COURTNEE CESTA
Staff Writer
Nine-time Grammy winner and protégé of Dizzy Gillespie Arturo Sandoval will join SUNY Fredonia students and faculty on Monday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall.
Sandoval is a distinguished musician in both the jazz and classical worlds, and performs regularly with some of the most well-known symphony orchestras from around the world including the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London and the Leningrad Symphony in the former Soviet Union. At Fredonia he will collaborate with the Fredonia Latin Jazz Ensemble, as well as a select group of faculty, students and professional musicians from the greater-Buffalo area.
Sandoval is coming to Fredonia not only to perform and engage with the community, but also to advocate the importance of passion in music, a lesson that he learned from his idol and mentor, fellow jazz trumpeter John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie.
“Be in love with music,” Sandoval said. “Never get tired of learning, and working, and practicing, and trying to discover and creating and listening.”
With passion and hard work on his own end, Sandoval has dedicated himself to the art of making music since a young age.
Born in a small town near Havana, Cuba, Sandoval started playing in the village band when he was 12 years old and, shortly after, went on to spend three years studying serious classical trumpet music at the Cuban National School of the Arts. It was not until after his time at the National School of the Arts that Sandoval was even introduced to the art of jazz — almost by accident.
The young, Cuban trumpeter was 15 when he met a journalist who asked if he had ever heard jazz music. The journalist, baffled by Sandoval’s denial, played for him an album of Gillespie and Charlie Parker. He was captivated.
“When I heard that for the first time, I couldn’t believe it. [I’m] still trying to figure out what those people were playing,” Sandoval said.
Sandoval immediately immersed himself in the style and has since become one of the world’s most well-known jazz trumpeters, alongside Gillespie.
Gillespie had a profound influence on Sandoval. He was someone whom Sandoval aspired to be, and Gillespie taught Sandoval what he believed to be the most important lesson in music: pay attention to all of the details.
“He was, more than anything else, a big time music lover,” Sandoval said about his late friend. “He loved music. He would never get tired of talking and sharing ideas and, also, learning from anybody. Because when you’ve got your ear open and mind open to new information and new ideas and new things, you’re always going to be able to grow and improve and get different feels in your vocabulary.”
Gillespie’s impact on Sandoval is shown in many of Sandoval’s albums, his movie “For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story” and, most recently, in his soon-to-be-released book, “The Man That Changed My Life.”
Sandoval mentioned that his new book might be ready for the public around Christmas-time. It is a collection of his photos with Gillespie and their stories.
“I’m so excited about it because my friendship with Dizzy is really, really important to me and my family, and it’s something we really appreciate so much,” said Sandoval. “I always believe that the fact the I met him was a gift from God, because when you become a good, close friend of your hero, its such an important thing. I have no words to describe how important it is to me.”
The friendship between Sandoval and Gillespie started during one of Gillespie’s tours to Cuba when Sandoval was just 28 years old and lasted 15 years until Gillespie’s death in 1993.
Sandoval has a collection of his own advice that he likes to give to students, attributing to his recent award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The medal is the highest civilian honor in the United States, given to those who have dedicated their own lives to enriching others.
“Never give up, always keep your enthusiasm up, keep your love and passion alive big time. Keep the strong discipline, and never get involved with any drugs and alcohol. Be concentrated and respect your career, respect the love for music, and especially respect the audience.”
Sandoval also has nine Grammy Awards and has been nominated 17 times; he has received six Billboard awards and an Emmy Award for his compositions that underscored the movie based on his life. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in August of 2013, alongside fellow recipients Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
“This year’s honorees have been blessed with extraordinary talent, but what sets them apart is their gift for sharing that talent with the world,” said President Barack Obama in a statement.
Sandoval shares his music through performances and through compositions. He received an Emmy for his score of the HBO movie, “For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story,” which is just one of over a dozen films in which Sandoval’s music can be heard.
His albums also feature over 200 of his own compositions and arrangements, including the album dedicated to Gillespie, “Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You)” (2012).
Sandoval’s versatility between styles of music allows him the room to move and adapt, and it helps him develop as a composer. He has composed melodies in a variety of styles including Jazz, Latin Jazz, Latin, Rock, Country, Funk, Folk and Classical.
“I love it, and I strongly believe that’s the most important thing you can do as a musician. You’re a composer, and that’s going to be your legacy. That’s going to be there forever. After you’re gone, your music is going to be there for many generations to come,” said Sandoval.
Sandoval’s stop at Fredonia is just one step toward being remembered through generations. At Monday’s concert, the virtuoso will be sharing his gift with others who feel the same intense adoration for music as he does, and when asked, he said that he is thrilled to get the chance to do so.
“Every time I have the opportunity to play in front of an audience, there’s always a reason to be excited, happy and grateful,” Sandoval said.
Arturo Sandoval will be performing a sold-out concert with the Fredonia Latin Jazz Ensemble and Friends on Monday at 8 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall, following a masterclass at 1 p.m. Tickets for the masterclass are free and can be picked up at the ticket office.
On Sunday, Arturo Sandoval will be at the Dunkirk Boys & Girls Club (296 Lakeshore Drive East, Dunkirk, NY) for a free meet and greet. Students and alumni from the Dunkirk High School jazz band will provide music for the event, and food from local Latin restaurants will be featured. Tickets are not required.