Jazz Articles about Poncho Sanchez

Poncho Sanchez: Do It!

by Joel Roberts
March 5, 2006

Poncho Sanchez is the Energizer Bunny, or maybe the Cal Ripken Jr., of Latin jazz. Since 1982, the veteran conga player and bandleader has turned out consistently excellent, high-octane albums on an annual basis for Concord Picante, some two dozen so far. His latest, Do It!, doesn't mess with the formula that's made Sanchez's group one of the most popular Latin jazz bands in the world. The nine-piece band is a crowd pleaser, offering a bit of ...

Poncho at Montreux

by Jim Santella
August 29, 2005

Poncho Sanchez Poncho at Montreux Concord Picante 2004

Poncho Sanchez looks great. He and his band simply don't age. They rock and swing with inexhaustible energy. Sitting at the congas leading his band, and singing from the Latin jazz tradition, he kicks off this indoor concert performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival with the same confidence and poise that has brought him from local neighborhood garage bands to worldwide acclaim. He gives ...

Poncho Sanchez: Do It!

by Jim Santella
August 15, 2005

While the personnel helping to provide the trademark Latin jazz sound of Poncho Sanchez has changed somewhat, the personality of his band and its convincing approach just keeps on getting better. Like fine wine...

Special guests Hugh Masekela and Tower of Power give Do It! a classic funk quality that extends throughout the entire program. Masekela's two soulful vocal numbers lend an earthy quality to the session, while Tower of Power pumps it up with sass and class. ...

Poncho Sanchez: Out of Sight!

by Ollie Bivens
November 11, 2003

Conguero Poncho Sanchez (born in Laredo, TX, and raised in Norwalk, CA) is today the king of Latin jazz. Since forming his own band in the late ‘70s, Sanchez has put out more than two dozen albums. Undoubtedly, one of the challenges he faces is trying to keep the music sounding fresh. With each of his albums, the leader places something on top of the music's Afro-Cuban rhythmic foundation. On his latest release that something is a heavy dose of ...

A Fireside Chat With Poncho Sanchez

by AAJ Staff
November 7, 2003

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I did buying for Tower Records. In my limited capacity as a record store serf, I was empowered by musicians who would compliment the selection. Poncho Sanchez came in a handful of times, but unlike the lion’s share of artists, never eyeballed his CDs. Moreover, the conguero actually educated me on the gravity of Lee Morgan’s Caramba. That personifies Sanchez, neighborhood, unconditionally. His unmitigated benevolence has been rewarded and today, ...

Poncho Sanchez: Out Of Sight

by Norman Weinstein
November 2, 2003

Latin jazz drummer and band leader Pancho Sanchez can always be counted upon to record solidly entertaining Latin jazz albums, and Out of Sight keeps his proud reputation alive. This has more of a '60s retro-soul feel than any of his previous twenty one albums, with guest shots by Ray Charles (on a funky latin version of “Mary Ann") and horn men Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley from the old James Brown band.

But the big name ...

Poncho Sanchez: Out of Sight!

by Terrell Kent Holmes
October 18, 2003

Percussion master Poncho Sanchez returns lovingly to his soul/R&B roots on Out of Sight, roots which are dipped heavily in salsa. His band features seven hitters, plus some very special people are along for the ride.A Latin arrangement of Ray Charles' rendition of "One Mint Julep" gets things going. Fred Wesley (misspelled "Westley" in the liner notes) plays trombone; fellow James Brown alumnus Pee Wee Ellis wails on tenor sax; the timeless Billy Preston lays down a juicy ...