7/5/2022
Performances and Artists
Globally acclaimed bandleader and conguero Poncho Sanchez still recalls the single music lesson of his life.
After he spent weeks listening to his sisters’ Tito Puente records to teach himself the congas in his parents’ garage, one of his sisters paid a professional percussionist to visit and give him tips.
“He said, ‘put a record on and play (along with it), so I can see where you’re at,’” recalls Sanchez, who was just a teen at the time in Norwalk, California. “After the song was over and I took the needle off the record player, he just stared at me in silence. Then he asked me, ‘how long have you been playing, six years?’ And I said, ‘six years? (I’ve been playing) six weeks!’”
Sanchez suspected he was learning just fine on his own – and his instincts proved right.
A natural virtuoso, Sanchez’s fully self-taught percussion stylings have led him to become an international trailblazer with Latin jazz over the past three decades, earning him several Grammy nominations and two wins.
“My music is my life,” says Sanchez, also a self-taught vocalist who has sung the lead vocals for every group he has performed with. “I just learned to play the hard way.”
“What you hear and see on our records is what you’re going to get live,” Sanchez promises. “We play live just like we’re in the studio, doing a record.”
An Eclectic Upbringing
Growing up in the ‘60s, Sanchez admits he never wanted to listen to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
Instead, he wore out his record player listening to Motown, James Brown, Tito Puente and the mamba and salsa music that his 11 older siblings adored.
“I’d put a Tito Puente record on, and my friends would say, ‘Poncho, take that off, it’s old people music,” he recalls with a laugh.
Although he was born in Texas and grew up in California, he also soaked up Latin music from his parents’ native regions of Mexico.
All of these musical interests influenced him as he became a professional musician, he says, which explains why he blends so many genres today.
At his upcoming concert, audiences can expect to hear instrumental Latin jazz, fiery salsa, straight-ahead jazz and soul music – including a little James Brown.
“There’s a little something for everybody,” Sanchez says. “All of this music is just part of my life. I put all those things I like into my shows.”
Spreading Latin Jazz Worldwide
Sanchez admits to facing challenges throughout his Latin-jazz career.
He still recalls approaching a group of Puerto Rican and Cuban percussionists in the ‘70s and asking to play his congas with them.
“(The group leader) asked, ‘are you Puerto Rican?’ And I said, ‘no, I’m a Chicano, I’m Mexican-American,’ and he goes, ‘Chicanos can’t play congas,’” Sanchez says. “I can tell you at least 20 other stories like that.”
This kind of attitude inspired him to perform across the globe and introduce Latin jazz to all.
“That’s one of the things I’m very, very proud of,” he says. “I know Poncho Sanchez and His Latin Jazz Band have made a difference and spread the word of Latin jazz all over the world.”
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