PERCUSSIONIST

official website - myspace page

More than anything else, Poncho Sanchez is a storyteller. And, as leader of the most popular Latin jazz group in the world today, it's his congas and seasoned ensemble that do the talking. Live in concert or on recordings, they spin vivacious tales that pay homage to the glories of a half-century tradition that was born when Afro-Cuban rhythms merged with bebop. One-on-one, the Chicano conguero is equally expressive, recounting in vivid detail the encounters, friendships, and passions that have contributed to his remarkable career as a bandleader and recording artist. Behind the choice of every song, album title and guest artist, there's a story Poncho Sanchez delights in telling.

Do It!, the latest in a long series of releases that began in 1982 for Concord Picante, is no exception. "Its name is taken from the tune by our trombone player Francisco Torres that was originally called 'Duet,'" Sanchez explains. "It features a duet between the trombone and tenor sax. For a while, we even called it 'Brothers Duet,' and then Francisco suggested we just call it 'Do It.' When we announce it at gigs, the audience starts yelling, 'Do it, do it!' So, I said, 'Well, there it is. That has to be the title for the new CD!'"

Do It! is distinct, even by Sanchez's high standards. The album features on two tracks the entire nine member Tower of Power, an iconic group that has become a high-octane symbol of the funk era of the 1970s. Another two tracks boast the presence of an equally legendary musician, South African Hugh Masekela. Over the years, Sanchez has hand-picked guest artists who have had a special role in shaping his growth as a musician, from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and saxophonist Eddie Harris, to Latin jazz patriarch Tito Puente, conga titan Mongo Santamaria and the late Ray Charles. The guests invited to participate on Do It! have been among Sanchez's favorites for decades. "I'm just doing the things I grew up with and that I respect and really love," he adds. "It's part of my life."

He was in high school, Sanchez recalls, when Hugh Masekela's "Grazing in the Grass" became a hit. "But I was hip to him before that, through his album The Emancipation of Hugh Masekela. On 'Grazing,' there was a sound that my friends liked. They hadn't really understood why I dug him so much until then, but when they heard this recording, they said, 'Wow, he is pretty cool.' It was a way for me to get my friends to listen to his Emancipation album, which was a little deeper." Sanchez first encountered Masekela at a festival on the East Coast half a dozen years ago. Four years later the trumpeter was featured as a guest with Sanchez's group at the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C. That laid the groundwork for his participation on Do It!

A fan of Tower of Power since day one, Sanchez first met members of the group when they shared the stage as part of an all-star band assembled for the eighth anniversary of "The David Letterman Show." "That's when I actually got to meet those guys, and I told Emilio Castillo, the tenor sax player and leader, that we should do something together. About six years ago, they invited me to play on one of their albums," he details, launching into another story. "Then one day recently I got a call from Hal Gaba, the owner of Concord Records, who said, 'Hey Poncho, you have to hear this track I'm listening to on satellite radio.' He said he thought we should record it. So, he sent me a recording of the song by a Japanese big band playing 'Squib Cakes.' I called him and said, 'Yeah, that's good, but you know, that's a Tower of Power song, so why don't we get their horn section to do it with us?'" When he told Castillo that just the group's highly touted horn section would be needed, the sax man responded, 'Hey man, what are the other members of the band going to say when they find out the horns get to record with Poncho Sanchez and we don't?"

The story had a happy ending when the whole band was booked, making it the largest assemblage of guest artists ever to participate on a Sanchez recording date. Hanging out with Castillo also led to another bonus for the album. "Emilio is hip to all of the old funk stuff," Sanchez states, "and he started talking about Dyke and the Blazers, a funk band. Dyke was killed really young. It was Emilio's idea to do one of those old tunes, so I had Francisco Torres arrange 'Shotgun Slim' for the session."

The album includes a variety of styles that illustrate the leader's fondness for traditional tropical Latin fare, jazz standards, R&B, and funk. On "Yo Quisiera," co-composed by Sanchez and trombonist Torres, Poncho croons in the best tradition of Tito Rodriguez and other storied vocalists. On Chano Pozo's "Tin Tin Deo," a standard made famous by the late Dizzy Gillespie, Sanchez revisits through a new arrangement a classic sound that had once been prominent in the band's performances but had not been used in years. "We always like to do a 6/8 tune," he explains, "so Duke Ellington's 'African Flower' was a nice fit for this album. 'Together,' written by flautist Hubert Laws, was introduced on an old Mongo Santamaria album from the 1960s, El Pussy Cat."

