David Sánchez (born 3 September 1968 in

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Guaynabo (, ) is a Guaynabo barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality on the northeastern coastal plain of Puerto Rico. Located west of the capital San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan, east of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Bayam� ...

) is a Grammy-winning jazz tenor saxophonist from Puerto Rico.

Early life

Sanchez took up the conga when he was eight and started playing tenor saxophone at age 12. His earliest influences were

Afro-Caribbean Afro-Caribbean or African Caribbean people are Caribbean people who trace their full or partial ancestry to Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of the modern Afro-Caribbean people descend from the Indigenous peoples of Africa, Africans (primarily fr ...

and

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 danc ...

but also European and Latin classical. At the age of 12, Sanchez attended La Escuela Libre de Musica, which emphasized formal musical studies and classical European styles.David Sanchez and His Universe
Published: March 1, 2004, By R.J. DeLuke, All About Jazz.com

Discography

As leader

* ''The Departure'' (Columbia, 1994) * ''Sketches of Dreams'' (Columbia, 1995) * ''Street Scenes'' (Columbia, 1996) * ''Obsesion'' (Columbia, 1998) * ''Melaza'' (Columbia, 2000) * ''Travesia'' (Columbia, 2001) * ''Coral'' (Columbia, 2004) * ''Cultural Survival'' (Concord Picante, 2008) * '' Carib'' (Ropeadope, 2019)

As sideman

* Claudia Acuna, ''Wind from the South'' (Verve, 2000) *

Ray Barretto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...

, ''Standards Rican-ditioned'' (Zoho, 2006) *

Kenny Barron Kenneth Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist and composer who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era. Early life ...

, '' Spirit Song'' (Verve, 2000) *

Ignacio Berroa Ignacio Berroa (born July 8, 1953, in Havana, Cuba) is a jazz drummer. In 1980 Berroa left his country during the Mariel Boatlift, moved to New York and joined Dizzy Gillespie’s quartet in 1981, becoming the drummer of the band Gillespie formed ...

, ''Codes'' (Blue Note, 2006) * Jimmy Bosch, ''Salsa Dura'' (Ryko, 1999) *

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock music, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was ...

, ''Randy Pop!'' (Piloo, 2015) *

Duduka Da Fonseca Duduka Da Fonseca, born Eduardo Moreira Da Fonseca (Rio de Janeiro, March 31, 1951) is a Brazilian jazz drummer who is a founding member of Trio da Paz with Romero Lubambo and Nilson Matta. He leads the Duduka da Fonseca Trio, with David Feldman ...

, ''Samba Jazz Fantasia'' (Art Music, 2002) *

Santi Debriano Santi Wilson Debriano (born 1955 in Panama) is a jazz bassist, composer and music teacher.Barbara Dennerlein Barbara Dennerlein (born 25 September 1964 in Munich) is a German jazz organist. She has achieved critical acclaim for using the bass pedalboard on a Hammond organ and for integrating synthesizer sounds onto the instrument, and was described by ...

, ''Junkanoo'' (Verve, 1997) * Kenny Drew Jr., ''A Look Inside'' (Antilles, 1993) * Kyle Eastwood, ''From There to Here'' (Columbia, 1998) *

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...

, '' To Bird with Love'' (Telarc, 1992) * Dizzy Gillespie, '' Bird Songs: The Final Recordings'' (Telarc, 1997) * Edsel Gomez, ''Cubist Music'' (Zoho, 2006) *

Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than fifty years. Haden helped to revolutionize the harmonic concept of bass playin ...

, ''

Nocturne A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night. History The term ''nocturne'' (from French '' nocturne'' "of the night") was first applied to musical pieces in the 18th century, when it indicated an ensembl ...

'' (Verve, 2001) *

Slide Hampton Locksley Wellington Hampton (April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021) was an American jazz trombone, jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. As his nickname implies, Hampton's main instrument was slide trombone, but he also occasionally played tub ...

