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David Sanchez

Latin Grammy Award winner David Sánchez is being hailed as “the most profound young tenor saxophonist working today. In a review, world- renown jazz critic Howard Reich saluted the young bandleader saying, “Technically, tonally and creatively, he seems to have it all. His sound is never less than plush, his pitch is unerring, his rapid-fire playing is ravishing in its combination of speed, accuracy and utter evenness of tone.” Such is the acclaim and respect that Sánchez has engendered from critics, music lovers and fellow artists throughout the world as he continues to push the frontiers of mainstream jazz to incorporate a compelling and rich array of Latin and Afro-Caribbean influences, while remaining true to the tenets of the jazz genre. Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Sánchez began playing percussion and drums at age 8 before migrating to tenor saxophone four years later. While a student at the prestigious La Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan, he also took up soprano and alto saxophones as well as flute and clarinet. The bomba and plena rhythms of Puerto Rico, along with Cuban and Brazilian traditions, were among the biggest influences on Sánchez's early taste in music. Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane had the greatest impact on his playing. "I'm just talking about tenor, now. Charlie Parker is a major influence, of course, and many, many others." In 1986 Sánchez enrolled at the Universidad de Puerto Rico in Rio Pedras, but the pull of New York was irresistible. By 1988 he had auditioned for and won a music scholarship at Rutgers University in New Jersey. With such close proximity to New York City, Sánchez quickly became a member of its swirling jazz scene. He gigged with piano giant Eddie Palmieri and trumpeter Claudio Roditi who, along with master saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, brought Sánchez to the attention of Jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. In 1991, Gillespie invited the young saxophonist to join his “Live the Future” tour with Miriam Makeba. The Departure, his 1995 debut for Columbia, gained critical kudos as did the disc's successors Sketches of Dreams, and Street Scenes. Meanwhile, David had begun touring with various jazz greats such as Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes and legendary drummer Elvin Jones, recording with Barron and Haynes respectively. When he returned to the studio for his next project, the results were sterling. Produced by Branford Marsalis, Obsesión would garner the saxophonist his first Grammy nomination.

He would follow that album with the Grammy-nominated (and Latin Grammy-nominated) Melaza. In 2001, Sánchez appeared on high- profile recordings with bassist Charlie Haden (Nocturne) and trombonist Steve Turre (TNT [Trombone-N-Tenor]) before issuing another Grammy- nominated release on Columbia, Travesa, which also garnered rave reviews from jazz cognoscenti. Sánchez’ most recent recording for Columbia, Coral, earned the saxophonist his fourth Grammy nomination and won a Latin Grammy after being voted “Best Instrumental Album” of 2005 by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Coral is the most ambitious manifestation to date of his continuing expansion of the frontiers of mainstream jazz to incorporate Afro-Latin influences. In the project, recorded in Prague, Czech Republic, and placing his jazz sextet against the backdrop of the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, he explores obscure works composed by giants of the Latin American classical genre: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Alberto Ginastera and Heitor Villa-Lobos. In addition, he juxtaposes classical structure with jazz improvisation in two of his original tunes as well as in a composition by Carlos Franzetti (arranger and conductor for all tracks on the album). The expression of the jazz sensibility against the backdrop of a classical structure, the hallmark of the Coral project, has recently led David to explore other pairings of the jazz and classical traditions. Most recently, David has collaborated with the Alexander String Quartet in performances of the Focus suite, composed by Eddie Sauter and recorded by Stan Getz over forty years ago, and considered by some to be Getz’ masterpiece recording. In the two ensembles’ 2004 debut performance of the work in San Francisco, the wildly enthusiastic audience response spawned a collaboration between the two groups which continues to thrill concertgoers whenever it is experienced. Whether with Gillespie, Palmieri, Haden and his other jazz mentors, or under his own name, Sánchez has continued to tour extensively, bringing his mix of mainstream jazz with Afro-Latin influences to delighted audiences throughout the globe. In 2003 he partnered with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba for a world tour, which took the two artists to France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Russia, Germany, Portugal, Holland, Denmark, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia before Sánchez took his own band to perform at the Newport Festival at Madarao, Japan. Later that year, he led his sextet in a triumphal tour through Spain, followed by a week of performances by his quartet in Athens, Greece and Fort-de- France, Martinique. In 2004 David collaborated with Dee Dee Bridgewater on the “Latin Landscapes” world tour. And, performance highlights in 2005 included an extensive U.S. tour with Pat Metheny, as well as touring with his own jazz quartet and trio throughout the U.S., Brazil, Canada and Europe, extending up to the present. A prolific composer, David composes and arranges for a number of ensemble configurations•instrumental and with vocals—including sextet, quartet, trio and duo (saxophone and piano). In recognition of his prodigious talents, he has recently been named a 2005 grant recipient of Chamber Music America’s “New Works: Creation and Presentation Program”, in which he has been commissioned to compose and present a multi-movement work for jazz sextet. The highly selective and prestigious program is made possible through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. David has also proven to be a compelling presence with student musicians and continues to be in demand for workshops and master classes throughout the world. In recent years, his academic pursuits have included visiting professorships at the Peabody Conservatory, the Conservatory of Puerto Rico and at Indiana University’s School of Music. He has also been a featured artist for Marsalis Jams, a program of the non-profit Music Education Initiative, which takes working jazz ensembles to colleges and universities in the United States for mini-residencies to enhance capability and lend insights to student musicians and to build jazz audiences in general. During the 2005-2006 academic year, David was the Artist-in-Residence at the School of Music at Georgia State University. Sánchez strives for an "organic" approach to playing, writing, arranging, teaching and recording, and the positive results are amply demonstrated in his recordings. "When you're young, you feel you have to prove yourself. But as you develop and the years go by, you begin to let the music come to you. You don't chase something like that. I've been learning, year after year, how not to chase that muse, and to let it come to me. Sometimes it's there; sometimes it's not. Of course, you work every year to make that process more and more of a constant."

