SPRINGFIELD — Growing up in the small town of Artemisa on the outskirts of Havana, the only music Arturo Sandoval could hear on a transistor radio in the oppressed country of Cuba was traditional Cuban music.
But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the greatest trumpet players in the world, hailed today for his groundbreaking fusion of Latin and jazz influences.
On Friday, Nov. 14, jazz enthusiasts will have the opportunity to hear Sandoval live at Hope Center for the Arts in Springfield. Showtime is 7 p.m.
“It was very difficult finding music to listen to when growing up because we didn’t have any record store where you could go and buy a record and they were not playing any kind of American music on the radio. For many years, I listened to the Voice of America from Washington, DC, every day at 3:15 p.m. I never missed that program even when in obligatory military service for three years,” Sandoval said in an interview with The Republican.
“I listened to the show on a small radio, and they put me in jail for several months because I was listening to the voice of the enemy,” he added.
Sandoval started playing music at the age of 12 in 1961 in his village’s band and went on in 1964 to attend the Cuban National School of Arts, where he took classical trumpet lessons for three years. But until around 1967, he had never even heard of jazz music.
“A journalist in my town, who I would often speak with, asked me one day if I had ever heard jazz. I said, ‘What is that?’ and went with him to listen to an album of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. It turned my brain upside down,” Sandoval said.
It was in 1977, exactly 10 years after listening to that album, that Gillespie came to Havana with other jazz greats to play a concert there.
“We met and from then on we started a beautiful friendship, and we played together until his death in 1993,” Sandoval said about being mentored by Gillespie, who introduced Sandoval to his innovative techniques and bebop improvisations.
Gillespie was also instrumental in furthering Sandoval’s career by introducing him to influential people in the jazz world, helping him secure a record deal, and offering the young trumpet master opportunities to tour with him, which led to his own flourishing career.
“Even when I decided to defect while on a tour with him and the United Nations Orchestra, Dizzy went with me to the American Embassy and helped me all the way through the process,” said Sandoval, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1998.
Sandoval’s musical explorations have extended beyond traditional jazz, leading him to be a pioneer in the realm of Latin jazz. With his innovative compositions and performances, he has fused elements of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Latin melodies, and jazz harmonies, creating a captivating and distinctive sound. Over the years, he has collaborated with prominent artists from various genres, including Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Legrand, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, and Alicia Keys.
In addition to his musical achievements, Sandoval has shared his experience and insights through his autobiography, “The Man Who Changed My Life,” a deeply personal account of his artistic journey and the transformative influence of Gillespie. He has also devoted himself to education, conducting masterclasses and workshops worldwide, nurturing the next generation of musicians.
His accolades are many.
Last year, Sandoval was among five honorees to receive the 47th Kennedy Center Honors.
“It was a huge honor, and I am going to be grateful for the rest of my days. I’ve been working hard and my dedication is big, my passion, my love for music, my respect for the audience, in general, as a human, I believe is why I received the award,” Sandoval said.
He was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Latin Grammys in 2023 and is a 10-time Grammy winner.
“It’s an incentive, like inspiration, to continue what you have been doing, and I really keep these awards very close to my heart,” he said.
Continuing to tour and share his music with both new and familiar audiences, Sandoval is not ready to stop.
“I’ve been working nonstop. I’m blessed because I am doing what I love. God has given me so many opportunities and I remain active at my age, which is not easy. But that’s my motivation in life, to play in from of an audience which is the best honor. It is such a beautiful experience that I have no words to describe it,” Sandoval said.
Prior to Sandoval taking the stage, the night will begin with a performance by the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts Concert Band, comprised of the school’s most advanced instrumental students in grades 7–12. Admission is by audition only, and members perform an extensive repertoire spanning traditional Latin masters to today’s popular hitmakers.
Tickets range from $50 to $75 and are available online and in-person at the door.
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