Sammy Figueroa has long been regarded as one of the world's great musicians. As one of the world's leading percussionists he has played on countless records, providing the rhythmical framework for hundreds of hits. Well-known for his versatility and professionalism, he is one of the few percussionists equally comfortable in a multitude of styles, from R & B to rock to pop to bebop to Latin to Brazilian to New Age.
After many years as one of the world's leading players, Sammy has in recent years firmly established himself as a bandleader and artist. It is rare for a successful professional musician such as Sammy to make the transition from sideman to leader in what some might term "the middle years". Even more unlikely would be for both of this artist's first two albums to each be honored with Grammy Nominations.
But since Sammy Figueroa became a leader in his own right the role has fit him comfortably, as if that was always his destiny. Sammy Figueroa is currently considered to be the most likely candidate to inherit the mantles of Mongo Santamaria and Ray Barretto as one of the world's great congueros. When Sammy plays percussion he tells a story, taking the listener on a journey.
Since then Sammy has played with a multitude of distinguished jazz and Latin jazz artists including Sonny Rollins, Dave Sanborn, Quincy Jones, Dave Grusin, George Benson, Chet Baker, Stanley Clarke, Grover Washington, Jr., Al Jarreau, Lena Horne, Joe Williams, Mark Murphy, Mike Mainieri, Nestor Torres, Chico O'Farrill, Mike Stern, Dave Valentin, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Tania Maria, Jorge Ben Jor, Daniella Mercury, Tom Jones, James Taylor, Dr. John, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Celine Dion, Natalie Merchant, Luther Vandross, Ashford & Simpson, Anita Baker, Roberta Flack, David Lee Roth, Hall & Oates, Joe Cocker, Rickie Lee Jones, Annie Lennox and many, many more.
In the spirit of experimentation he has recorded and appeared with "New Age" artists such as Paul Winter, Glen Velez and Michael Schrieve and some of Europe's greatest electronica artists, including Vienna's dZihan & Kamien and the UK's Mark De Clive-Lowe. He has also taught numerous clinics and master classes in connection with his endorsement arrangement with Pearl Percussion.
In addition to his work as a musician, Sammy has also produced or co-produced several important jazz and world music albums, including his own two Grammy�-nominated releases. In 1990 he and producer/musician Rachel Faro (producer of Odetta, Eddie Palmieri, Bobby Sanabria and others) formed Faro Figueroa Productions, which soon became one of the music world's most interesting production team.
Trips to Cuba and Venezuela led to historic productions such as "Una Forma Mas" and "De Vacaciones" by the phenomenal Cuban a cappella group Vocal Sampling (Sire/Elektra), authentic Afro-Cuban rhythms set to modern jazz arrangements in "Cantos: Lazaro Ros con Mezcla" (Intuition), spectacular Cuban jazz recorded in Venezuela with Cuarto Espacio, featuring Omar Hernandez and Ernan Lopez-Nussa (Ash�), and the classic "Celebremos Navidad" (Universal) by cuatro legend and Fania Allstar Yomo Toro. He participated as musician and producer on "Una Sola Casa", an album by Ruben Blades' band, Seis Del Solar.
In 2001 Sammy relocated to South Florida where he discovered a rich treasure trove of Latin jazz virtuosos from Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, along with members of the University of Miami's extraordinary music department, who were developing an alternative to New York's jazz scene. In September 2002 Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion made their debut at the Hollywood Jazz Festival, with special guests Dave Valentin and Ray Vega. Since that time Sammy and his band have been unstoppable and they are now the most exciting group in Latin jazz today.
Photo: 2010 JWPAgency / Jim Wadsworth Productions.
As leader of The Latin Jazz Explosion, Sammy empowers his players and has created an ensemble that is astounding in its musical excitement. His first album, "And Sammy Walked In" (on Savant Records), co-produced by longtime production partner Rachel Faro, included music by Michel Camilo, Hermeto Pascual, Eugene Uman and trumpet player John Lovell. His second album, "The Magician", (also on Savant Records), again co-produced with Rachel Faro, features spectacular original compositions by Venezuelans Silvano Monasterios and Gabriel Vivas alongside jazz classics such as Seven Steps and Cedar Walton's Firm Roots. Both albums received Grammy�� Nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album. The group has appeared at countless festivals and clubs, including the San Juan Heineken Jazz Festival, the JVC Jazz Festival Miami, New York's Jazz Standard and Palm Beach's Sun Fest.
Gifted with a warm speaking voice and a fanatic knowledge of jazz, Sammy has also found a natural vocation as a radio host. His show "Latin Jazz Quarter" every Friday afternoon on 88.9 FM Serious Jazz Radio in Miami, Florida is one of the station's most popular and has fans that stream it on the internet throughout the world. On this popular show Sammy takes the definition of "Latin Jazz" to a new level, playing music from Turkey to Africa to Native American.
Sammy's residency in South Florida has introduced him to the best of South American music. He has been appearing as a featured artist with the band Brazilian icon Jorge Ben Jor, who has written a song specifically for Sammy. Recently Sammy also appeared with Brazilian superstar Daniela Mercury, performing for over 60,000 fans in the Brazil On The Beach Festival. Other collaborations have been with Grammy� Nominees DJ LeSpam and the Spam Allstars and violinist/composer Alfredo Triff.
In late 2008, 'just for fun', Sammy developed a second band, Sally's Tomato, an exciting tribute to the music of Cal Tjader. With the blessings of Tjader family, this band caught on instantly. From the day of its debut at the 2008 Miami Book Fair, Sally's Tomato has been in demand for live performances, magnetizing a devoted fan base of its own with its breezy tropical, retro sound.
Sammy has also been working closely with Larry Rosen, the legendary record founder of GRP Records, on his highly successful Jazz Roots Concert Series at Adrienne Arsht Center. He recently appeared as a guest star in a tribute to Tito Puente and the Machito Orchestra and will again appear with the Dave Grusin Orchestra in a Jazz Roots revisiting of Grusin's legendary rendering of Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story".
Sammy appears in several important books on music and its legends. His relationship with Miles Davis is described at length both in Miles‛ own words in his autobiography entitled "Miles" and in "The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis From 1980 - 1991" by George Cole. Anecdotes about Sammy abound in Paquito D‛Rivera‛s amusing book "My Sax Life". Sammy has also been included in The Grove‛s Dictionary of Jazz.
Sammy endorses Pearl Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Vic Firth Sticks. In addition, he also plays the ZenDrum, which midis the sampled sounds of Sammy's percussion, and a set of unusual steel pans called Panart Hand Pans.
Date: | Event: | Venue Info: |
October 2010 | ||
17 | SAMMY FIGUEROA & HIS LATIN JAZZ EXPLOSION One Show Only! | 8:00 PM Iridium Jazz Club 1650 Broadway (51st St.) NY NY 10019 212 582 2121 |
November 2010 | ||
8 | In Concert with Sonny Rollins | 8 PM Philharmonie Hall Luxembourg Luxembourg |
12 | In Concert with Sonny Rollins | 8 PM K K L Luzern, Konzertsaal Lucerne, Switzerland |
16 | In Concert with Sonny Rollins | 8 PM Europauditorium Bologna, Italy |
20 | In Concert with Sonny Rollins | Barbican London, UK |
24 | In Concert with Sonny Rollins | 8 PM Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
24 | In Concert with Sonny Rollins | 8 PM Athens, Greece |
March 2011 | ||
27 | Lotz Concert Series presents Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion | 4 PM 7701 SW 76th Avenue Miami FL 33143 for information: 305 661 0023 |
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