All Photos: Alan Mercer
He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has been seen by millions at the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards.
A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American Jazz. He began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.
Arturo has been awarded 10 Grammy Awards, and nominated 19 times; he has also received 6 Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, ‘For Love or Country’ that starred Andy Garcia as Arturo. Arturo is also the 2013 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipient and a 2016 Honorary Doctorate recipient in Fine Arts from The University of Notre Dame. A book chronicling his relationship with Dizzy Gillespie entitled ‘The Man Who Changed My Life’ has been published.
Arturo Sandoval is also a renowned classical musician, performing regularly with the leading symphony orchestras from around the world. Arturo has composed his own “Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra”, which can be heard on “Arturo Sandoval: “The Classical Album.” He has performed with the foremost orchestras in the country as well as abroad and recorded John Williams’ Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra. His classical artistry has earned him the respect and admiration from the most prestigious conductors, composers and symphony orchestras worldwide.
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Arturo’s versatility can be heard on recordings with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Woody Shaw, Michel Legrand, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Bill Conti, and Stan Getz to Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys amongst many others. He has performed with John Williams with the Boston Pops, and in the Super bowl with Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle.
His compositions can also be heard in movies including Dave Grusin’s soundtrack for Havana and Random Heart,’ in the ‘Mambo Kings’ soundtrack with his Grammy nominated composition ‘Mambo Caliente,’ among of others. He also was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to compose the music for the ballet ‘Pepito’s Story,’ ‘Soul Possessed,’ as well as ‘Oman O Men,’ and The Chocolate Hot Nutcracker,’ choreographed by Debbie Allen.
Arturo reaches beyond the scope of mere effort. His struggles while in Cuba and since his defection have given him more energy and strength, urging him to accomplish and surpass his childhood dreams. Filled with a virtuoso capability, he desires nothing more than to share his gift with others who feel the same intense adoration for music as he does. Arturo Sandoval is one of the most brilliant, multifaceted and renowned musicians of our time.
Alan Mercer: Arturo, you are a living legend!
Arturo Sandoval: I don’t know about that word…legend. Every time I hear that word legend, I think that means I’m getting old. (Laughter)
AM: Some people do become legends simply by living a long life but you can be a legend as a young person if you have a tremendous gift like you have.
AS: Do you think so?
AM: I do if the gift is rare enough. I became much more aware of you as a human being after HBO aired the movie about you. Were you happy with the finished work?
AS: Yes, of course it’s only a movie. It isn’t quite accurate to reality. It’s not 100%, I don’t want to lie to you. Also, I was a little disappointed by the president of HBO at that time because he didn’t want to mention, talk or show the political side of the whole story.
AM: And that’s a pretty big side.
AS: That sucks for me because I cannot put that ‘on the side.’ It’s part of my reality and an important part of my life. You cannot leave it out…simply to avoid it. The mentality of some Hollywood producers makes it difficult for them to recognize the dictatorship in Cuba with all the abuse and crime that has been committed there for almost 60 years. We’re not talking about a couple of months.
AM: Have your feelings changed at all now that Castro is gone?
AS: Bullshit…Bullshit…Bullshit! It’s even worse every day. The repression is getting worse. They are killing more people and putting people in prison just because they think differently. People are starving and hopeless. They are desperate and don’t know what to do. They cannot see the horizon. They cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel. I’m very sad about this because I was born and raised there. I got to the United States when I was 41 years old.
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AM: That must have been quite a good feeling.
AS: I get the impression sometimes that I was born at 41. I had a new life with a second wind. This is when I learned what freedom means…and it means a lot. I always repeat and I will never get tired of saying, “No freedom, no life.”
AM: How did people in the United States seem to you when you got your new-found freedom?
AS: The people born here in the US take their freedom for granted because they have no idea what it’s like to live in a communist country where everything from your brain to your ass belongs to the government. It requires such a different perspective of life. It’s very disgusting. It’s horrible when you must ask permission to the government to do anything. You don’t have any freedom to do anything. For instance, now while I am talking to you, I am 100% relaxed and very comfortable because I know I can say whatever the hell I want and I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks or says! I’m free to say what I want to say, but there, oh my Lord, you must be extremely careful what you say, where you say it and when.
AM: That does sound extra horrible.
AS: It’s very tough.
AM: It must have been sensational getting to Miami. Were you immediately comfortable with your new freedom?
AS: You smell the freedom! It takes no effort to enjoy and understand the feeling. It’s in the air.
AM: Then it’s extra exciting for you to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. What did that feel like?
AS: The highest award the government can give to any civilian. It’s a huge honor. When I did research later on and discovered the other artists and musicians who are on the list, I felt extremely overwhelmed. I don’t know if I deserve to be on that list, but it’s not something I take lightly and I do consider it a great privilege and honor.
AM: You do deserve to be on that list.
AS: I have always tried to do my best to not disappoint anyone and the people in charge agreed to give it to me. It’s such a distinction. I’ve never touched any drugs. I don’t even drink alcohol. I’ve been married to the same woman for 43 years. I have my non-profit organization that I’m extremely proud of helping a lot of kids from low income families, providing musical instruments, scholarships, health insurance and a lot of things we are doing. We are extremely pleased with how that is going. It’s a great feeling when you have the honor to help others in need. It’s a great feeling.
AM: You can relate to people in need.
AS: I grew up in the middle of the countryside and our family was extremely poor. In my house, we didn’t have a floor. We had dirt. I quit school when I started fifth grade. No more school because I have to work and help my family. Which means I come from “down there.” Everything I have I owe to the music. To be honest, modesty apart, besides being on a mission that God sent me to do, also I’ve been very serious about my work. I’ve had a big passion and a dedication and…a lot of discipline. That’s what it takes to be able to do my thing and do my best when I go on stage. It’s a responsibility to go on stage and give the audience 100% and to do such a thing, you have to be serious about your preparation and commitment.
AM: And that’s why you’re a legend.
