You Just Can't Peg Pedrito Martinez And Rubén Blades

Society puts us into these little squares and expects us to stay there, to make the world easier to understand. But life isn't like that, is it? We can be complex, unexpected and even counter-intuitive. The most creative among us? Even more so.

For the past four albums, Cuban percussionist and vocalist Pedrito Martinez has mined the funkiest of street rumba, jazz and timba. For Acertijos, he collaborates with Puerto Rican salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cuban music legend Issac Delgado and guitarist Eric Clapton.

You may know Rubén Blades as an actor and prolific salsa singer-songwriter, but his new album, Salswing!, reveals that he is also a big band crooner, emulating the styles of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and even Fred Astaire.

Listen as we talk cultura, new tunes and what it means to step out comfort zones.

Pedrito Martinez, "Aumba"

Pedrito Martinez (feat. Eric Clapton), "My Father's Eyes"

Pedrito Martinez (feat. Gilberto Santa Rosa), "Inhóspito Mundo"

Pedrito Martinez (feat. Issac Delgado), "Ciudadano"

Rubén Blades, "Paula C"

Rubén Blades, "Pennies from Heaven"

Rubén Blades, "Canto Niche"

Rubén Blades, "The Way You Look Tonight"