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Edward Simon: 25 Years

Read "25 Years" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
March 11, 2021

Al pubblico del jazz non piacciono molto le compilations ma questa del pianista Edward Simon è speciale. I diciassette brani del doppio CD sono stati scelti da lui--come bilancio e riflessione personale nel 25° anno della sua attività da leader--e forniscono una variopinta retrospettiva delle sue tappe musicali. «L'idea mi è venuta l'anno scorso (2019) quando ho compito 50 anni--ha detto al Columbia Daily Tribune--La raccolta è nata da uno spirito di celebrazione e dalla consapevolezza di quante cose siano ...

Album Review

Edward Simon: 25 Years

Read "25 Years" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
September 29, 2020

Pianist Edward Simon immigrated to the United States from his native Venezuela while still in his teens. He stayed, and carved out a successful career in music. His fiftieth birthday rolled around, and the artist decided it was time to take a look and listen back. In a musical journey that spans the titular 25 Years, Simon has crafted a lot of music, employing a Latin/jazz/classical approach with a seemingly effortless refinement, making sounds that are unfailingly engaging and beautiful. ...

Album Review

David Sanchez: Carib

Read "Carib" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann

by Friedrich Kunzmann
July 29, 2019

Puerto Rican Saxophonist David Sanchez belongs to the most prolific jazz musicians of the past twenty to thirty years. Not that the quality of his output suffers from the frequency of publications. Beyond his own highly praised recordings, he is recognized for his contributions to groups led by the likes of Kenny Barron, Pat Metheny and late Roy Hargrove, to name only a few. Grammy nominated for a variety of different projects and having won the Latin Grammy in the ...

Album Review

Gabriel Vicéns: Coming Back

Read "Coming Back" reviewed by Mark Sullivan

by Mark Sullivan
February 12, 2019

The rules for releasing music have been in flux for some time, and the digital single has made its way from pop music to jazz. Puerto Rican jazz guitarist/composer Gabriel Vicéns (now a New York City resident) presents an unreleased track from the recording sessions for his second album Days (Inner Circle Music, 2015). The guitarist found the rough mix of this song by accident and since he still related to the track he arranged for it to be mixed ...

Album Review

Gabriel Vicéns: Days

Read "Days" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero

by Vincenzo Roggero
April 6, 2016

Non ancora trentenne il chitarrista portoricano Gabriel Vicéns dimostra di sapersi muovere disinvoltamente nel mare magnum del modern mainstrem, con piglio autorevole nella conduzione musicale, con studiata scaltrezza nel variare mood e atmosfere, con intelligenza nell'assicurarsi i servigi di due vecchie volpi come il sassofonista David Sanchez e il trombettista Alex Sipiagin anche co-produttore del disco, pubblicato dalla etichetta discografica di Greg Osby. Il clima generale della registrazione non può non risentire della provenienza geografica del nostro, che ha tuttavia ...

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Album Review

Gabriel Vicéns: Days

by Chris Mosey
October 24, 2015

A varied mix of influences has gone into the songs on this, Gabriel Vicéns' second album. There are the the loves of the guitarist's young life, the vampires and werewolves of the horror films he enjoys and the everyday trials and tribulations of the working people of his native Puerto Rico. He says: “I wrote 'Days' as a tribute to ordinary people who need to wake up early and work hard every single day... doing the same ...

