Dafnis Prieto at FlynnSpace

By TOM HUNTINGTON Arts Correspondent – Published: October 23, 2009

One of the major highlights of the 2006 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, standout drummer Dafnis Prieto returns to FlynnSpace on Thursday in support of his excellent new CD, “Live at Jazz Standard NYC.”

Joining Prieto in his sextet are saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum, saxophonist Felipe Lamoglia, trumpeter Ralph Alessi, bassist Yunior Terry and pianist Manuel Valera.

Born in Cuba, Prieto, 35, moved to New York City in the late 1990s at the age of 25, making a name for himself on the strength of his dexterous drumming and compelling compositions that draw upon everything from Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz to classical and hard bop.

Called “easily the most impressive young drummer to come on the jazz scene during the past decade” by All About Jazz, Prieto has been “an essential fixture on New York’s Latin jazz scene” who “has gradually been establishing his reputation as a composer,” according to The New York Times.

After forming his own five-piece in the early 2000s, Prieto released his debut CD, “About the Monks,” in 2005 to widespread acclaim. A follow-up, “Absolute Quintet” – also the name of his diverse five-piece group that wowed the FlynnSpace crowd in 2006 — was released the following year. “Taking the Soul for a Walk,” released last year, was Prieto’s first on his own record label.

“Prieto is a virtuoso behind a trap set but it’s his creative writing and unselfish leadership that sets him apart from his peers,” said All About Jazz.

“An elaborate hybrid of Afro-Cuban rhythms and sophisticated jazz harmonies, Prieto’s compositions are complex, multi-layered affairs that surpass conventional notions of Latin jazz without sacrificing accessibility.”