Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez is making his Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon debut this Thursday, but the rookie performer will have backup from someone very experienced in late-night television: Bill Murray.
Murray won’t be plugging a movie or TV project that night — in fact, he’s not a scheduled guest at all. He’ll be there solely to perform with Martinez, adding a dose of Murray unpredictability to the musical segment.
It’s hardly the most unusual place the Saturday Night Live alum has turned up. Over the years, Murray’s been spotted crashing strangers’ wedding photos, bartending unannounced at dive bars, anddropping in on minor league baseball games. Late-night stages are practically home turf—from his many appearances with David Letterman to a more recent visit with Ronny Chieng at The Daily Show, Murray has a knack for turning a talk show slot into a headline-making moment.
Thursday’s collaboration isn’t a one-off. Murray has been a fan of Martinez’s work for years, and their friendship has already produced several creative crossovers. In May, he joined the Pedrito Martinez Group on stage at the release party for their new album Ilusión Óptica. He even recorded a spoken-word introduction for the record and appears in the music video for its lead single, “Filosofando En Clave.”
Murray has also spent the summer touring with his own band, Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers, making Thursday’s appearance something of a musical worlds-collide moment.
Also set for Fallon’s Thursday lineup, which will double as the host’s Season 12 Tonight Show finale: Bob Odenkirk and Margaret Qualley.
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