Antonio Sánchez in New York City

Antonio Sánchez is a multiple Grammy-winner and Golden Globe-nominated jazz fusion drummer at the top of his game. He is known as Pat Metheny’s longtime drummer, and for scoring the Oscar-winning film “Birdman” and the “Get Shorty” television series.

Sánchez is a drummer who works constantly and who constantly surprises. He’s a composer and his music is often surprisingly melodic. He has the singing drum, and a bit of a poetic streak, too.

In 2024, Sánchez is debuting a new All-Star jazz quintet at Carnegie Hall.

Antonio Sánchez in New York City

Greenwich Village, Manhattan

Béla Fleck (American banjo player), Edmar Castañeda (Colombian harpist), and the Antonio Sánchez Trio (Mexican drummer); play jazz at the Blue Note jazz club in Greenwich Village, Manhattan; from Tuesday-Sunday, September 10-15, 2024, at 8pm and 10:30pm (6pm & 10pm doors). From $58. 🇺🇸 🇨🇴 🇲🇽

Midtown, Manhattan

Antonio Sánchez; Mexican American drummer, 4x Grammy-winner, 3x Modern Drummer jazz drummer of the year, and soundtrack composer (“Birdman”); debuts his new All-Star quintet featuring famed saxophonists Joe Lovano and Chris Potter, pianist Joey Calderazzo, and bassist Larry Grenadier; in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in Midtown, Manhattan; on Friday, April 26, 2024 at 9pm. From $54. carnegiehall.org 🇲🇽 🇮🇹

New York Venues

He has played all over town, but these are some recent venues:

Blue Note jazz club
Carnegie Hall

Antonio Sánchez

Antonio Sánchez and Bad Hombre play an NPR Tiny Desk show with Ana Tijoux. (2023)

Antonio Sánchez was born in Mexico City, México on November 1, 1971. He started drumming at age five and turned professional as a teenager.

Sánchez earned a degree in piano (another percussion instrument) from Mexico’s National Conservatory, and then graduated magna cum laude in jazz studies from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Then he got a masters in jazz improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

His career got started when his conservatory teacher, Danilo Pérez, recommended him to Paquito D’Rivera as a drummer for Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra. They say to become a musical master, you have to study with one. Pérez, D’Rivera, and Gillespie are three jazz masters.

While touring, jazz guitarist Pat Metheny heard Sánchez play, which got him invited into the band where he stayed for years, even after starting his solo career.

When Sánchez went solo in 2007 with “Migration,” the album featured Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Christ Potter and Scott Colley. He hasn’t stopped producing great music. His latest Grammy nomination was 2024.

Albums

Antonio Sánchez with the Pat Metheny Group in 2005

These are his Grammy nominations and wins, and important albums:

“On Becoming” was nominated for the 2024 “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album” Grammy.
“Kavara” (2023) is a luscious flamenco album.
SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II, 2022) features many collaborations including Rodrigo y Gabriela, Lila Downs, Ana Tijoux, Silvana Estrada, and others.
“Bad Hombre” was nominated for the 2018 “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album” Grammy.
“Birdman,” won the 2016 Grammy for “Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.” Sánchez scored the movie by famed Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu, starring Michael Keaton.
“Guided Tour” for Gary Burton was nominated for the 2014 “Best Jazz Instrumental Album” Grammy.
“Unity Band” for Pat Metheny won the 2013 Grammy for “Best Jazz Instrumental Album.”
“Quartet Live” for Gary Burton was nominated for the 2010 “Best Jazz Instrumental Album” Grammy.
“Day Trip” for Pat Metheny with Christian McBride was nominated for the 2009 “Best Jazz Instrumental Album” Grammy.
“Viva” was nominated for the 2007 “Best Latin Jazz Album” Grammy.
“Migration” (2007) was Sánchez’ first solo album. It featured Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Christ Potter and Scott Colley. “All About Jazz” called it one of the year’s best debuts.
“The Way Up” for Pat Metheny won the 2006 Grammy for “Best Contemporary Jazz Album.”
“Speaking of Now” for Pat Metheny won the 2003 Grammy for “Best Contemporary Jazz Album.” The song “As It Is” was nominated for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance.”