, ''Dedicated to Diz'' (Telarc, 1993) *

Kip Hanrahan Kip Hanrahan (born December 9, 1954) is an American jazz music impresario, record producer and percussionist. Personal life Hanrahan was born in a Puerto Rican neighborhood in the Bronx to an Irish-Jewish family. His father left when he was 6 m ...

, ''Exotica'' (American Clave, 1992) *

Roy Hargrove Roy Anthony Hargrove (October 16, 1969 – November 2, 2018) was an American jazz musician and composer whose principal instruments were the trumpet and flugelhorn. He achieved critical acclaim after winning two Grammy Awards for differing styles ...

, ''Habana'' (Verve, 1997) *

Tom Harrell Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, and arranger. Voted Trumpeter of the Year of 2018 by ''Jazz Journalists Association'', Harrell has won awards and grants throughout his career, including mul ...

, ''The Art of Rhythm'' (RCA Victor, 1998) *

Stefon Harris Stefon DeLeon Harris (born March 23, 1973) is an American jazz vibraphonist. Biography A native of Albany, New York, Harris intended to work for the New York Philharmonic until he heard the music of Charlie Parker. During the 1990s he recorded ...

, ''Ninety Miles'' (Concord Picante, 2011) *

Roy Haynes Roy Owen Haynes (March 13, 1925 – November 12, 2024) was an American jazz drummer. In the 1950s, he was given the nickname "Snap Crackle" for his distinctive snare drum sound and musical vocabulary. He is among the most recorded drummers in ja ...

, ''Praise'' (Dreyfus, 1998) * Roy Haynes, ''A Life in Time'' (Dreyfus, 2007) *

Giovanni Hidalgo Giovanni Hidalgo a.k.a. "Mañenguito" (born November 22, 1963) is a Latin jazz percussionist. Early years Hidalgo was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary education. His grandfather was a musician, and his father, José ...

, ''Villa Hidalgo'' (Messidor, 1992) *

La India Linda Bell Viera Caballero (born March 9, 1969), known professionally as La India, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter of salsa, house music and Latin pop. La India has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, winning the L ...

, '' Llego la India Via Eddie Palmieri'' (Acid Jazz, 1992) * Jonny King, ''The Meltdown'' (Enja, 1997) * Ryan Kisor, ''On the One'' (Columbia, 1993) *

Mike Longo Michael Josef Longo (March 19, 1937 – March 22, 2020) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and author. Early life Longo was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to parents who had a musical background. His father played bass, his mother played organ at c ...

, ''I Miss You John'' (Consolidated Artists, 1995) * Harold Lopez-Nussa, ''El Pais De Las Maravillas'' (World Village, 2011) * Jason Miles, ''Miles to Miles'' (Narada, 2005) *

Mingus Big Band Mingus Big Band is a 14-piece ensemble, based in New York City, that specializes in the compositions of Charles Mingus. It was managed by his widow, Sue Mingus, along with Mingus Orchestra and Mingus Dynasty. In addition to its weekly Wednesday ni ...

, ''Que Viva Mingus!'' (Dreyfus, 1997) * Michael Philip Mossman, ''Springdance'' (Claves, 1995) * Andy Narell, ''Tatoom'' (Heads Up, 2006) * Nuyorican Soul, ''Nuyorican Soul'' (Talkin' Loud/Giant Step, 1997) *

Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Corsican and Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. ...

, '' Listen Here!'' (Concord Picante, 2005) * Leon Parker, ''Above & Below'' (Epicure, 1994) * Daniel Ponce, ''Chango Te Llama'' (Mango, 1991) *

Rachel Z Rachel Carmel Hakim (née Nicolazzo), better known as Rachel Z, is an American jazz and rock pianist and keyboardist. She has recorded 13 albums as a leader and jazz musician. Her musical style, especially her improvisation, has been described a ...

