Arturo Sandoval Luncheon – March 16, 2011

Our special guest, Arturo Sandoval, told the very interesting story about the circumstance surrounding the beginnings of his career and leading up to his leaving Cuba to live in the U.S. with his family. He played two solo pieces, one on flugelhorn and one on trumpet.

The following article was published in the AFM Local 47 Overture:

Cuban-Jazz Dynamo Arturo Sandoval Heats up Catalina Club
His habit of playing two instruments at once — trumpet and piano — earned him a standing ovation during his featured performance at the March 16 ASMAC Luncheon.

Arturo Sandoval can burn through an Afro-Cuban groove, tear up a bebop tune, soar over a Mozart concerto and sooth you with a luscious ballad, with equal power and grace.Born and raised in Cuba, he became a longtime resident of Miami before moving to Southern California in 2009. One of theworld’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer, Sandoval was the guest speaker at the March 16 ASMAC Luncheon held at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood.

Local 47 President Vince Trombetta attended the event in honor of our renowned member. “It was a lovely afternoon hearing stories of his early years in Cuba and his migration to the United States,” Trombetta said. “It was wonderful to hear how much he loves it here, and that he is proud to not only be a musician and a citizen of the United States, but he enjoys living in our unique community.” A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of 12, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He is 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 formed his own band, which received enthusiastic praise and wasvoted Cuba’s Best Instrumentalist from 1982 to 1990.

Arturo Sandoval has been awarded four Grammy Awards, six Billboard Awards and an Emmy, the latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country” starring Andy Garcia. He was recently seen by
millions in the Grammy Awards performing with Justin Timberlake as well as on the Latin Billboard Awards with the gifted Alicia Keys, where he was awarded his sixth Billboard Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.

As guest speaker at the March 16 ASMAC luncheon, Sandoval delighted the audience with some unexpected musical surprises. “His masterful trumpet playing and flugelhorn were things that were expected, but hearing him play piano was a rare treat,” Trombetta said. “Him playing piano and trumpet at the same time was something he doesn’t usually do in public, but he did it at the request of our beloved Life Member, Uan Rasey.” This surprise display of quirky talent earned Sandoval a standing ovation. “All in attendance were delighted with his storytelling and his masterful musicianship,” Trombetta said.
— Linda Rapka / ASMAC

Arturo’s bio:

Arturo Sandoval is fluent in at least four musical languages.  He can burn through an Afro-Cuban groove, tear up a bebop tune, soar over a Mozart concerto and sooth you with a luscious ballad; with equal power and grace.  A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, 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 flugel horn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

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 formed his own band, which received enthusiastic praise and was voted Cuba’s Best Instrumentalist from 1982 to 1990.

He has been awarded 4 Grammy Awards, 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” starring Andy Garcia.  He was recently seen by millions in the Grammy Awards performing with Justin Timberlake as well as on the Latin Billboard Awards with the gifted Alicia Keys, where he was awarded his 6th Billboard Awards for “Best Latin Jazz Album”.