2024 Kennedy Center Honoree
Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient (President Obama) 10 time Grammy Award Winner
Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Emmy Award recipient (Best Composer)
Six-time Billboard Award winner
Honorary Doctorate recipient in Fine Arts University of Notre-Dame
A protégé of the legendary Dizzy Gillespie, ARTURO SANDOVAL was born in Artemisa, Cuba on November 6, 1949—just two years after Gillespie first introduced Latin influences into American jazz. From humble beginnings, Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at twelve, but it wasn’t long before the fire of jazz took hold. Today, he stands as one of the most brilliant and multifaceted musicians of our time: a virtuoso of trumpet and flugelhorn, a masterful pianist, timbalero, composer, and a fearless innovator whose artistry has captivated millions around the globe.
Sandoval is renowned as one of the most dynamic performers alive. He has lit up the stage at the Oscars, the GRAMMY Awards, and the Billboard Awards, dazzling audiences with both breathtaking technique and sheer joy. The accolades match the legend: 10 GRAMMY Awards (19 nominations), 6 Billboard Awards, and an Emmy Award for composing the acclaimed underscore to HBO’s For Love or Country starring Andy Garcia.
Widely recognized as one of the greatest trumpet players in history, Sandoval’s astonishing range, agility, and control allow him to execute the most intricate passages with power and emotion. His unique gift lies in his ability to seamlessly blend jazz, classical, and Latin traditions, creating a voice that is unmistakably his own. Beyond performance, he is a prolific composer, arranger, and educator, inspiring generations of musicians with his passion and dedication.
His story—escaping political oppression in Cuba to achieve international acclaim—adds profound weight to his legacy. His collaborators form a dazzling constellation of stars: Stevie Wonder, Celia Cruz, Plácido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, John Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, and countless others.
As a founding member of the groundbreaking group Irakere, Sandoval helped revolutionize Cuban music with an explosive fusion of jazz, classical, rock, and Afro Cuban sounds. Since 1981, his own ensembles have continued to electrify audiences worldwide.
A celebrated classical artist as well, Sandoval has composed two trumpet concertos, performed with leading orchestras across the globe, and recorded John Williams’ Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony. His compositions have graced major films (The Mule, Richard Jewell, Havana, Mambo Kings), Kennedy Center ballets, and Debbie Allen’s Hot Chocolate Nutcracker.
Through every note, Arturo Sandoval embodies resilience, brilliance, and joy. His journey from Cuba to the world stage is a testament to the power of music to break barriers—and his legacy as one of the greatest musicians of our era continues to grow.
“A blazing, technically flawless trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval has been dazzling audiences all over the world with his supercharged tone and bop-flavored flurries… a fiery high-note player, Sandoval is a superbly well-balanced performer, and just as capable of tackling classical repertoire as jazz and traditional Cuban music…” – All Music.com
“Born into poverty in Cuba and held back by his government, he risked everything to share his gifts with the world. In the decades since, this astonishing trumpeter, pianist and composer has inspired audiences in every corner of the world and awakened a new generation of great performers. He remains one of the best ever to play.” –President Barack Obama
“Anyone who has seen a no-hit game in baseball will tell you that it’s a rare and highly exciting occurrence. …Arturo Sandoval and his team of music stars deliver even better—a perfect game of a recording.” – All About Jazz
“Mr. Sandoval’s playing is unabashedly spectacular, yet he uses his technique with dramatic finesse.” – New York Times
For more information, contact Melody Lisman: melodylisman@gmail.com
To witness the Cuban-born jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval in action is to understand what a complete musician is. In his performance Sandoval displayed the energy of someone half his age, never stopping to rest. He played the trumpet, of course, but he also played a bit of piano and some percussion, sang and executed his idiosyncratic version of beatbox, displayed a little Cuban motion and told a couple of jokes.And whatever he plays, he enjoys every song, every
instrument, every word — savors it, swishes it around and gulps it down. Each piece performed was a saga, gradually built, with winding passageways and hidden rooms and sudden, giant ballrooms. And in the center was Sandoval, working his magic…” – Susan L. Pena, Reading Eagle
“Arturo Sandoval is best known as a Latin trumpeter. …But his sextet displays exceptional versatility. At tempos from ballad-slow to escape velocity, they rocked the waterfront with Latin, bop, funk and even a little metal rock. Sandoval, in addition to trumpet, played flugelhorn, keyboards, and timbales…he is a terrific and versatile musician who works his tail off on stage with infectious energy and skill. His sextet is a treat to see and hear.” –BroadwayWorld.com
“Sandoval reaches notes most trumpet players barely know!” – Washington Star
“Arturo Sandoval is the sort of virtuoso artist who comes along only once or twice in a generation.” – London Evening Star
“He’s one of the best! He’s got bull chops!” – Dizzy Gillespie
“Arturo Sandoval exudes the true joy of music in everything he does…long may he reign!” – John Williams
“Sandoval’s horn of plenty, the trumpeter places no limits on music” – The Washington Times
“Arguably the most prodigious trumpeter of his generation, a showman to the tips of his toes… imperiously and dashingly in charge of the resources of his trumpet” – The Guardian
“Possessing some of Jazz’s fiercest chops!” – New York Post
Arturo Sandoval revved up the crowd to closed out day one with a high-octane set of Latin Jazz. Arturo Sandoval’s talents were on full display as he sent a flurry of musical notes into the stratosphere on trumpet, tickled the ivories on keyboards and laid down spicy grooves on timbales. – New Orleans Jazz Fest – Ricky Richardson
For more information, contact Melody Lisman: melodylisman@gmail.com