Interview With Antonio Sanchez

Antonio Sanchez played his first gigs in Mexico City, his hometown, when he was a teenager. He initially studied classical piano at the National Conservatory in Mexico before moving to Boston in 1993. There he studied jazz at the Berklee College of Music. Today he is based in New York, and is one of the most sought after drummers in the scene. He performs and records with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, and Miguel Zenon. I asked him a few questions about how his background in Mexico has shaped his concept as a drummer.

Jacob Teichroew: What was your first exposure to music, and when did you discover your love for jazz?

Antonio Sanchez: My mom has always been an avid music fan. I listened to all kinds of stuff thanks to her. I went into jazz through the back door. First rock, then fusion and then straight ahead jazz. It just seemed to me like jazz was the perfect venue for expressing yourself fully on your instrument.

Who were your favorite rock, fusion, and jazz artists when you were first getting serious about music? Who are your main influences now? Do you look outside of jazz for inspiration?

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Cream, The Who, Jimmy Hendrix, Santana, but specially Rush, The Police and Led Zeppelin. The drumming was awesome on all of these bands.

Fusion: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Chick Corea Elektric Band, John Scofield, Allan Holdsworth, Pat Metheny Group...etc.

Jazz: Miles, Trane, Max Roach, Elvin, Jack De Johnette, Tony Willimas, Roy Haynes, Keith Jarrett, Metheny, Michael Breker, Chick...too many to mention.

My influences now are all of these guys still. My new drum idols are: Brian Blade, Jeff Ballard, Eric Harlan, Greg Hutchinson, Dafnis Prieto, Ari Hoenig... great drummers...

Is there a jazz scene in Mexico? Was it easy to find recordings, teachers, and other people to play with?

There is. It's better than it's been in a long time. When I was living and playing in Mexico is was definitely harder than it is now. The internet has changed everything. You can "youtube" anybody and you'll find tons of stuff on them. There were other players but we were all learning back then. Now those guys are real pros in the Mexican Jazz scene.

Certain rhythms and styles of Cuban and Puerto Rican music, such as rumba, have nestled themselves into modern jazz. Are there traditional Mexican styles that influence your playing, or that you can see being incorporated into jazz?

There are some rhythms from the Caribbean part of mexico like Veracruz that I enjoy playing a lot like Huapango. Veracruz has a great musical tradition.

You trained to be a classical pianist. How does studying a harmonic instrument inform your drumming?

It just helped me hear things as a whole. Not just drums. I think it played a big part on my musicality on the drums.

Is your role at the drums different when performing with your trio, including Scott Colley and Steve Wilson, from your role while playing with Pat Metheny or Chick Corea?

Definitely. Not having piano or guitar leaves a lot of space for everybody. We all can get away with playing a lot more and not over crowding the music. Its also a lot more open and spacious because piano and guitar take up a lot of harmonic space. Not having them opens a lot of very different possibilities. It's not better or worse. just different.

What are your plans? Any projects in the works?

I'm doing a tour with my quartet which consists of Miguel Zenon, Davis Sanchez, Scott Colley and myself. We're hitting the west coast and finishing in New York where we'll record a live record. Doing stuff with Metheny, Kenny Werner, Toots Thielmans, Enrico Pieranuzzi...etc. A lot of stuff going on luckily.