Winner of 11 Grammys and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, among others, at 76 years old Arturo Sandoval feels very grateful for his good fortune, but clarifies that his success is not only due to talent but also a lot of work and discipline.

He plays the trumpet and piano and even sings, as he told us in a recent chat, but he doesn't like to be categorized only as a jazz musician, although it is thanks to this genre that he has become known throughout the world.

And he returns this Tuesday, December 23, to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles for his traditional Christmas concert, this time with a personal message and a slightly different format.

“This year—and this is an obligation for me, having had the honor and pleasure of being a friend of the architect Frank Gehry—I want to dedicate it to him,” he says, "Ultimately, the most important thing is the audience's reaction. It can be anywhere, but if people respond and enjoy it, the satisfaction is indescribable... seeing a receptive audience that responds enthusiastically is the greatest gift one can receive," he affirms. And although filling the Hall isn't easy, as he himself acknowledges, he wants his fans to join him for an unforgettable celebration. "We've done the show many times, but now, along with an accompaniment of three trumpets, three saxophones, and the full rhythm section, we're bringing two singers and a special guest percussionist, my friend Andy Garcia, with whom we have an agreement that when he plays in Los Angeles—that I'm not there—he'll be there.” "On the road - I go and play with him and vice versa, and I'm happy to share the stage," he explains about the participation of the Cuban-American actor turned musician.

“I pinch myself”

At his age, Sandoval still maintains the passion for his craft and the discipline that has earned him countless awards: he rehearses every day and always strives to give his best to deliver quality performances.

And he has certainly succeeded. His career is a testament to a judicious exercise in dedication that has led him to more than fulfill any expectations he had in his youth.

“I owe everything to music, because I was a young man without hope, without dreams, and without a future. In all the years I lived in Cuba, I was only able to record one album, and since I've lived in the US, I've recorded 44 albums, 30 of which have been nominated for a Grammy and 11 have won,” he he says proudly.

Sandoval had the audacity to defect at the age of 40 with the fortunate help of the famous jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie, who took him as a friend, made him his protege, and changed his life after hearing him play in Havana.

"This has gone far beyond my dreams, and I pinch myself to see if the things that are happening to me are real," he says, reflecting on the long road he embarked on in the company of his most important ally: the trumpet.

"The trumpet is a very unique instrument because it doesn't limit you in terms of expression... you can make it whisper and create a racket that even the deaf can hear; that is, it lets you express whatever you want, not only in its volume but also in its intensity," he affirms.

And his commitment to music, and to a large extent to the jazz genre, is all-encompassing because it means something very precious to him as a person: "Jazz is synonymous with democracy." And freedom, because the most important thing within the genre is improvisation, which is something created right there at the moment… everyone in the band participates and everyone says what they want to say, so it doesn't hold you back in terms of expression, of playing the way you want."

His Legacy

He doesn't like to get too involved in political matters, although he has very clear opinions and prefers that people fondly remember the universal message that only instrumental music, which he feels blessed to perform, can convey.

“We already have too much political information on social media; tension, disagreements, and division, which is dangerous and negative... We have been blessed to bring a positive message of unity, love, and respect, and the only thing I feel in my soul is immense gratitude to God, to my family, to my fans, to the people who enjoy and respect what I do," he says. And it concludes with a message that is also a lesson for those who want to achieve any of their goals in life. People place a lot of emphasis on talent,but the difference is what you are able to do with that talent and how you develop that passion.with discipline and with the responsibility of being well prepared because you have made every effort to do things as well as possible."