Arturo Sandoval turns 65
The Trumpeter, pianist, and composer from Cuba was one of the founding members of the famous group Irakere. He was a protégé of Dizzy Gillespie and while touring through Europe in 1990, he went into the American Embassy in Rome to ask for his defection from Cuba.
In December, 1998, Sandoval became an American citizen. He is known for his fast, almost too fast, improvisations, has recently released a book about his relationship with Gillespie called “The Man Who Changed My Life”, and is currently a judge in the Thelonious Monk Trumpet Competition. He is touring behind his latest album “Eternamente Manzanero”, a tribute to mexican romantic pianist, singer/songwriter Armando Manzanero, in the US until May, 2015 and makes a short stop in Basel, Switzerland, to play with Dr. John on November 11th.
“Flight To Freedom” was Sandoval’s first album for the GRP label in 1991 and came out immediately after his defection from Cuba. It features Chick Corea, Ed Calle, Dave Weckl, and Danilo Perez. Happy Birthday!
