David Sánchez

David Sánchez is a Grammy-winning saxophonist and Professor in the Roots, Jazz, and American Music Department at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) since 2017. He serves as a cornerstone faculty member and collaborates with the SFJAZZ Collective, contributing to cross-cultural projects like Ninety Miles and Carib, which explore Afro-Caribbean and Pan-African musical traditions.

• Research Focus: Afro-Puerto Rican bomba rhythms, Haitian Congo-Guinea traditions, and their intersections with jazz.
• Collaborations: Worked with legends including Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Haden, Roy Haynes, Tom Harrell, Roy Hargrove, and Pat Metheny.
• Recognition: Recipient of multiple Grammy Awards and the 2025 LeJENd of Latin Jazz Award for advancing jazz education and cultural preservation.
• Education: Born in Puerto Rico, studied drums before switching to saxophone; arrived in the U.S. in 1998.

His compositions, such as "Canto," reflect personal and cultural struggles, particularly systemic oppression in Puerto Rico and Haiti. Post-Hurricane Maria, he participated in benefit concerts to aid Puerto Rico's recovery.