Arturo Sandoval in Mexico City

Arturo Sandoval is a Cuban American trumpeter, pianist and composer, born in Havana in 1949. He helped found the Afro-Cuban jazz group Irakere before building a solo catalogue that includes Flight to Freedom, Danzón and Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You). His music is rooted in Afro-Cuban rhythm, big-band jazz and trumpet improvisation. In 1978, Irakere performed at the Newport Jazz Festival and Carnegie Hall during its first United States appearances. Sandoval later toured with his mentor Dizzy Gillespie as part of the United Nation Orchestra, and his own concert work has ranged across jazz clubs, theatres and festivals. The album Live at the Blue Note documents his trumpet-led band at the New York club.