David Sánchez (musician)
Encyclopedia
David Sanchez is a well known, 2005 Grammy winning jazz tenor saxophonist from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
born in September 1968.
and danza
but also European and Latin classical. At 12 Sanchez attended La Escuela Libre de Musica which emphasized formal musical studies and classical European styles and two years later, 1982, was much taken with a Miles Davis
album, Basic Miles, featuring John Coltrane
as well as Lady in Satin
, a 1958 album by Billie Holiday
with strings, arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis
. Sanchez considered a college career in psychology but auditioned at Berklee and Rutgers University
. Sanchez chose Rutgers because he got a better scholarship and was near New York which was Sanchez' goal. While at Rutgers, Sanchez studied with Kenny Barron
, Ted Dunbar
, and John Purcell
.
with many top Latin players (including Paquito D'Rivera
and Claudio Roditi
), Sanchez joined Dizzy Gillespie's United Nation Orchestra in 1990 and Dizzy became Sanchez' mentor. Dizzy's group toured 27 countries, and 100 U.S. cities in 31 states, and also saw other notable musicians (Flora Purim
for example, another Grammy Award nominee). After the United Nation Orchestra Sanchez continued to play with Dizzy until Dizzy died in 1993, mainly in Dizzy's Trio with Mike Longo
. Since then he has toured with the Philip Morris SuperBand, recorded with Slide Hampton
and his Jazz Masters, Charlie Sepulveda, Roy Hargrove, Kenny Drew, Jr.
, Ryan Kisor
, Danilo Perez
, Rachel Z
, and Hilton Ruiz
, and headed his own sessions for Columbia Records
.
and this partly delayed his music released. But Sanchez was able to put together a very international situation for his real followup after 9-11. In 2005 Sanchez won the Grammy award
for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for his 2004 Coral which was two years in the making. Recorded in The Czech Republic
with The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Coral features a sextet: alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón
, pianist Edsel Gomez, bassists John Benitez and Ben Street
, drummer Adam Cruz
, and percussionist Pernell Saturnino
.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
born in September 1968.
Early life
Sanchez took up the conga when he was eight and started playing tenor saxophone at age 12. The earliest influences were Afro-CaribbeanAfro-Caribbean music
Afro-Caribbean music is a broad term for music styles originated in the Caribbean area, most notably music of Cuba, music of Puerto Rico, music of Haiti, music of Jamaica, music of The Bahamas, music of Belize, music of the Dominican Republic, music of Trinidad and Tobago, music of Venezuela, music...
and danza
Danza
Danza is a musical genre that originated in Ponce, a city in southern Puerto Rico. It is a popular turn-of-the-twentieth-century ballroom dance genre slightly similar to the waltz. Both the danza and its cousin the contradanza are sequence dances, performed to a pattern, usually of squares, to...
but also European and Latin classical. At 12 Sanchez attended La Escuela Libre de Musica which emphasized formal musical studies and classical European styles and two years later, 1982, was much taken with a Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
album, Basic Miles, featuring John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
as well as Lady in Satin
Lady in Satin
Lady in Satin is an album by jazz singer Billie Holiday released in 1958 on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 1157 in mono and CS 8048 in stereo. It is the next to final album completed by the singer and released in her lifetime...
, a 1958 album by Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
with strings, arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis
Ray Ellis
Ray Ellis was an American record producer, arranger and conductor. The orchestration for Billie Holiday's Lady in Satin is probably his best known work in the jazz vein.-Biography:...
. Sanchez considered a college career in psychology but auditioned at Berklee and Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. Sanchez chose Rutgers because he got a better scholarship and was near New York which was Sanchez' goal. While at Rutgers, Sanchez studied with Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...
, Ted Dunbar
Ted Dunbar
Ted Dunbar was a jazz guitarist, composer, and educator. He published four volumes on jazz. He trained as a pharmacist at Texas Southern University, but by the 1970s only did pharmacy work part-time. He was also a trained numerologist and had studied other aspects of mysticism...
, and John Purcell
John Purcell
John Purcell VC was an Irish soldier in the British Army who received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
.
Career Takes off
After a period freelancing in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with many top Latin players (including Paquito D'Rivera
Paquito D'Rivera
Paquito D'Rivera is a Cuban alto saxophonist, clarinetist and soprano saxophonist. The winner of multiple Grammys and other awards, D'Rivera has lived in the United States since the early 1980s. He has worked in a variety of contexts, but is perhaps best known for playing Latin...
and Claudio Roditi
Claudio Roditi
Claudio Roditi is a Brazilian jazz trumpeter.After arriving in the United States in 1970, he began to study at Berklee School of Music, where he became musically influenced by Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan...
), Sanchez joined Dizzy Gillespie's United Nation Orchestra in 1990 and Dizzy became Sanchez' mentor. Dizzy's group toured 27 countries, and 100 U.S. cities in 31 states, and also saw other notable musicians (Flora Purim
Flora Purim
Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Chick Corea's landmark album Return to Forever...
for example, another Grammy Award nominee). After the United Nation Orchestra Sanchez continued to play with Dizzy until Dizzy died in 1993, mainly in Dizzy's Trio with Mike Longo
Mike Longo
Michael Josef "Mike" Longo is a jazz pianist, composer, and author. He is most known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie.-Early life:...
