Grammy-Winning
Saxophonist David Sánchez has shared a new track "Morning Mist" from
his forthcoming album. The track is currently streaming via WBGO who calls it a
"thrilling overture", and describes it as "Beginning with an
unaccompanied tenor line that sets the groove, it’s a composition built on
folkloric polyrhythm but suffused with silvery modern harmonies."
Listen:
David Sánchez - "Morning Mist"
David
Sánchez will release his new album Carib on Ropeadope / Christian Scott's
Stretch Music imprint on June 7th, and will mark the release of the album with
four performances at Jazz Standard in New York, June 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th.
Scott writes of Sánchez' latest work:
"Carib
finds David at the height of his powers. Its no question whether he is one of
the preeminent saxophonists of the last few decades, that's a given. He's as
killer as anyone who has ever touched the horn. This document, however, speaks
to me as a testament to the prowess of his compositional voice, to his mastery
of the interplay and relationships found in creative improvised music's
vernacular and rhythmic spaces."
Two pieces
songs from Carib, "Canto" and "Fernando's Theme", are
featured in the soundtrack of the film Windows on The World by Robert Mailer
Anderson. The film includes performances by Ryan Guzman and Edward James Olmos,
and was released in March 2019.
Featuring
original compositions inspired by melodies and rhythms coming from the Afro
Puerto Rican and Haitian tradition, Carib both reflects Sánchez's musical
heritage as well as his commitment to humanitarian and economic justice efforts
in the region. "I believe some of the greatest contributions to
contemporary music and culture have come from the African diaspora throughout
the Americas," writes Sánchez. "Unfortunately, there seems to be too
little awareness of their influence, especially the vital stories told by the
music. So, I wanted to approach this album as a means to pay tribute to all
Afro descendent communities who have helped define my music and the culture’s
broad ranging beauty and idiosyncrasies.
Sánchez also
seeks to honor family who played a pivotal role in his life and artistic
development. "This album is in memory of my Father, Dimas and especially,
my late wife Karla," he writes. "After a great deal of research and
listening to Haitian music, Karla encouraged and helped me take a trip to
Haiti. It was an incredible and intense experience, seeing the everyday
people's struggles"
Sánchez's
unique musical sensibility can be traced to his home, Puerto Rico, where he
began playing percussion and drums at age 8. He migrated to tenor saxophone a
few years later. While a scholar at the prestigious La Escuela Libre de Música
in San Juan, he took up the flute, clarinet as well as soprano saxophone with
teachers Angel Marrero and Leslie López. The Bomba and Plena rhythms of his
homeland, along with Cuban, Caribbean and Brazilian traditions, were among the
biggest influence on Sanchez's early taste in music. But soon jazz masters such
as Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane would command his ear and his
imagination. Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Wayne Shorter and Joe Henderson all
have been also major influences.
David
Sánchez is also "Maestro Sánchez" to students at the Conservatorio de
Música de Puerto Rico. After a decade of teaching, he has proven to be a
compelling presence with students and is in demand for workshops and master
classes in Puerto Rico and beyond. In 2017 he helped form a new program at the
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, The RJAM (Roots, Jazz, and American
Music).
In addition
to his collaboration with the Conservatory of Puerto Rico and The Conservatory
of San Francisco, Sánchez has taught master classes in Brazil, at the Peabody
Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University's School of Music,
Stanford University, University of Memphis, Emory University Berklee Global
Institute and completed a year-long residency at Georgia State University.
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