David Sánchez is a Grammy-winning Jazz tenor saxophonist, one of the finest of his generation. Teachers are a big influence on an artist, and Sánchez has been mentored by both Eddie Palmieri and Dizzy Gillespie. That’s Latin and that’s Jazz.
- Puerto Rican tenor saxophonist David Sánchez plays Jazz for Carnegie Hall Citywide at El Museo del Barrio in “El Barrio” East Harlem, on Sat, May 21 at 4pm. FREE. carnegiehall.org 🇵🇷
A Tenor Sax Master
Sánchez is originally from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He first played congas, but took up the tenor sax when he was twelve. In Puerto Rico, we are influenced by our Bomba, Plena and Música Jíbara folkloric traditions. Sánchez has these in his blood, but is a straight-ahead Jazz cat. If you know Puerto Rican music though, you can hear hints of it in David’s work. He sometimes even plays the Bomba barril (drum). The sax is very melodic, but having the drum inside you changes everything.
David came up through Rutgers University and was first mentored by Latin Jazz legend Eddie Palmieri. Palmieri is one of padrinos (godfathers) of Latin Jazz in NYC.
That got him noticed by Jazz and Latin Jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. Sánchez toured with Dizzy and recorded “Live at the Blue Note” with him. He played in Dizzy’s trio until the master passed.
At press time, Sánchez has six Grammy nominations and one win. At this stage in his career, he is focused on performing and teaching. In Puerto Rico, he teaches at Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, the island’s top music school. He has developed programs at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and teaches master classes around the world. He says that he learns from his students too. That’s a sign of a great teacher.
David Sánchez is one cool Puerto Rican Jazz cat, the kind who plays with legends and symphony orchestras around the world.
Key David Sánchez Albums
“Coral” won Best Latin Jazz Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.
“Travesía” was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards.
“Melaza” was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
“Obsesion” was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Performance at the 2000 Grammy Awards.
David Sánchez is an artist at the top of his game.