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For Arturo Sandoval, music is more than a career: it has offered freedom, purpose and a way to bring people together. In a 2023 interview with Laura Fernandez for JAZZ.FM91, the Cuban-born trumpeter put it simply: “Music saved my life, and the life of my family, as well.” His account connects that conviction to the trumpet he first chose as a boy, the Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz improvisation he pursued with Irakere, and the discipline he brings to performing.
How Sandoval chose the trumpet
In the April 26, 2023 JAZZ.FM91 interview, Sandoval recalled trying instruments with a village marching band and deciding on the trumpet. The band’s trumpets had already been assigned to other students, so he asked his aunt to buy him one. That early choice began a musical path he describes not as a calculated plan, but as an encounter that changed what was possible for him.
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Arturo Sandoval Collection | $13.29 | Buy on Amazon |
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Trumpet Evolution | $23.36 | Buy on Amazon |
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Arturo Sandoval & The Latin Train ~ Arturo Sandoval ~ Jazz ~ CD ~ Good | $12.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Dream Come True ~ Arturo Sandoval ~ Jazz ~ CD ~ Good | $12.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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ARTURO SANDOVAL LIVE AT YOSHI'S | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Asked what music had given him, Sandoval answered: “I owe everything to music.” In the same interview, he described music’s effect on his family as well as on his own life. The statement is personal, but it also points to the circumstances behind his career: he has spoken of music as a source of expression and freedom amid constraints on what musicians could hear and play in Cuba.
Freedom, jazz and the experience of repression
In a phone interview with Naresh Fernandes for Scroll.in, published November 30, 2019, Sandoval said, “I love freedom and believe that the most important thing in life is freedom.” The article recounts that during compulsory military service he was listening to the Voice of America Jazz Hour when a sergeant caught him, and that he was detained for three months. It situates the episode in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, where jazz was described as “the music of the imperialists.” These details belong to the historical account in that interview; they should not be taken as a complete account of Cuban cultural policy or of every musician’s experience.
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Sandoval’s story also includes his relationship with Dizzy Gillespie. Scroll.in reports that Sandoval first met his musical hero in Havana, later joined Gillespie’s band, and that Gillespie helped him defect to the United States during a European tour in 1990. The episode links Sandoval’s stated belief in freedom to a decisive change in his life, while underscoring the risks and political realities surrounding that transition.
What Irakere brought together
Sandoval was an early member of Irakere, formed in 1974 with pianist Chucho Valdés and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera among its members, according to Scroll.in. He described the group’s musical combination as Afro-Cuban rhythms and bebop improvisation. “It’s the rhythm,” he said of the appeal of the sound they developed.
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In the Scroll.in interview, Sandoval also explained that moving from a large orchestra to a smaller group gave the musicians more possibilities. The change matters because it connects two sides of his musical outlook: the rhythmic foundation of Afro-Cuban traditions and the freedom to reshape a performance through improvisation. He has called improvisation “the meat and potatoes of jazz.” In the 2023 JAZZ.FM91 interview, he noted that concerts change from night to night, and that he remains open to collaborations.
The discipline behind the freedom
Improvisation may sound spontaneous, but Sandoval describes it as something supported by preparation. In the 2023 interview, he said, “I never go on stage without being prepared.” He also spoke of practising consistently and taking care of his instrument. Preparation does not dictate every note; it gives a performer the command to respond in the moment rather than relying on chance.
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- Arturo Sandoval, Arturo Sandoval & The Latin Train
That balance helps explain how Sandoval can value musical freedom while insisting on responsibility. A changing concert, a collaboration, or a solo does not remove the work behind the performance. His account makes discipline part of creativity, not its opposite.
Five recordings Sandoval chose as listening entry points
Before his Mumbai concerts, Sandoval selected five recordings or tracks for Scroll.in in 2019. They are his suggested route into different parts of his musical story, not a definitive ranking or a complete discography.
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- Arturo Sandoval, Dream Come True
| Recording | What it reveals |
|---|---|
| Trumpet Evolution (2003) | A tribute to trumpet heroes; Scroll.in describes Sandoval imitating players across a wide range of styles. |
| I Remember Clifford (1992) | A tribute recording for trumpeter Clifford Brown. Sandoval’s liner-note reflection, quoted in the article, considers Brown’s artistry and character. |
| Ultimate Duets (2018) | A collaboration-focused project featuring vocalists including Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Plácido Domingo and Stevie Wonder, as reported by Scroll.in. |
| “To Diz With Love” | A composition dedicated to Dizzy Gillespie, discussed in connection with the 1993 album Dream Come True. |
| Flight to Freedom (1991) | Described by Scroll.in as Sandoval’s American debut. |
Together, the selections offer a listener several ways into his career: trumpet lineage, a personal tribute, vocal collaborations, a dedication to Gillespie and an early American release. Scroll.in’s 2019 account confirms the titles and details above, but does not establish current formats, stock or prices.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What keeps him creating
Sandoval’s answers across the two interviews describe a connected set of motivations rather than a single source of inspiration. Music gave him a direction and, in his words, helped his family; freedom matters because it makes expression possible; and the traditions he draws on leave room for rhythmic invention and improvisation. His insistence on practice shows how those ideals become a working life: the freedom to create onstage is earned through preparation.
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