. Since then he has toured with the Philip Morris SuperBand, recorded with Slide Hampton
Slide Hampton
Locksley Wellington "Slide" Hampton is an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.He was a 1998 Grammy Award winner for "Best Jazz Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist", as arranger for "Cotton Tail" performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater...
and his Jazz Masters, Charlie Sepulveda, Roy Hargrove, Kenny Drew, Jr.
Kenny Drew, Jr.
Kenny Drew, Jr. , son of jazz pianist Kenny Drew, is an American jazz pianist. His music is known for its hard-swinging bluesy sound and large, two-handed rooty chords contrasting with fast runs. His style is said to be similar to that of his father and Oscar Peterson.His initial study was in...
, Ryan Kisor
Ryan Kisor
Ryan Kisor is an American jazz trumpeter.A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Kisor learned trumpet from his father Larry Kisor and started playing in a local dance band at age ten. Kisor began classical trumpet lessons at age 12, met Clark Terry when he was 15 , and played with all-star high school bands...
, Danilo Perez
Danilo Pérez
Danilo Pérez is a Panamanian pianist and composer.-Early life:Danilo Pérez was born in Panama in 1965. He is considered one of the finest contemporary pianists and jazz composers of our era....
, Rachel Z
Rachel Z
Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo better known as Rachel Z, is a jazz pianist. She attended the Berklee College of Music Summer School and Manhattan School of Music pre-college, where she launched the quintet, Nardis, whilst studying with Joanne Brackeen and Richie Beirach in NYC. Later Rachel Z graduated...
, and Hilton Ruiz
Hilton Ruiz
Hilton Ruiz was a Puerto Rican American jazz pianist in the Afro-Cuban jazz mold, but was also a talented bebop player....
, and headed his own sessions for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Lead Musician
Since joining Columbia Records, Sanchez has released seven albums/CDs. Sanchez was much affected by 9-11 and the devastation of New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and this partly delayed his music released. But Sanchez was able to put together a very international situation for his real followup after 9-11. In 2005 Sanchez won the Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for his 2004 Coral which was two years in the making. Recorded in The Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
with The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Coral features a sextet: alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón
Miguel Zenon
Miguel Zenón is an alto saxophonist, composer and bandleader.-Biography:Miguel Zenón was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. While studying at the Escuela Libre de Musica in San Juan, he won a scholarship to the “Berklee in Puerto Rico” program of the Berklee College of Music and a scholarship to...
, pianist Edsel Gomez, bassists John Benitez and Ben Street
Ben Street
Ben Street is a New York-area jazz double bassist. He has played with many great jazz artists, notably Kurt Rosenwinkel on the album Next Step, Ben Monder on the album Dust and Sam Rivers on the album Violet Violets...
, drummer Adam Cruz
Adam Cruz
Adam Cruz is an American jazz drummer . He is best known for his work with pianist Danilo Perez, saxophonist Steve Wilson, David Sanchez, and pianist Edward Simon...
, and percussionist Pernell Saturnino
Pernell Saturnino
Pernell Saturnino is a Grammy-award winner percussionist from the Caribbean island of Curaçao. He is continuing a musical legacy established by his distinguished family in the island. His grandmother, granduncle and grandaunt, were among those who originated and developed the island's indigenous...
.
As leader
- 'The Departure' (1994)
- 'Sketches of Dreams' (1994)
- 'I Miss you John' (1995) Mike LongoMike LongoMichael Josef "Mike" Longo is a jazz pianist, composer, and author. He is most known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie.-Early life:...
tribute album to Dizzy GillespieDizzy GillespieJohn Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
with Cecil BridgewaterCecil Bridgewater-Biography:Bridgewater was born in Urbana, Illinois and studied at the University of Illinois. He and brother Ron formed the Bridgewater Brothers Band in 1969, and in the 1970s he was married to Dee Dee Bridgewater. In 1970 he played with Horace Silver, and following this with Thad Jones and Mel...
, Frank WessFrank WessFrank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:...
, and James MoodyJames Moody (saxophonist)James Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player. He was best known for his hit "Moody's Mood for Love," an improvisation based on "I'm in the Mood for Love"; in performance, he often improvised vocals for the tune.-Biography:James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia... - 'Street Scenes' (1996)
- 'Obsession' (1998)
- 'Melaza'(2000)
- 'Travesia' (2002)
- Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning 'Coral' (2004) - 'Cultural Survival' (2008)
As sideman
- La IndiaLa IndiaLa India , known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" , is a singer of salsa. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.-Early years:...
, Llegó la India Via Eddie Palmieri (1992) - Jonny KingJonny KingJonny King is an American jazz pianist.Raised in New York City, King graduated from Princeton and Harvard Law School and has been an attorney at a copyright practice....
, Meltdown (1997, Enja RecordsEnja RecordsEnja Records is a German jazz record label based in Munich, Germany. It was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971....
) - Antonio SánchezAntonio SanchezAntonio Sanchez may refer to:* Tony Sanchez, Texas businessman and former gubernatorial candidate* Tony Sanchez , baseball player* Antonio Sánchez , also known as "El Gangster"...
, Migration (2007)
External links
- Artist profile at Concord Records
- Biography at Management Agency
- David Sanchez and His Universe - Interview Published: March 1, 2004, By R.J. DeLuke, All About Jazz.com
- "In Conversation with David Sánchez" by Ted Panken (Jazz.com)