Poncho Sanchez & Terence Blanchard: Chano y Dizzy

Terence Blanchard, Poncho Sanchez | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Jazz
• ASIN: B005CAAWV0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,915 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

For more than three decades as both a leader and a sideman, conguero Poncho Sanchez has stirred up a fiery stew of straightahead jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from a variety of Latin American and South American sources. His influences are numerous, but among the more prominent figures that inform his music are two of the primary architects of Latin jazz - conga drummer and composer Chano Pozo and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Sanchez pays tribute to these two titans on his new album, Chano y Dizzy!, his 25th recording as a bandleader on Concord Picante. For the first time, Sanchez and Francisco Torres, long time band member (trombone/vocals), join forces to produce the new album.

Joining Sanchez on the 11-song set is multi-GRAMMY winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard. It makes sense that, for this project, Sanchez recruited fellow label mate Blanchard, a New Orleans native who literally grew up amid the Cuban and Latin jazz scene and a longtime fan of the music's multicultural underpinnings. Blanchard has established himself as one of the most innovative and influential jazz musicians and film score masters of his generation. As a film composer, Blanchard has more than 50 feature film scores to his credit.

"These two musicians were the pioneers of what is now known as Latin jazz," says Sanchez. "Chano Pozo was a genius. He's considered the godfather of conga drummers, and he's someone whom I respect a great deal. And of course, Dizzy Gillespie was an iconic artist in American jazz. I had the honor and pleasure of working with him on several occasions. These guys were the first musicians to bring elements of Latin music to American jazz - which has resulted in some of the greatest music of the last 50 or 60 years. I felt that it was time to pay tribute to them and their accomplishments."

While the album includes songs originally written and performed by the two legends, it also showcases compositions crafted by other writers that capture the flavor of traditional Latin jazz. Sanchez's touring band assists with the songwriting and arranging. The studio ranks include: pianist David Torres, saxophonist Rob Hardt, trumpeter Ron Blake, trombonist/vocalist Francisco Torres, bassist Tony Banda, timbalist George Ortiz, and percussionist Joey De Leon, Jr.

"To me, Latin jazz is the world's greatest music," says Sanchez. "It has the melodic and harmonic sophistication of jazz and American standards, and the flavor and energy of Latin American music. What I'm most proud of is that this music - while it may sound exotic at times - is from America. It was born in New York City, when Chano Pozo met Dizzy Gillespie for the first time in the mid-1940s. They created something that didn't exist before in this country. I'm very proud to take this music all over the world all the time."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Was expecting more..., September 27, 2011

By 

Jazzman (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poncho Sanchez & Terence Blanchard: Chano y Dizzy (Audio CD)

After 2 years since releasing Psychodelic Blues, I was expecting a mega album. Then, I listened to Chano y Dizzy. The album is just good, nothing spectacular. If you are a hardcore Poncho fan, buy it. If you are not a Poncho fan, save the money, you won't be missing anything you haven't heard from Poncho before.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING MUSICIANSHIP, January 12, 2012

By 

winnerinlife "iwillwininlife" (Jamaica, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Poncho Sanchez & Terence Blanchard: Chano y Dizzy (Audio CD)

WOW! This CD blew me away! I respect both of these brothers. Their musicianship and chemistry together is like a stick of dynamite! I just got it yesterday. I listened to it as I was getting ready for work and what a wonderful CD to listen to as you prepare for the day. Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie are both looking down so proudly at BOTH OF THEM FOR CREATING this work. The tribute to both of these timeless musicians is one that I highly recommend to anyone who has a respect for Latin Jazz. Job well done by Brother Poncho and Brother Terrence! I LOVE IT!!!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHANO Y DIZZY, PONCHO SANCHEZ & TERRENCE BLANCHARD, November 18, 2011

By 

Lalo Perez (Alice, TX, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Poncho Sanchez & Terence Blanchard: Chano y Dizzy (Audio CD)

Latin Jazz at it's best, Poncho sounds amazing and Terrence Blanchard does a great job here. Very well executed solos by everyone Poncho's band sounds better than ever on this cd.