Whether he's on tour with the legendary Pat Metheny Group or on stage with his own arsenal of side players, Antonio Sanchez's bravado on the drums makes him one of the most decorated players in jazz music. Following the glowing success of his original score for the Oscar-winning film ‘Birdman,' Sanchez embarked on a worldwide tour for a series of "Birdman Live Scoring" events, where he enacted the full frenetic score while the movie played on a screen. The stage is a comfortable place for Sanchez, and his ‘Meridian Suite' concerts with his band Migration see Sanchez joined by Seamus Blake on saxophone, John Escreet on Rhodes organ, Matt Brewer on bass, and Thana Alexa on vocals, playing the full five movements of the notable modern jazz album. As a bandleader on the drums, Sanchez understands when to be a heavy-handed guide, just as much as when to release the throttle and let his players shine. Antonio Sanchez and Migration is a furiously consistent jazz unit that's only getting tighter over time and is a sight to behold on stage.

Antonio Sanchez Background

A five-time Grammy winner, Sanchez was born and raised in Mexico City, and he first picked up the drums at the age of five. He played professionally in his teens before moving to Boston to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music and then enroll in a master's program in Jazz Improvisation at the New England Conservatory of Music. He joined the Pat Metheny Group, playing drums on their Grammy-winning album ‘Speaking of Now' in 2002. He released ‘Migration,' the first of his six albums, in 2007, and he came further into mainstream prominence in 2014 when he recorded the original score for ‘Birdman.' The film project garnered him a Golden Globe nomination and the Critics Choice Award for Best Original Score. His most recent album, ‘Bad Hombre,' was also nominated for the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Sanchez is currently touring with Pat Metheny Group and soon embarks on a headline tour with his Migration ensemble.