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Over the past few years, typical on-campus concerts at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have showcased artists that students were familiar with, such as the Wailers, Ho'onua, Kapena and Natural Vibes. This month, the University of Hawaii Outreach College presents something different. On Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz band will be performing at the Andrews Amphitheatre.
Poncho Sanchez's concert kicks off a series of concerts entitled "University of Hawaii Presents," which features musicians, dancers and actors from around the world. The artists brought in for the concerts typically tour the entire state with the support of the Hawaii Association of Music Societies and the Performing Arts Presenters of Hawaii.
Some students are unfamiliar with Poncho Sanchez and his eight member band, but they have won a number of awards, including a Grammy and a Billboard award. Poncho Sanchez was born in Texas in 1951 and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 4, where his Mexican-American family allowed him to grow up with both Latin and American music. The youngest in a large family, he taught himself to play the guitar, flute and drums. He eventually settled on playing the congas.
At the age of 23, he joined Cal Tjader's jazz ensemble. They collaborated until Tjader's death in 1972. A year later, Sanchez signed with Concord Records and has since produced two dozen albums.
Sanchez remains one of the leaders in Latin music and his performances exhibit versatility and originality. He was also strongly influenced by jazz and R&B, and this shows on his albums. Though he is a little more aged than most performers, he is still popular among lovers of Latin Jazz music because of his vast experience in music. It's been said that Sanchez's music has been known for its "boogaloo" sound - a Latin blend of cha-cha, R & B, blues, soul, and jazz that come together to form a fun and danceble melody.
"It sounds like Latin lounge music, something they'd play in a cool club in Miami," UHM student Allison Brown said.
Sanchez has won some notable awards, including a 2000 Grammy and 2001 Billboard award for Best Latin Jazz album for his "Latin Soul" album. Currently, Sanchez continues to record new music and tour at festivals and concerts around the world.
The event is presented in part by Alma Latina Productions and Hispano de Hawaii. Tickets for general admission is $25, students, senior citizens, military, UH faculty, and staff are $20, and UHM students with a validated student ID are $15. Tickets can be purchased from any UH ticket outlet, such as Campus Center. For more information, contact the UHM Outreach College at 956-8246 or visit www.outreach.hawaii.edu/programs/2005/EVENT-EV007875T.asp.
