Eddie Palmieri

Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.

Palmieri’s parents emigrated from Ponce, Puerto Rico to New York City in 1926. Born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Palmieri learned to play the piano at an early age, and at 13, he joined his uncle’s orchestra, playing timbales.

Palmieri’s professional career as a pianist took off with various bands in the early 1950s including Eddie Forrester, Johnny Segui’s, and the popular Tito Rodriguez Orchestra. In 1961, Palmieri formed his own band, La Perfecta, which featured an unconventional front line of trombones rather than the trumpets customary in Latin orchestras. This created an innovative sound that mixed American jazz into Afro-Caribbean rhythms, surprising critics and fans alike. Palmieri disbanded La Perfecta in 1968 to pursue different musical endeavors, though he would return to the band’s music in the 2000s.

Palmieri perfected his arranging skills in the 1970’s releasing several impressive recordings that reflected his unorthodox approach to music. His unconventional style would once again surprise critics and fans with the 1970 release entitled “Harlem River Drive.” This recording was the first to merge what were categorized as “Black” and “Latin” music into a free-form sound that encompassed elements of salsa, funk, soul and jazz. In 1975, Palmieri won the first-ever Grammy for Best Latin Recording for The Sun of Latin Music (he’s won ten Grammys altogether to date), including two for his influential recording with Tito Puente, Obra Maestra/Masterpiece.

Recognizing Palmieri as an American icon, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, recorded two of Palmieri’s performances for its archives in 1988. Because of Palmieri’s proclivity for creating music in funk Latin style, Little Louie Vega invited him to record on Nuyorican Soul (1997), a release that became very popular in the house and underground music scenes.

In addition to the Grammys, Palmieri has received numerous honors: Eubie Blake Award (1991); Most Exciting Latin Performance, presented by the BBC in London (2002); Yale University’s Chubb Fellowship, usually reserved for international heads of state, but given to Palmieri in recognition of his work building communities through music (2002); Harlem Renaissance Award (2005); Jay McShann Lifetime Achievement Award (2008), induction into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame (2008). A year later, the Library of Congress added Palmieri’s composition “Azucar Pa’ Ti” to the National Recording Registry, which at the time only included 300 compositions documenting the history of all of recorded music history in the U.S. With his widely popular eight-and-a-half minute “Azucar Pa’ Ti” Palmieri changed the format of the recording industry, breaking the three-and-a-half minute barrier imposed by the recording industry.

In 2012, Palmieri continued to innovate, celebrating 75 years with new music included in the original score for a documentary co-directed by Bobbito Garcia called “Doin it in the Park” that explores the cultural influence of playground basketball on sports and music.

Palmieri’s music recorded for the documentary was released as a soundtrack in November of 2013. This was Eddie’s first time recording his own new music since winning back-to-back Grammys in 2005 and 2006. The songs featured in the documentary are part of Eddie’s next full-length album, Sabiduria, which will be released in 2017. Sabiduria is a fusion of Jazz, funk and Latin fused with Afro-world rhythms.

In 2013, Eddie Palmieri was awarded the coveted Jazz Master award by the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). The NEA Jazz Master award is the highest honor an American Jazz artist can receive. For more about the NEA recognition, please visit: http://www.nea.gov/honors/jazz/index.html.

In 2013, Palmieri was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. For more information: http://www.latingrammy.com/en/news/2013-latin-recording-academy-special-awards.

In 2015, Palmieri released a new Big Band version of his classic composition, Vámonos P’al Monte, along with the first ever studio recording of another popular Palmieri original, Pa’ La Ocha Tambo.

In 2016/17, Palmieri also recorded a Big Band album, entitled Mi Luz Mayor, which features Carlos Santana and Gilberto Santa Rosa.

In the Spring of 2017, Palmieri released Sabiduria/Wisdom, rolling out his new music in successive volumes.

Palmieri followed up the release of Sabiduria/Wisdom in 2018 by releasing "Full Circle" as a salsa album and the world's first interactive Salsa app. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/8466435/eddie-palmieri-releases-new-album-full-circle-with-interactive-salsa.

In late 2018, Grammy nominated “Mi Luz Mayor” was released featuring Carlos Santana, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Herman Olivera.

Eddie Palmieri celebrated his 85th Birthday on December 15, 2022 and continues an active touring and recording schedule.

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October Blue Note 50th's, Eddie Palmieri and More

by Marc Cohn
October 18, 2019

Blue Note 50th anniversary salutes from October 1969 by guitarist Grant Green, Reuben Wilson, Lee Morgan, Duke Pearson with Airto and Bobby Hutcherson with voices. We also feature tracks from La Perfecta II by Eddie Palmieri, who performed in Baton Rouge earlier this week. Along the way: vocalist Aimee Allen, Eddie Harris (from his first date with legendary guitarist Joe Diorio), Thelonious Monk solo and a groove out the door with Chicago's Soul Message Band. Enjoy the show!

