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Arturo Sandoval

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A protege of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the

outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to

bring Latin influences into American Jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve,

but it didn't take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the

world's most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist,

pianist and composer. He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has

been seen by millions at the Oscars, at the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards. Sandoval has been

awarded 10 Grammy Awards, and nominated 19 times; he has also received 6 Billboard Awards and an

Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his

life, For Love or Country that starred Andy Garcia as Arturo.

His latest release in 2018 feature an incomparable who's-who of the most talented artists today!  This

landmark album also contains an unparalleled mix of collaborations with legends and new generation voices

from the worlds of Pop, Jazz, Classical & Latin music coming together for the Cuban maestro's first duets

release. including: STEVIE WONDER, PHARRELL WILLIAMS & ARIANA GRANDE, PLACIDO DOMINGO,

CELIA CRUZ, JOSH GROBAN, JUAN LUIS GUERRA, AL JARREAU, ALEJANDRO SANZ, PRINCE ROYCE

and DAVID BISBAL. Ultimate Duets marks the continuation of a distinguished four-decade catalogue of over

40 groundbreaking titles.

 

Sandoval was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere, whose explosive mixture

of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music caused a sensation throughout the entertainment world.

In 1981, he left Irakere to form his own band, which garnered enthusiastic praise from critics and audiences

all over the world, and continues todo so.

Sandoval is also a renowned classical musician, performing regularly with the leading symphony orchestras

from around the world. Arturo has composed his own Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra, which can be

heard on Arturo Sandoval: The Classical Album. Arturo has performed with the foremost orchestras in the

country as well as abroad and recorded John Williams' Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony

Orchestra. His classical artistry has earned him the respect and admiration from the most prestigious conductors, composers and symphony orchestras worldwide. Arturo Sandoval's versatility can be heard on recordings with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Woody Shaw, Michel Legrand, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Bill Conti, and Stan Getz to Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys amongst many others. He has performed with John Williams with the Boston Pops, and in the Super bowl with Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle. 

 

His underscore compositions can also be heard in movies including, Clint Eastwood's most recent film The Mule starring Clint Eastwood & Bradley Cooper, 1001 to 1 starring Beau Bridges, At Middleton starring Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga, Dave Grusin's soundtrack for Havana and Random Heart, in the Mambo Kings soundtrack with his Grammy nominated composition Mambo Caliente, in the soundtrack of The Perez Family, 61, Mr. Wrong, the documentary Oscar, and The Family Fuentes among of others. He also was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to compose the music for the ballet Pepito' Story, Soul Possessed, as well as Oman O Men, and The Chocolate Hot Nutcracker, choreographed by Debbie Allen. And as mentioned above, he was awarded an Emmy for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, For Love or Country starring Andy Garcia.

 

Arturo Sandoval reaches beyond the scope of mere effort. His struggles while in Cuba and since his defection have given him more energy and strength, urging him to accomplish and surpass his childhood dreams. Filled with a virtuoso capability, he desires nothing more than to share his gift with others who feel the same intense adoration for music as he does. One frequently speaks of Arturo Sandoval's virtuoso technical ability or his specialty in high notes, but he who has seen him on the piano, lyrically improvising a ballad, or has had the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of his music, through his compositions from the most straight ahead jazz, Latin jazz or classical, knows that Arturo Sandoval is a prominent musician, and one recognizes that Arturo is one of the most brilliant, multifaceted and renowned musicians of our time.

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