A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small
town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie
became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American Jazz. Sandoval began studying
classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the
jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz
trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has been seen by
millions at the Oscars, at the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards. Sandoval has been
awarded 10 Grammy Awards, and nominated 19 times; he has also received 6 Billboard Awards
and an Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO
movie based on his life, “For Love or Country” that starred Andy Garcia as Arturo.

In 2022 Arturo releases his new album “Rhythm & Soul” to rave reviews! What the pandemic of
2020 revealed to those who follow Arturo on social media was just how much this man, who at
age 72 has seen and done it all, continues to love music and court it with all the eagerness of a
love-struck teenager. During the imposed quarantine, when the music business all but stopped,
Arturo would share 1-3 new compositions or improvisations to his Facebook and Instagram
pages almost daily, revealing an insatiable need to keep creating and communicating. This album
is but a mere sampling of his creative output from that time, a collection of new songs written
during the shutdown and interpreted by his incredible band once they were able to get back in the
studio together.

Why “Rhythm & Soul”?

For more information, contact Melody Lisman 818-297-4124 or [email protected]
The “Rhythm” is represented by a collection of new originals that draw on Arturo’s wealth of
experience and encyclopedic knowledge in all forms of Latin music, from traditional Cuban Son
to Brazilian Bossa-Nova and Samba to Caribbean Soca. There are few, if any, musicians more
qualified to represent such a vast diversity of Latin rhythms.

The “Soul” is what comes from his horn. This album showcases Arturo as a player in many
forms – from fiery to sensitive. Musicians and fans alike rightly marvel at his technical ability on
the horn – the effortless high notes and the dizzying speed and execution of his improvised runs.
He truly is one of the most beautiful ballad players around, and both sides of his soul are well
represented here.

His 2018 feature is an incomparable who’s-who of the most talented artists today! This landmark
album also contains an unparalleled mix of collaborations with legends and new generation
voices from the worlds of Pop, Jazz, Classical & Latin music coming together for the Cuban
maestro’s first duets release. including: Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande,
Placido Domingo, Celia Cruz, Josh Grobin, Juan Luis Guerra, Al Jarreau, Alejandro Sanz, Prince
Royce and David Bisbal. “Ultimate Duets” marks the continuation of a distinguished fourdecade
catalogue of over 40 groundbreaking titles.

Sandoval was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere, whose
explosive mixture of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music caused a sensation
throughout the entertainment world. In 1981, he left Irakere to form his own band, which
garnered enthusiastic praise from critics and audiences all over the world, and continues to do so.
Sandoval is also a renowned classical musician, performing regularly with the leading symphony
orchestras from around the world. Arturo has composed his own “Concerto for Trumpet &
Orchestra”, which can be heard on “Arturo Sandoval: “The Classical Album.” And later
composed his 2nd Trumpet Concerto which he has performed around the world. Arturo has
performed with the foremost orchestras in the country as well as abroad and recorded John
Williams’ Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra. His classical artistry has
earned him the respect and admiration from the most prestigious conductors, composers and
symphony orchestras worldwide.

Arturo Sandoval’s versatility can be heard on recordings with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie,
Woody Herman, Woody Shaw, Michel Legrand, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Bill Conti, and Stan
Getz to Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys, Pharrell
Williams, Ariana Grande, and Megan Trainor amongst many others. He has performed with John
Williams with the Boston Pops, and in the Super bowl with Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle.
His underscore compositions can also be heard in movies including, Clint Eastwood’s most
recent films “The Mule” starring Clint Eastwood & Bradley Cooper, and Eastwood’s “Richard
Jewel”, “1001 to 1” starring Beau Bridges, “At Middleton” starring Andy Garcia and Vera
Farmiga, Dave Grusin’s soundtrack for “Havana” and “Random Heart”, in the “Mambo Kings”
soundtrack with his Grammy nominated composition “Mambo Caliente”, in the soundtrack of
“The Perez Family”, “61”, “Mr. Wrong”, the documentary “Oscar”, and “The Family Fuentes”
among of others. He also was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to compose the music for
For more information, contact Melody Lisman 818-297-4124 or [email protected]
the ballet “Pepito’s Story”, “Soul Possessed”, as well as “Oman O Men”, and “The Chocolate
Hot Nutcracker, choreographed by Debbie Allen. And as mentioned above, he was awarded an
Emmy for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life,
“For Love or Country” starring Andy Garcia.

