Release date: July 23, 2007
Poncho Sanchez headlines outdoor concert series on July 29
Contact: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Assistant Director of Public Relations
770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
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KENNESAW, Ga.—Kennesaw State University welcomes popular Latin jazz artist Poncho Sanchez and his band to the outdoor Starlight Summer Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 29. Sanchez is a Grammy-winning bandleader whose sound includes congas, piano, timbales, bass, saxophone, flute, trumpet, flugelhorn and trombone to create a distinctive combination of Afro-Cuban, pop and be-bop rhythms.
Sanchez is promoting his 2007 CD release, “Raise Your Hand,” the latest in a long series of releases. Known as a master storyteller, Sanchez delights in revealing the backgrounds of his songs, album titles and guest artists to his audiences. A conguero and vocalist, Sanchez was born in Laredo, Texas, but was raised in Norwalk, California, near Los Angeles. His music was influenced by what he heard when he was a child. He watched his older sisters dance to Afro-Cuban band Machito, mambo and Latin jazz king Tito Puente, and his Latin jazz idol Cal Tjader. At the same time, his brothers were listening to do-wop music and early rhythm and blues. Sanchez was also influenced by Cuban conguero Mongo Santamaria.
Sanchez has recorded 24 releases, earned a Grammy award and several Grammy nominations. He is proud that he has stuck to his roots and helped make Latin jazz popular. “And as I always say in clinics, this music is not just for Latin people. It was born in the United States and it is American music. It is for everybody!”
Sanchez’s band includes David Torres, piano and musIcal director; George Ortiz on timbales; Joey de León, bongos and percussion; Tony Banda, bass; Javier Vergara, saxophones and flute; Rob Blake, trumpet and flugelhorn; Francisco Torres, trombone; and Larry Sanchez, sound engineer.
The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic items, friends and family to the park-like venue of Kennesaw State’s Legacy Gazebo Amphitheater. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and the gates open at 6 p.m. Lawn seating is $5. Table reservations are already sold out.
The next artist to appear in the Starlight Series will be jazz violinist Regina Carter on Aug. 12. For more information, visit www.kennesaw.edu/arts of call the KSU box office at 770-423-6650.
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing student population approaching 20‚000 from 132 countries. The third largest state university in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚ including a new Doctorate of Education in Leadership.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.