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Since his arrival in New York City at the tail-end of '90s, Cuban immigrant Dafnis Prieto has enjoyed a reputation for being a flexible and broad-minded drummer, percussionist, composer, and arranger who can handle post-bop and Latin jazz as well as the occasional avant-garde gig. Prieto brings a long list of influences to his playing, and they range from Art Blakey and Elvin Jones to Latin greats such as Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria and Tito Puente. Blakey, it should be noted, has not only influenced Prieto's playing but also, his bandleading/arranging outlook. Some of Prieto's arrangements show a definite awareness of Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and Prieto has also been influenced by the bandleading and arranging of pianist Eddie Palmieri (who is a huge name in both salsa/Afro-Cuban music and Latin jazz).Born in 1974, Prieto grew up in Santa Clara, Cuba -- a small town about 150 miles from Havana. Prieto studied both guitar and percussion as a pre-teen, and after leaving Santa Clara,...