Pete Rodriguez- I'm Pete Rodriguez, Vol. 1

Though he has overcome many obstacles and achieved much in the pursuit of his musical career, trumpeter Pete Rodriguez regularly feels that he needs to dodge others' assumptions about him and truly introduce himself... and as emphatically as possible. Rodriguez's new recording, I'm Pete Rodriguez, Volume 1, is a bold declaration of intention and identity, not only musically but personally. The son of a legendary salsero, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, the younger Rodriguez grew up surrounded by music. When Rodriguez was 18 years old, he joined the Army, a time that challenged him physically and wounded him mentally. After his discharge, Rodriguez attended Rutgers University to study music under the guidance of legends like Larry Ridley, Ted Dunbar, and Kenny Barron. Rodriguez led a productive life as a professional musician in New York City before the birth of his daughter, which led Rodriguez to consider a life outside of the City and a teaching position at Texas State University led him