Eddie Palmieri, a veteran of New York's Latin music scene and leader of the intergenerational Afro-Cuban sound, died Wednesday at the age of 88, his son confirmed.

Known as one of the finest pianists of the last 50 years, Palmieri was an innovative bandleader, arranger, and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. He founded the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive.

His playing masterfully fused the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the soul, funk, and complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner.

The American pianist, conductor, musician, and composer of Corsican and Puerto Rican descent was the first Latin artist to receive a Grammy Award, and in 1988, the Smithsonian National Museum of History recorded two of his performance

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