Sanabria, Bobby (actually, Robert D.)

Sanabria, Bobby (actually, Robert D. ), jazz percussionist who greatly influenced the Afro-Cuban and jazz fields; b. South Bronx, N.Y, June 2, 1957. He grew up listening to Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Brazilian music, as well as jazz, funk, rock, and R&B. Inspired and encouraged by Tito Puente, he attended Berklee (1975–79), where he received his B.M.; while at Berklee, he received the Faculty Association Award for his work as an instrumentalist. After graduation, he became a major player in the Afro-Cuban and jazz fields. He recorded or performed with Mongo Santama-ria, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D’Rivera, Michael Gibbs, Chico Freeman, Luis “Perico Ortiz,” Chico O’Farrill, Celia Cruz, Henry Threadgill, and Mario Bauza. In 1983, Sanabria was awarded a NEA grant. Since the mid-1980s, he has performed for and lectured to thousands of N.Y. public school students, teachers, and families as part of the Arts Connection and Arts Exposure Program. He has conducted clinics, and lectures worldwide, and seminars on the Afro-Cuban jazz tradition. His group Ascension has performed in major clubs and festivals in the U.S. and abroad. He is currently on the faculty of the Drummer’s Collective and the New School/Mannes Coll. of Music. He has composed for Off-Broadway theater, big band, and chamber ensembles as well as for his own group, and has had works commissioned by Meet the Composer. Sanabria has been featured on numerous Grammy-nominated records, among them The Mambo Kings movie soundtrack and numerous TV and radio jingles. He is the author of the three-part video instructional series Getting Started on Congas. He writes musician profiles for his web site, Clave Chronicles, and has published numerous articles in various publications such as Modern Drummer magazine and Latin Percussion Inc.

Discography

N.Y.C. ACHI! (1993).

—Lewis Porter