Today, Sanchez's life's story has become a well-known part of Latin jazz lore. He was born in Texas on October 30, 1951 into a large Mexican-American family (rumor has it that his 13-year old mother fled to the U.S. after hiding under the bed as revolutionary Pancho Villa stormed her village), but grew up in the Los Angeles area, where he was weaned on a broad range of Latin and non-Latin popular music. Inspired by the conga playing of Cuban great Mongo Santamaria, he honed his skills as a percussionist and broke into the limelight at the age of 23 when he joined vibraphonist Cal Tjader's famed Latin jazz ensemble in 1975. Poncho performed with him until Tjader's untimely death in 1982. A year later, he began his unprecedented 23-year relationship with Concord Records, which has produced two dozen recordings, a GRAMMY Award and several GRAMMY nominations.

"It's always worked for me and Concord," Sanchez says, describing his unique, long-lasting relationship with the label that stands in contrast to the experience of virtually all of his peers. Picante, in fact, celebrates its 25-year anniversary in 2005, and the conguero has been part of the family for much of that time. "In the beginning, owner Carl Jefferson would keep an eye on us in the studio like a hawk, because he didn't want us wasting any time and money," he laughs. Jeff, as the Concord founder was known, actually introduced Poncho to Jim Cassell at the Berkeley Agency, who would become his long-time manager, as well as John Burk. "I hung out with John, and he was a nice guy," Sanchez recounts. "He played guitar and knew a lot about music. Today, he's vice president of Concord Records, and I consider him one of my best friends. The label never pushes me�never tells me, 'Hey Poncho, you need to do this or do that.' That's way I can just keep doing the stuff I grew up listening to, like we've done on Do It! As far as I'm concerned, it's still the best stuff there is!" Fans of Latin jazz and Poncho Sanchez are likely to agree.

This biography is property of Concord Jazz, Inc.

VIDEOS

PONCHO SANCHEZ EPK FROM "DO IT"

PONCHO SANCHEZ EPK FROM "OUT OF SIGHT"

PONCHO SANCHEZ LIVE IN MEDELIN - BESAME MAMA

PONCHO SANCHEZ - RAISE YOUR HAND (2007)

MANY THANKS TO REBECCA MARTINEZ

Raise Your Hand On this, his 22nd album for Concord Picante (since 1982!), conguero par excellence Poncho Sanchez and his legendary band pay homage to some of his soul heroes, as well as reaching into the timeless traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz and son. Standouts include their rousing treatments of the Stax soul classics "Raise Your Hand" and "Knock On Wood" and the Cuban son "¿Dónde Va Chichi?" One listen to this great album and you will immediately see why Poncho Sanchez is widely acknowledged as the most popular Latin jazz artist in the world today.

review by Chip Boaz

review by John Barron

review by Bruce Polin

recensione by Roberto Rabbi

Raise Your Hand - Featuring Eddie Floyd, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper 3:47
Tropi Blue 5:07
Shotgun - Featuring Maceo Parker 3:54
El Agua De Belen - Featuring Andy Montañez 6:14
Rosarito 3:55
Maceo's House - Featuring Maceo Parker 5:52
Donde Va Chichi? - Featuring José "Perico" Hernandez 6:24
Gestation 4:55
Amor Con Amor 5:48
Knock On Wood - Featuring Eddie Floyd, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper 3:35

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

PONCHO SANCHEZ - DO IT! (2005)

MANY THANKS TO REBECCA MARTINEZ

Do It! -- the latest in a long series of Poncho Sanchez releases that began in 1982 for Concord Picante -- is distinct, even by Sanchez's high standards. The album features, on two tracks, Tower of Power an iconic group that has become a high-octane symbol of the funk era of the 1970s. Another two tracks boast the presence of an equally legendary musician, South Africa's Hugh Masekela. Over the years, Sanchez has handpicked guest artists who have add a special role in shaping his growth as a musician, from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and saxophonist Eddie Harris, to Latin jazz patriarch Tito Puente, conga titan Mongo Santamaria, and Ray Charles. The guests invited to participate on Do It! have been among Sanchez's favorites for decades. "I'm just doing the things I grew up with, and that I respect and really love", he adds, "It's part of my life.

Poncho Sanchez Congas, bells, guiro, percussion, lead vocals
Sal Vasquez Bongos, bata, chekere`
George Ortiz Tmbales, percussion
David Torres Piano, Hammond B-3 organ
Tony Banda Bass, coro
Francisco Torres Trombone, coro
Serafibn Aguilar Trumpet, flugelhorn
Javier Vergara Tenor & alto sax, flute
David Urquidi Baritone sax
Hugh Masekela Vocals
Guest Band Tower Of Power:

Emilio Castillo Tenor sax
Tom Politzer Tenor sax
Stephen "Doc" Kupka Baritone sax
Mike Bogart Trumpet
Adolfo Acosta Trumpet
Rocco Prestia Bass
Jeff Tamelier Guitar
David Garibaldi Drums
Roger Smith Hammond B-3, keyboards

Poncho Sanchez - Tin Tin Deo

Poncho Sanchez - Ha Lese Le De Khanna

Poncho Sanchez - Do It!

