Results for "Poncho Sanchez"

50th Anniversary Blue Notes for June

by Marc Cohn
June 12, 2020

Blue Note 50th anniversaries from June 1970, just two though: Horace Silver (That Healin' Feelin') and Lou Donaldson (Pretty Things). There was also a Reuben Wilson session, but it was never released, and only the 'vault gods' know if it was any good. But you know there's more (don't you?). 21st century music from the Posi-Tone ...

Samuel Torres: The Interfuse of Percussion and Orchestration

by Jim Worsley
March 9, 2020

Samuel Torres is a percussionist extraordinaire. Samuel Torres is an exceptional composer. Samuel Torres is an astute arranger. Samuel Torres has vast skills as an orchestrator. All of those statements are valid responses to the question, who is Samuel Torres? The Colombian born artist, who now makes his home in New York City, has, as they ...

Poncho Sanchez

Born: October 30, 1951

GRAMMY-winning bandleader, conguero, and percussionist Poncho Sanchez is among the most influential percussionists in jazz.  For more than four decades, he’s stirred up a fiery stew of straightahead jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from a variety of Latin American and South American sources. Throughout his career, Sanchez has held aloft the torch lit by such innovators as Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader, embraced by each of those icons and entrusted to carry forward the traditions of Latin Jazz.

Sanchez was born in Laredo, Texas, in 1951 to a large Mexican-American family, but grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles, where he was raised on an unusual cross section of sounds that included straightahead jazz, Latin jazz and American soul. By his teen years, his musical consciousness had been solidified by the likes of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaria, Wilson Pickett, and James Brown. Along the way, he taught himself to play guitar, flute, drums and timbales, but eventually settled on the congas. Sanchez landed a permanent spot in Cal Tjader's band in 1975, and remained with him until the bandleader's death in 1982.  Sanchez then shifted his focus to his own group, which he had formed in 1980, and signed with powerhouse label Concord for the release of ‘Sonando’, beginning a musical partnership that has spanned nearly four decades and yielded more than two dozen recordings. 

2019: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
January 2, 2020

The year 2019 was robust in many ways. International Jazz Day brought its biggest stage to Australia. An important but long-shuttered jazz mecca was revived in a coast-to-coast move. ECM Records celebrated a golden year. The music and its makers figured prominently on the big screen. The National Endowment for the Arts welcomed four new NEA ...

Trane's Delight

By Poncho Sanchez

Label: Concord Picante
Released: 2019
Track listing: Soul Bourgeoise; Libera; Feeling Of Jazz; Giant Steps; Si Te Dicen; Sube; Blue Train; Yam'mote; Poncho Sanchez Medley; Trane's Delight; Todo Termino.

La-Faithia White's Best Releases of 2019

by La-Faithia White
December 17, 2019

The year is coming to a close and I have enjoyed listening to so many new jazz releases. I present to you my top ten list of new recordings that have sparked my attention, and for your listening experience. Carmen Lundy Modern Ancestors Afrasia Productions Marquis Hill

Blue Note Review 2 & Play a Game with DrJ, Newk & Lady Day

by Marc Cohn
November 15, 2019

It's Gifts and Messages show No. 400 from the studios of WHYR—how did that happen? To celebrate (but let's face it, we celebrate every week), we have a game for you: tunes written by famous saxophonists 'reimagined' in 2019—name the composer. We also have a start on listening to the Blue Note Review #2 collectors' box ...

Poncho Sanchez: Trane's Delight

October 8, 2019

Like many Latin legends—including Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Carlos “Patato" Valdés, Ray Barretto, Candido, Carlos Vidal and others—Poncho Sanchez is a percussionist. Born in Laredo, Texas, Sanchez has been a leading conga player and bandleader for decades. His big break came in 1975, when vibraphonist Cal Tjader hired him for his band. Before he died in ...

Long Beach Jazz Festival 2018

by Walter Atkins
August 22, 2018

It was a fantastic feast of musical talent featured at the 31st annual Long Beach Jazz Festival, held at a relaxed Southern California venue near the cool Rainbow Lagoon Park. The event was located next to the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and the Aquarium. On Sunday night, the long running festival closed with a ...

Celebrate Valentine's Day weekend 2019 with Poncho Sanchez, Pete Escovedo, and more aboard the Latin Love Boat

June 16, 2018

Latin Cruise Events is proudly announcing “Latin Love Boat“ Valentines Weekend Jazz Cruise. The luxurious Carnival Imagination will depart on Thursday, February 14th sailing from Long Beach, California to Ensenada Mexico and returning February 17th, 2019 (Thursday to Sunday). This 3-Day Music Festival Cruise will include: Legendary Jazz artists, Poncho Sanchez, Pete Escovedo, as well World ...