Arturo Sandoval reaches beyond the scope of mere effort. His struggles while in Cuba and since
his defection have given him more energy and strength, urging him to accomplish and surpass
his childhood dreams. Filled with a virtuoso capability, he desires nothing more than to share his
gift with others who feel the same intense adoration for music as he does. One frequently speaks
of Arturo Sandoval’s virtuoso technical ability or his specialty in high notes, but he who has seen
him on the piano, lyrically improvising a ballad, or has had the opportunity to enjoy the diversity
of his music, through his compositions from the most straight ahead jazz, Latin jazz or classical,
knows that Arturo Sandoval is a prominent musician, and one recognizes that Arturo is one of the
most brilliant, multifaceted and renowned musicians of our time.

Miles is an active freelance performer in a wide variety of musical genres. In addition to his position in the Long Beach Symphony, he is also 3rd trumpet in the Santa Barbara Symphony, a full-time trumpet player in the Disneyland Band, and a member of Presidio Brass, a nationally and internationally touring brass quintet.  He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Redlands and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at California State University Fullerton. 

He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony and Pops, New West Symphony, California Philharmonic, and many other regional orchestras and groups throughout Southern California. From 2011-2013, he played lead trumpet for Carnival Cruise Lines in numerous showbands performing in their production shows and live variety sets.  

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, trumpet virtuoso, Byron Stripling, has ignited audiences internationally. As soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being featured soloist on the PBS television special, Evening at Pops, with conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart. Currently, Stripling serves as artistic director and Conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Toronto Symphony, and Dallas Symphony, to name a few. He has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at jazz festivals throughout the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, Mr. Stripling was chosen, following a worldwide search, to star in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical, Satchmo. Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of From Second Avenue to Broadway. Television viewers have enjoyed his work as soloist on the worldwide telecast of The GRAMMY Awards. Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme songs including 20/20, CNN, and soundtracks of favorite movies.

Mr. Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck Clayton in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band. Mr. Stripling enjoys conducting seminars and master classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools. His informative talks, combined with his incomparable wit and charm, make him a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages. Mr. Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. One of his greatest joys is to periodically return to Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest lecturer.

A resident of Ohio, Mr. Stripling lives in the country with his wife, former dancer, writer and poet, Alexis and their two beautiful daughters.

Darren Mulder enjoys an active performing, teaching and recording career in Southern California. He has been a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1996, and he actively works with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera, Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and Santa Monica Symphony. Darren spent three years as principal trumpet of the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s Philharmonic Orchestra. He also enjoyed performing at the Spoleto Festival of the Two Worlds in Italy. He is currently trumpet professor and wind ensemble director at The Colburn School of the Performing Arts. Darren earned a Bachelor’s degree in music education from CSU Long Beach and a Master’s degree in trumpet performance from the USC.

Tenured in 2001

Marissa Benedict has been a freelance trumpet player in the Los Angeles area for 33 years. As well as playing in The Long Beach Symphony, she is also principal trumpet in The Pasadena Symphony and the Pasadena Pops Orchestra. She plays with such groups as The Los Angeles Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra and The Long Beach Municipal Band. She can be heard on nearly 100 motion picture recordings and to name a few; Indiana Jones IV, Avatar, Sucker Punch, War of the Worlds and The Terminal. While staying busy with her music career she and her husband Mike just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and have raised three children. Katelyn has just graduated from Eastman School of Music in French horn performance, Andrew is in his 3rd year as a Nutrition major at Chico State and their youngest Cori is a junior in high school.