Album Review

Gabriel Vicéns: Days

by Roger Farbey
October 12, 2015

Gabriel Vicéns recorded his first album Point in Time in 2012, when the guitarist was only 23 and which featured jazz bass legend Eddie Gomez. Days, his second album was recorded in his home town of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He currently teaches guitar at a collegiate level in the Music Department of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Thanks to its tight ensemble,"El Teatro" sounds like a big band arrangement with initial solos from Alex Sipiagin on ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Sanchez

Source: Michael Ricci
September 9, 2015

All About Jazz is celebrating David Sanchez's birthday today! Latin Grammy Award winner David Sánchez is being hailed as “the most profound young tenor saxophonist working today. In a review, world- renown jazz critic Howard Reich saluted the young bandleader saying, “Technically, tonally and creatively, he seems to have it all. His sound is never less than plush, his pitch is unerring, his rapid-fire playing is ravishing in its combination of speed, accuracy and utter evenness of tone... Read more. ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Sanchez

Source:
September 3, 2010

Performance / Tour

Sounds Forged to Sharp Edges

Source: Michael Ricci
February 6, 2010

The Jazz Standard wasnt nearly full for the tenor saxophonist David Sanchez's early show on Thursday night, so it's important to get the word out that his current band--new as of two years ago--has settled into its music, swapped out a drummer and become quite great. At the moment there's no new album to illustrate or adhere to. A year and a half's worth of performances since the last one (Cultural Survival, on Concord) have chased away tentative playing. Theres ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Sanchez

Source: Michael Ricci
September 3, 2009

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Recording

Banana Republic Comp Includes Exclusive Tracks from Esperanza Spalding, Ayo, and David Snchez

Source: All About Jazz
May 14, 2009

This summer Banana Republic celebrates the inspiration of urban life with the release of City Sounds, a new digital album featuring never-before-heard tracks from the nine music artists appearing in the City Stories national ad campaign, including exclusive first tracks from OK Go and Liz Phair’s highly-anticipated new albums, as well as songs by Sara Bareilles, Ayo,Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba, Tommy Torres and more. The limited edition digital album, available as a gift-with-purchase only in Banana Republic stores starting May ...
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Music Industry

Banana Republic Celebrates the Diverse Rhythms of City Life with New Musician-Filled Campaign "City Stories"

Source: Dan Klores Communications
February 26, 2009

Nine unique music artists share their sounds and style in national Spring/Summer ads starting February 17 Banana Republic has assembled a talented, multicultural group of music artists to celebrate the richness of city life in a new spring/summer campaign called CITY STORIES, launching nationwide Feb. 17. The campaign features nine diverse musicians, including Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, alt rock/pop darling Liz Phair, and acclaimed pop/rock band OK Go. Styled by George Cortina and photographed by Tom Munro, the artists gathered ...
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Recording

David Sanchez Tenor Sax Solo on "Home Cookin'"

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
July 4, 2008

Over the past couple of decades, David Sanchez has built a reputation as a modern giant of improvisation in both straight-ahead and Latin Jazz worlds. He built his jazz chops with a number of legendary straight-ahead innovators, including Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Heath, and Elvin Jones. These experiences gave him a creative melodic sensibility and a keen ability to respond to spontaneous musical events. Sanchez spent the beginning of his musical career studying percussion, and that knowledge informs his work in ...
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159

Recording

David Sanchez "Cultural Survival" Released Next Week

Source: On Target Media Group
May 13, 2008

The new culturally inspired album from from 4-time Grammy Award winning Jazz sax master David Sanchez is now in stores.

Released next week (5.20.08) on Concord Picante, the album draws heavily on classic Jazz influences such as Miles Davis & John Coltrane, while fused with David's own distinct variety of Afro-Caribbean and Latin influences.

Cultural Survival features 8 straight ahead jazz tracks that showcase a new direction for Sanchez as he debuts a piano-less quartet on all but three of ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz is Backbone of David Snchez's African Rhythm

Source: All About Jazz
October 12, 2007

Ever since he was part of Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra, Puerto Rican saxophonist David Snchez has dedicated much effort to tracing the influences of African music on jazz. In 2000, Snchez released “Melaza (Molasses)," a meditation on the cultural legacy of African sugar-cane workers in Puerto Rico. His sister, Margarita Snchez de Len, subsequently wrote a poem of the same title, which in turn has inspired Snchez's latest work, “La Leyenda del Caaveral," premiering at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall ...
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Performance / Tour

The David Sanchez Group in Zankel Hall, October 17, 2007

Source: All About Jazz
September 6, 2007

On Wednesday, October 17 at 8:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, saxophonist/composer David Sánchez and his sextet give the New York premiere of La Leyenda del Cañaveral. This new multi-movement work—written by Mr. Sánchez and made possible by a grant from Chamber Music America—traces the migration of African people to the Caribbean through musical folklore, jazz, and the music of Tanzania and the Baca forest people of East Cameroon. This performance opens Carnegie Hall's 2007–2008 The Shape of Jazz series, which ...
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