Album Review

Eddie Palmieri: Sabiduria/Wisdom

Read "Sabiduria/Wisdom" reviewed by James Nadal

by James Nadal
April 21, 2017

In celebration of his eightieth birthday, and sixty years as a professional musician, pianist Eddie Palmieri presents Sabiduria/Wisdom, a prodigious testament to his avowed spirit of investigation, and amazing zest for life. Throughout his illustrious recording career, Palmieri has expanded upon the complexities of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, combining them with the serious elements in the melodic and harmonic structures of jazz, to come up with what he refers to as dance music. With his renowned trademark percussive attack on the piano, ...

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Album Review

The Brian Lynch / Eddie Palmieri Project: Simpatico

by Russ Musto
February 2, 2007

Brian Lynch is one of the most proficient “bilingual" artists in music--equally adept in both jazz and Latin genres. On this superb collaboration with piano giant Eddie Palmieri, the virtuoso trumpeter brings together his wealth of experience in both fields in a scintillating synthesis that is intelligent, exciting and truly personal. Lynch's understanding of Palmieri's unique brand of salsa con jazz sensibility is accurately described by the date's title, and the music here is the product of a truly sympathetic ...

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Album Review

Brian Lynch / Eddie Palmieri Project: Simpatico

by Chris May
November 1, 2006

In a world which seems increasingly to be defined by racial and cultural sectarianism, it's always heartening to come across an artist who chooses to express himself in a non-native context--particularly when he does so with the poise that trumpeter Brian Lynch brings to Simpatico.

The album pairs Lynch with his frequent employer, Latin music piano legend Eddie Palmieri, who plays on seven of the nine tracks and who wrote or co-wrote five of them. The music is a caliente ...

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Album Review

Brian Lynch / Eddie Palmieri Project: Simpatico

Read "Simpatico" reviewed by Norman Weinstein

by Norman Weinstein
September 23, 2006

Two decades of working as a highly accomplished trumpeter in Eddie Palmieri's Latin jazz band has culminated for Brian Lynch with this completely ravishing recording alongside his musical mentor. While the name of the group might raise the question of “who's on first?", rest assured that this is an inspired collaboration with the less-celebrated Lynch firmly at the helm. Most of the tunes are his, and the versions of Palmieri's pieces are marked by Lynch's hand. In fact, this album ...

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Album Review

Eddie Palmieri: Listen Here!

Read "Listen Here!" reviewed by Jim Santella

by Jim Santella
August 31, 2005

The big band sound of Eddie Palmieri's powerful ensemble leaves no doubt: Latin jazz has the capacity to excite, to thrill, and to interpret good music all night long.

Featured solo voices include trumpeter Bryan Lynch, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, trombonist Conrad Herwig, and pianist Palmieri. His musical guests give Listen Here! an added force that drives the message home. Your heart won't slow down until the CD has finished and someone has turned out the lights. Palmieri's ...

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Profile

Eddie Palmieri

by Elliott Simon
July 14, 2005

Thelonious Monk once said, “Jazz is New York. You can feel it in the air." This is an observation that can be easily recast to produce another truism: “Salsa is New York. You can feel it in the streets." Both musics are integral to NYC culture and come together no more eloquently than they do in the musical persona of Latin jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri. NYC born and raised, Eddie comes from a musical family and seems to have been ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today!

Eddie Palmieri, known for his charismatic power and bold pioneering drive, has a musical career that spans over 50 years as a bandleader of both Salsa and Latin Jazz orchestras. Born in Spanish Harlem in 1936, Eddie began piano studies at an early age, as did his celebrated older brother, the late Salsa legend and pianist, Charlie Palmieri. For Latin New Yorkers of Eddie’s generation, music was a vehicle out of ...
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Festival

Cleveland's Tri-C Jazz Fest Returns to Playhouse Square in 2022

Source: Michael Ricci
March 21, 2022

At jny: Cleveland's Tri-C Jazz Fest, everything new is old again. That might sound retrogressive in a culture that valorizes novelty, but the announcement that the 43rd edition of the festival will return to the historic theaters of Playhouse Square is instead a comforting, Biden-era byword after the disruptions of the past two years. The festival also returns to a three-day schedule, June 23-25, and to a booking policy that incorporates artists with appeal beyond a ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2016

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Eddie Palmieri

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2015

All About Jazz is celebrating Eddie Palmieri's birthday today! Eddie Palmieri, known for his charismatic power and bold pioneering drive, has a musical career that spans over 50 years as a bandleader of both Salsa and Latin Jazz orchestras. Born in Spanish Harlem in 1936, Eddie began piano studies at an early age, as did his celebrated older brother, the late Salsa legend and pianist, Charlie Palmieri. For Latin New Yorkers of Eddie’s generation, music was a vehicle out of ...
read more