MUSIC

Da Camera of Houston presents Terence Blanchard and Poncho Sanchez: Cubano Be! Cubano Bop!, Da Camera Jazz  Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8:00 PM, in the Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center.

Conga legend Poncho Sanchez and trumpet star Terence Blanchard lead a group of 11 musicians in a tribute to the Original Conga King, Chano Pozo, and his co-conspirator in Latin Jazz, Dizzy Gillespie, a collaboration which spawned the Afro-Cuban genre of music. Blanchard and Sanchez play Afro-Cuban standards, their own compositions and fresh new collaborations.

Terence Blanchard is one of the most influential jazz musicians and film score masters of his generation. With more than 29 albums to his credit, as a musician Blanchard is a multi-Grammy Award winner and nominee. In 2008, Blanchard won a Grammy for his CD, A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina). As a film composer, Blanchard has more than 50 scores to his credit and received a Golden Globe nomination for Spike Lee's 25th Hour.

A native of Laredo, conguero Poncho Sanchez has led one of the most influential Latin jazz ensembles for more than 20 years. Sanchez won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for his recording Latin Soul.