Arturo Sandoval
At Jazz Alley
By Dan Larsen, for SeattleInsider.com
Originally published by Cox Interactive Media

A taste of Cuba comes to Seattle as the Grammy award-winning Arturo Sandoval and his band are hosted by Jazz Alley.

Sandoval was a founding member of Irakere (a Grammy-winning group in its own right), whose 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. Sandoval was voted Cuba’s Best Instrumentalist from 1982-1990.

A protégé of jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval was a featured artist in the Dizzy Gillespie United Nation Orchestra, as well as the orchestra’s 1992 Grammy-winning album, Live at the Royal Festival Hall. "He’s one of the best. He has a very athletic style, but he can play softly too. He’s got bull chops!" Gillespie once said.

Joining Sandoval will be Samuel Torres (percussion), Doug Bickel (piano), Dennis Marks (bass), Charles McNeill (saxophone) and Ernesto Simpson (drums).

According to a February 9 report in The Miami Herald, Sandoval is to even have a movie made about his life and flight from Cuba starring Andy Garcia. 

Tickets are $17.50 - $21.50 and are available from Tickets.com, Jazz Alley.org or by calling Jazz Alley's box office at (206) 441-9729.

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