Poncho Sanchez - Squib Cakes

Poncho Sanchez - Yo Quisiera

Poncho Sanchez - African Flower

Poncho Sanchez - Short Dog

Poncho Sanchez - Shotgun Slim

Poncho Sanchez - The Kyper

Poncho Sanchez - Child Of The Earth

Poncho Sanchez - Together

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

PONCHO SANCHEZ - KEEPER OF THE FLAME (2001)

Two classic recordings for the price of one, Sonando (1982) and Bien Sabroso! (1983). 18 tracks including, 'A Night in Tunisia', 'The Summer Knows', 'Nancy' and 'Half and Half'. 2 CD set. 18 tracks. 2001 release.

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

PONCHO SANCHEZ - POCHO AT MONTREUX

In July 2003, GRAMMY® Award-winner Poncho Sanchez took to the stage of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, taking the audience by storm with a typhoon of his signature Latin rhythms. Absolutely riveting in performance, the bearded giant of Latin Jazz is as much fun to hear as he is to watch. All of electrifying energy and excitement that is Poncho Sanchez live is vividly captured in the exhilarating album. Note this is a DualDisc format. One side is a standard audio CD. The other side is a DVD format that features 5.1 audio, the video track Batri Cha Cha not available on the Poncho at Montreux DVD video, and other extras.

PONCHO SANCHEZ - OUT OF SIGHT

Raised with one foot firmly planted in Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban music and the other foot planted in soul and R&B, Poncho Sanchez has long enthralled listeners, dancers and party goers with his innately soulful brand of Latin Jazz. With Out of Sight, the master conguero/bandleader digs even deeper into his soul and R&B roots, delivering his most potent and energizing Latin-Jazz-meets-Soul concoction to date. Complementing Poncho's ultra-tight band is an array of guests that reads like a who's who of R&B and soul--Ray Charles, Sam Moore, (of Sam & Dave fame), Billy Preston, and Pee Wee Ellis & Fred Westley (of the James Brown horns). In homage to Poncho's mentor, the late, great Mongo Santamaria, Afro-Cuban music legend Francisco Aguabella also sits in with some earthy, deeply grooving bata drum playing, presented in pristine hybrid SACD sound (Replete with a 5.1 Surround Sound mix), Poncho's Out Of Sight is the real deal from the living master of soulful Latin Jazz

Combine the rhythms of Cuba, Africa and the Caribbean with the soul of Detroit, Philly and New Orleans, then add the exciting harmonies and improvisational elements of jazz, and you have a sound unique to all of Latin jazz -- the sound of Poncho Sanchez. With Latin Spirits Poncho embraces all of his musical influences, resulting in one of his most eclectic and exciting recordings to date. Special guest Chick Corea lends his unmistakable jazz piano pyrotechnics to two selections, igniting the title track (a new composition penned by Corea specifically for this recording) and Wayne Shorter's "Ju Ju" (which is propelled by an incendiary Afro-Cuban six-eight groove.) Vocalist and harmonica ace Dale Spalding sits in too, firing up the party with some soulful blues and R&B stylings that meld perfectly with Poncho's hard-grooving cha cha cha and mambo rhythms.

Grammy award winning, Latin Soul is the latest Poncho Sanchez release. A smoking compilation recorded live from Los Angeles' Conga Room and Oakland's Yoshi's Nitespot. Featured are live versions of Poncho's grammy nominated hit "Mama Guela" and Eddie Cano's classic "Ican." Latin Soul captures the trademark fiery intensity that Poncho and his group perform the world over.

PONCHO SANCHEZ - AFRO CUBAN FANTASY

Afro-Cuban Fantasy features jazz diva Dianne Reeves on three smoldering tracks. Afro-Cuban Fantasy is one of the most creative releases to date. Poncho skillfully blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz. It will surely get you singing and dancing

PONCHO SANCHEZ - FREEDOM SOUND

Freedom Sound features jazz legends Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder of The Jazz Crusaders. Poncho has been listening to the Jazz Crusaders since his high school days when the only way he could see them perform was by 'looking through a window and listening from the outside' of a nightclub in Hermosa Beach, California. This recording is sure to be loved by all Poncho Sanchez fans and discriminating jazz aficionados alike. It features funky jazz classics like MJ's Funk and Scratch redone with Poncho's latin edge. Préstame Tu Corazon, a much requested Salsa tune at many of Poncho's concerts, is featured as well

PONCHO SANCHEZ - CONGA BLUE

Conga Blue features Poncho's lifelong mentor: the great Mongo Santamaria. Mongo has been such an important influence on Poncho, he named his first son after him. The audio sample "Besame Mama," was written by Mongo Santamaria. This album was recorded on November 13, 14, 1995, at the Group IV studios in Hollywood, California.