, ''Trust the Universe'' (Columbia, 1993) * Tony Reedus, ''People Get Ready'' (Sweet Basil, 1998) *

Claudio Roditi Claudio Roditi (May 28, 1946 – January 17, 2020) was a Brazilian jazz trumpeter. In 1966 Claudio was named a trumpet finalist at the International Jazz Competition in Vienna, Austria. While in Vienna, Roditi met Art Farmer, one of his idols, an ...

, ''Jazz Turns Samba'' (Groovin' High, 1994) * Roberto Roena, ''Regreso'' (UP, 1987) *

Hilton Ruiz Hilton Ruiz (May 29, 1952 – June 6, 2006) was an American jazz pianist in the Afro-Cuban jazz mold, but was also a talented bebop player. He was of Puerto Rican descent. Biography Born in New York City, Ruiz began playing piano at the age of f ...

, ''Manhattan Mambo'' (Telarc, 1992) * Hilton Ruiz, ''Heroes'' (Telarc, 1994) * Hilton Ruiz, ''Hands On Percussion'' (RMM, 1995) *

Dave Samuels David Alan Samuels (October 9, 1948 – April 22, 2019) was an American vibraphone and marimba player who spent many years with the contemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra. His recordings and live performances during that period also reflect his pr ...

, ''Tjaderized'' (Verve, 1998) * Antonio Sánchez, ''

Migration Migration, migratory, or migrate may refer to: Human migration * Human migration, physical movement by humans from one region to another ** International migration, when peoples cross state boundaries and stay in the host state for some minimum le ...

'' (CAM Jazz, 2007) * Antonio Sanchez, '' Live in New York at Jazz Standard'' (CAM Jazz, 2010) *

Arturo Sandoval Arturo Sandoval (born November 6, 1949) is a Cuban-American jazz trumpeter, pianist, timbalero, and composer. While living in his native Cuba, Sandoval was influenced by jazz musicians Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1977 ...

, ''I Remember Clifford'' (GRP, 1992) *

Lalo Schifrin Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine-American pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is best known for his large body of film and TV scores since the 1950s, incorporating jazz and Music of Latin America, Lati ...

, ''Latin Jazz Suite'' (Aleph, 1999) * Lalo Schifrin, ''Intersections'' (Aleph, 2001) *

SFJAZZ Collective The SFJAZZ Collective is an American jazz ensemble comprising nine performer/composers, launched in 2004 by SFJAZZ, a West Coast non-profit jazz institution and the presenter of the annual San Francisco Jazz Festival. Collective activities The ...

, ''Live: SFJAZZ Center 2013'' (SFJAZZ, 2013) * SFJAZZ Collective, ''10th Anniversary'' (SFJAZZ, 2014) * SFJAZZ Collective, ''Music of Miles Davis & Original Compositions'' (SFJAZZ, 2017) *

Steve Turre Stephen Johnson Turre (born September 12, 1948, in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American jazz trombonist and a pioneer of using Conch (instrument), seashells as instruments, a composer, arranger, and educator at the collegiate-conservatory level. For ...

, ''TNT'' (Telarc, 2001) *

Dave Valentin David Peter Valentin (April 29, 1952 – March 8, 2017) was an American Latin jazz flautist of Puerto Rican descent. Life and career Valentin was born to Puerto Rican parents in The Bronx in New York City. He attended The High School of Mus ...

, ''Tropic Heat'' (GRP, 1994) * Gabriel Vicéns, ''Days'' ( Inner Circle Music, 2015) *

Kenny Werner Kenny Werner (born November 19, 1951) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and author. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 1951, and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Werner began playing and performing at a young ...

, ''Democracy Live at the Blue Note'' (Half Note, 2006) * Kenny Werner, ''Balloons'' (Half Note, 2011) * Miguel Zenon, ''Looking Forward'' (Fresh Sound, 2001)

References

External links

David Sanchez Official Site

Artist profile at Concord RecordsDavid 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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanchez, David Living people People from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican jazz musicians Columbia Records artists Latin Grammy Award winners Puerto Rican saxophonists 1968 births 21st-century American saxophonists SFJAZZ Collective members