Dafnis Prieto

Dafnis Prieto 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.

2007 Grammy nomination, Grammy Award for Best [Latin Jazz Album|Best Latin Jazz Album], Dafnis Prieto Absolute Quintet
2007 Latin Grammy nomination, Best New Artist
2011 MacArthur Fellow
2018 Latin Grammy nomination, Best Latin Jazz Album, Back to the Sunset
2018 Grammy Award, Best Latin Jazz Album, Back to the Sunset
2021 Grammy nomination, Best Latin Jazz Album, ''Transparency''

With Caribbean Jazz Project

With others

Recorded by others

2001: "B. Smooth" recorded by John Benítez Trio, Descarga in New York
2002: "El Guarachero Intrigozo " and "Masacoteando " recorded by Caribbean Jazz Project, The Gathering
2003: "Against the Law" recorded by Caribbean Jazz Project, Birds of a Feather
2008: "Echo-dimensions" recorded by Meridian Arts Ensemble, Timbrando
2008: "Song for Chico" recorded by Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Song for Chico
2008: "The Guiros Talk" and "Claveteando" recorded by Ethos Percussion Group, Building
2008: "Vida Sin Miel" recorded by Arturo O'Farrill & Claudia Acuña, In These Shoes
2009: "Trail of Memories" recorded by Jon Nelson, Fable
2015: "The Triumphant Journey" recorded by Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Cuba: The Conversation Continues

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