Diaz Music Institute presents GRAMMY® award-winner David Sánchez performing with Houston’s award-winning youth group “Caliente,” directed by Grammy-nominated music educator Jose Antonio Diaz.

“Noche Caliente” (Hot Night) is an incredible evening of great music entertainment that celebrates the different cultures of the Hispanic community. Always and exciting night, this program features a renowned Latin artist in musical dialogue with America’s hottest Latin youth group, Caliente. This event includes music and dance performances from professional and amateur artists focusing on Hispanic heritage.

“Noche Caliente” is the culmination of a weeklong Artist-In-Residence program. A multitude of cultures embraces this event; the music transcends cultural lines and generations of listeners. Past performers include Eddie Palmieri, Bobby Valentin, Johnny Pacheco, Pete Escovedo, Dave Valentin, Larry Harlow, Poncho Sanchez, Nestor Torres, Michael Stuart, Oscar Hernandez, Marlon Fernandez, Jimmy Bosche, and Brenda K Starr.

David Sánchez

GRAMMY® award-winner David Sánchez is recognized around the world as one of the finest saxophonists of his generation. His mastery of the instrument is undeniable, and his sound is unmistakable. Combine that with Sánchez’s deep-seated knowledge of both Jazz and Latin music and the traditions that mold them, and the results are extraordinary. World-renowned jazz writer and critic Howard Reich saluted the bandleader saying, “Sánchez’s prowess on saxophone is matched by the intellectual depth of his concept and compositions”. Reich has also noted “Technically, tonally and creatively, he seems to have it all.” His debut album, “The Departure” (1994), as well as “Sketches of Dreams” (1995), “Obsesión” (1998) and “Cultural Survival” (2008) showed Sánchez merging jazz syntax with the musical dialects of his native Puerto Rico and other Caribbean and Latin America source.

The influences of Puerto Rican folkloric music can be clearly heard on “Street Scenes” (1996), strains of Bomba and Plena are also evident on “Obsesión” (1998) and “Melaza” (2000) both produced by the great saxophonist Branford Marsalis, as well as “Travesía” (2001), Sánchez’s first entirely self produced recording. It was another recording, “Coral” that would earn David his fifth GRAMMY® award nomination and his first Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album in 2005. This album features orchestrations and arrangements by prolific Argentine composer Carlos Franzetti with the City of Prague Philharmonic. The album showcases compositions by Hector Villa-Lobos,Antonio Carlos Jobim, Alberto Ginastera, Franzetti and Sánchez.

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.

In 1988 Sánchez auditioned for and gained a music scholarship at Rutgers University. He articulates, “studying with masters such as Kenny Barron, Ted Dunbar, Larry Ridley among others, was a true blessing”. He was soon immersed in New York’s swirling Jazz scene and was quickly recruited to tour with piano giant and mentor Eddie Palmieri. He also performed with Hilton Ruiz and Claudio Roditi who brought Sánchez to the attention of Jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. In 1991, Gillespie invited the young saxophonist to join his “Live the Future” tour with Miriam Makeba. Later, having the opportunity to be a part of Gillespie’s recording, “Live At The Blue Note” Sánchez has also performed and recorded with Jazz Master and mentor, Kenny Barron (album “The Spirit Song”), Roy Haynes(album “Praise”), Charlie Haden (Grammy award winner album “Nocturne”), Roy Hargrove (Grammy award winner Album “Crisol”), Pat Metheny, Lalo Schiffrin, Danilo Perez, Tom Harrell, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kenny Werner, and had the opportunity to perform with the legendary drummer Elvin Jones.