Led by the Grammy-winning percussionist, the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band is, arguably, the most popular Latin jazz group in the world today. The three-horn, three-percussionist octet has been raising the roof for almost 30 years with its torrid, polyrhythmic, highly syncopated explorations of the danceable groove where Afro-Cuban meets bebop jazz. Born in 1951 in Texas and raised in Los Angeles, Sanchez was inspired by Cuban conga master Mongo Santamaria to devote himself to becoming a top-flight conguero (conga player). Sanchez first gained international attention as a member of Cal Tjader’s Latin jazz band from 1975-1982. Sanchez has led his own band since 1980 and has recorded more than 20 albums since making his recording debut in 1979; his most recent is Raise Your Hand, Sanchez’s 22nd release for the Concord Picante label. Sanchez won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance for his 1998 album Latin Soul.