Dafnis Prieto

From Cuba, Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the music landscape, nationally and internationally. His various awards and honors include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, a GRAMMY Award for Back to the Sunset (2018), two additional GRAMMY nominations, and two Latin GRAMMY nominations (including Best New Artist in 2007).

Prieto's compositions are featured on his ten distinctive recordings as a leader: About the Monks, Absolute Quintet, Taking the Soul for a Walk, Si o Si Quartet: Live at Jazz Standard NYC, Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio, Triangles and Circles, Back to the Sunset, Transparency, Cantar, and 3 Sides of the Coin.

Prieto is on the faculty of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where he directs the esteemed Frost Latin Jazz Orchestra. Prieto is the author of three groundbreaking books, including A World of Rhythmic Possibilities (2016), Rhythmic Synchronicity (2020), and What Are The Odds (2025).

GRAMMYs® FYC | Dafnis Prieto '3 Sides of the Coin'

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet 'Funky Humanoid' LIVE at Festival Internacional JazzUV, Xalapa, Mexico

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet 'Alba' LIVE at Festival Internacional JazzUV, Xalapa, Mexico

'WHAT ARE THE ODDS: A Journey on Latin Rhythms and Meters', A New Book by Dafnis Prieto

Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio ft. Jason Lindner, Kokayi & Dafnis Prieto | 'Vamos a Jugar'

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet | 'Two Sides of the Coin', from the album, '3 Sides of the Coin'

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet 'Conga Ingenua' LIVE at Festival Internacional JazzUV, Xalapa, Mexico

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet | 'Caprichos Cubanos', from the album, '3 Sides of the Coin'

Drum Solo on 'Caprichos Cubanos' from the Album '3 SIDES OF THE COIN'. Dafnis Prieto Si o Si Quartet

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet: Making '3 Sides of the Coin'

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet | 'Conga Ingenua', from the album, '3 Sides of the Coin'

Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio ft. Jason Lindner, Kokayi & Dafnis Prieto | 'You and Me'

Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio ft. Jason Lindner, Kokayi & Dafnis Prieto | 'Dirty Us'

Dafnis Prieto Sextet | 'The Evil in You', from the album, 'Triangles and Circles'

Dafnis Prieto Sextet | 'Flores', from the album, 'Triangles and Circles'

Dafnis Prieto Sextet | 'Back and Forth', from the album, 'Triangles and Circles'

Dafnis Prieto | 'Unknown Man', from the album, 'CANTAR'

Dafnis Prieto | 'Humanidad', from the 'CANTAR' sessions

Dafnis Prieto feat. Luciana Souza | 'Amanecer Contigo', from the 'CANTAR' sessions

Amazing Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio

To Max Roach, Max in Clave, Dafnis Prieto

Dafnis Prieto feat. Luciana Souza | 'Vida Sin Miel', from the 'CANTAR' sessions

Montuno Drum Solo at Alteisa Drum Fest

Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio, with Kokayi and Jason Lindner

Amazing Rhythmic Vocalization with the Clave, by Dafnis Prieto. Subscribe to Dafnis Channel NOW.