Poncho Sanchez with Special Guest Nicholas Payton March 6, 2010

More than anything else, Poncho Sanchez is a storyteller. And, as leader of the most popular Latin jazz group in the world today, it's his congas and seasoned ensemble that do the talking. Live in concert or on recordings, they spin vivacious tales that pay homage to the glories of a half-century tradition that was born when Afro-Cuban rhythms merged with bebop. One-on-one, the Chicano conguero is equally expressive, recounting in vivid detail the encounters, friendships, and passions that have contributed to his remarkable career as a bandleader and recording artist. Behind the choice of every song, album title and guest artist, there's a story Poncho Sanchez delights in telling.

Before conguero Poncho Sanchez started his Latin Jazz Band, which has gone on to become the premier Latin jazz ensemble working today, he served an important apprenticeship with Cal Tjader, a pioneering Latin jazz bandleader since the 1950s. Sanchez worked in Tjader’s group from the beginning of 1975 until Cal’s death in May 1982. Now he’s put together a group of fellow Tjader friends and alumni—bassist Rob Fisher, drummer Vince Lateano, and Roger Glenn on vibes—to pay musical tribute to Cal, their friend and colleague, and a towering figure in Latin jazz.

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