legendary salsero, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, the younger Rodriguez grew up surrounded by music. When Rodriguez was 18 years old, he joined the Army, a time that challenged him physically and wounded him mentally. After his discharge, Rodriguez attended Rutgers University to study music under the guidance of legends like Larry Ridley, Ted Dunbar, and Kenny Barron. Rodriguez led a productive life as a professional musician in New York City before the birth of his daughter, which led Rodriguez to consider a life outside of the City and a teaching position at Texas State University led him to his home in Austin, Texas. He has been based there for the past 12 years. Struggling to get out from behind his father's shadow and the confusion of listeners to his perceived relation to other talented trumpeters with the same last name (there isn't a family relation) led to Rodriguez's efforts to solidify his musical identity, an identity that has always been challenged by mentors and peers but that Rodriguez finds strength and positivity in. Rodriguez is a composer who enjoys the process of composing, many of his pieces requiring much from their performers. The pieces are inspired by and exorcise the challenges that Rodriguez has faced in the most soulful and artful of ways. On I'm Pete Rodriguez, the trumpeter presents a brand new quartet. Longtime friend and collaborator Rudy Royston wasn't available for Rodriguez's project but suggested his young son, Koleby Royston. The younger Royston proved to be a perfect fit with a professionalism and dedication beyond his youth. Rodriguez met bassist Raul Reyes in Dallas. The University of North Texas grad impressed with a fabulous command on his instrument and a winning personality. Reyes relocated to New York and introduced Rodriguez to pianist Esteban Castro, who had just graduated from Julliard, and the tremendous woodwind player Jon Beshay. Rodriguez convened the quartet at Brooklyn's Bunker Studios on May 31 and June 1, 2024 to record a large collection of original material that coalesced into two albums worth of material, the first of which being presented here on I'm Pete Rodriguez, Volume 1. The music and attitude that Pete Rodriguez presents is bombastic, personifying the trumpeter perfectly. I'm Pete Rodriguez, Volume 1 presents a player and composer who knows who he is and demands that the world take note.