The David Sanchez Group in Zankel Hall, October 17, 2007

On Wednesday, October 17 at 8:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, saxophonist/composer David Sánchez and his sextet give the New York premiere of La Leyenda del Cañaveral. This new multi-movement work—written by Mr. Sánchez and made possible by a grant from Chamber Music America—traces the migration of African people to the Caribbean through musical folklore, jazz, and the music of Tanzania and the Baca forest people of East Cameroon. This performance opens Carnegie Hall's 2007–2008 The Shape of Jazz series, which is currently in its fifth season. The Shape of Jazz series is presented in partnership with Absolutely Live Entertainment, LLC.

Set to a poem written by David Sánchez's sister, Margarita, La Leyenda del Cañaveral includes spoken word and music compositional styles that weave together Afro-Caribbean, Jazz, and East African elements. The poem refers to the travels of African people from Africa to the Caribbean, with its central theme being the history and anecdotes of people who worked on sugar cane plantations. The inclusion of spoken word reflects their rich and colorful heritage and oral traditions. La Leyenda del Cañaveral received its premiere on March 24, 2007, at the prestigious and historical Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Latin Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and composer David Sánchez has forged a critically acclaimed career incorporating the bomba and plena rhythms of Puerto Rico as well as the musical traditions of Cuba and Brazil into his jazz compositions and interpretations. Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, David Sánchez began playing percussion and drums at the age of eight before migrating to tenor saxophone. While a student at Rutgers University in New Jersey, Sánchez took advantage of his close proximity to New York City and quickly became a member of its jazz scene, performing with the likes of Eddie Palmieri and Claudio Roditi, who brought Snchez to the attention of Dizzy Gillespie.

Whether with Gillespie, Palmieri, and other jazz greats—including Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes, and Charlie Haden—or on his own, Sánchez tours and records extensively, bringing his mix of mainstream jazz with Afro-Latin influences to audiences around the world. His debut album for Columbia Records, The Departure, garnered a great deal of praise as did his subsequent recordings, Sketches of Dreams, Street Scenes, and Travesía. Sánchez followed these recordings with Obsesión and Melaza, both of which received Grammy Award nominations. His most recent recording, Coral, earned the saxophonist his fourth Grammy Award nomination and a Latin Grammy Award for “Best Instrumental Album." Snchez recently signed to Concord Records and plans to record a new album this fall.

Carnegie Hall's The Shape of Jazz series features three additional performances in Zankel Hall this season:

*   Wednesday, December 12 at 8:30 p.m.: Following the release of its latest album
    PROG, the maverick trio The Bad Plus performs its jazz-rock interpretations of
    music ranging from Aphex Twin to Nirvana, as well as original work.
*   Wednesday, March 5 at 8:30 p.m.: The SFJAZZ Collective returns with new
    co-leaders, saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas, and an all-star
    line-up, with repertoire focusing on the music of Wayne Shorter.
*   Wednesday, April 2 at 8:30 p.m.: Closing the 2007–2008 series soulful pianist
    Cyrus Chestnut leads Manhattan Trinity—an all-star trio with bassist George Mraz
    and drummer Lewis Nash—in original and reinterpreted standards.

Program Information
Wednesday, October 17 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
THE DAVID SÁNCHEZ GROUP
David Sánchez, Saxophone
Lage Lund, Guitar
Robert Rodriguez, Piano
Pernell Saturnino, Percussion
Henry Cole, Drums
Hans Glawischnig, Bass
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Wednesday, December 12 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
THE BAD PLUS
   Reid Anderson, Bass
   Ethan Iverson, Piano
   David King, Drums
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Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE
   Joe Lovano, Saxophones
   Dave Douglas, Trumpet
   Miguel Zenón, Flute
   Andre Hayward, Trombone
   Renee Rosnes, Piano
   Matt Penman, Bass
   Eric Harland, Drums
   Stefon Harris, Vibraphone and Marimba

Nonesuch at Carnegie
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Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
MANHATTAN TRINITY
   Cyrus Chestnut, Piano
   George Mraz, Bass
   Lewis Nash, Drums
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Presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Absolutely Live Entertainment, LLC.

Artistic Coordination for The Shape of Jazz
Absolutely Live Entertainment, LLC.
Dan Melnick, Artistic Director

Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.

Ticket Information
Beginning on September 17 tickets, priced at $46, will be available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website