PONCHO SANCHEZ - SOUL SAUCE

Soul Sauce: Memories of Cal Tjader is Poncho's tribute to the late, great vibe player. The sample track "I Showed Them" was written by Cal Tjader, arguably Poncho's greatest influence. This album was recorded at Group IV Studios, Hollywood, California on March 7 & 8, 1995. .

PONCHO SANCHEZ - PARA TODOS

Para Todos features special guest Eddie Harris. Eddie's soulful performance on the tenor fits right in when Poncho lays down the groove, and proves that this album is para todos (For Everyone). This album was recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California on October 25, 26 1993.

PONCHO SANCHEZ - BAILAR

Bailar is Poncho's second live recording and is the second part to A Night at Kimball's East. Bailar captures what a studio recording cannot, the dynamics of the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band! This album was recorded at Kimball's East in Emeryville, California on December 8, 1990

PONCHO SANCHEZ - EL MEJOR

El Mejor is commonly mistaken as a best of compilation. But, make no mistake, this is not the best of, but The Best. "Dichoso," features vocals by Poncho. This is the first time Poncho has sung a bolero on an album. El Mejor was recorded on April 8, 9 1992 at Ocean Way Recording Studios in Hollywood, California

PONCHO SANCHEZ - A NIGHT AT KIMBALL'S EAST

A Night at Kimball's East is Poncho's first live recording and was nominated for a Grammy in 1991. The audio sample "Cold Sweat," was written by James Brown, another one of Poncho's heros. This was recorded on December 8, 1990.

PONCHO SANCHEZ - CAMBIOS

Cambios features the living jazz legend Freddie Hubbard. He performs on three truely great Jazz standards, "Yesterdays," "My Foolish Heart," and "Sky Dive." "Yesterdays," was written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach, and is the audio sample available here. Cambios was recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studios in Hollywood, California on October 15, 16, 17, 1990

PONCHO SANCHEZ - CHILE CON SOUL

Once again Poncho, impacts the jazz community with another Grammy nomination in 1990 for the performance of "Mama Guela" on Chile Con Soul. "Mama Guela" was written by the great Tito Rodriguez. This album was recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studios, in Hollywood, California, in Novermber 1989

PONCHO SANCHEZ - LA FAMIALIA

Poncho treats his band members like family. That is why Poncho called this album La Familia, as a tribute to his own band. This album was recorded in November 1988, at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, California

PONCHO SANCHEZ - FUERTE

"Baile Me Gente," was written by Poncho, and was originally on the Poncho album (a featured album on the compilation Gaviota). ¡Fuerte! features this track with trumpet and trombone added, and is sung by Poncho. Recorded at Ameraycan Studios in North Hollywood, California, in November 1987

PONCHO SANCHEZ - PAPA GATO

Known as "Cat Daddy," by band members, Poncho decided to call this album Papa Gato. The audio sample "Señor Blues," was written by the jazz great, Horace Silver. Papa Gato also features the legendary Latin Jazz standard "Manteca." This album was recorded at Yamaha Studios in Glendale, California in October 1986

PONCHO SANCHEZ - EL CONGUERO

El Conguero is a personal favorite of Poncho. This album contains Shiny Stockings, yet another great Jazz standard done Poncho style. Recorded in May of 1985, at Yamaha Studios in Glendale, California

PONCHO SANCHEZ - BIEN SABROSO

In 1984, the music world woke up! Bien Sabroso was nominated for a Grammy. The audio sample "Ican" was written by Eddie Cano. This album was recorded at United/Western Studios in Hollywood, California, in 1983

PONCHO SANCHEZ - SONANDO

Sonando was Poncho's debut recording on the Concord Picante Label. Several tracks on this album exemplify Poncho's Afro-Cuban influence with solid vocals by Jose Perico Hernandez, and Luis Conte on the bata drum. The sample "Este Son," was written by Poncho Sanchez and Jose Perico Hernandez. Sonando was recorded at United/Western Studios in Hollywood, California, in August 1982