Antonio Sanchez to Perform BiRDMAN LiVE at Kean University

Five-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez will perform BiRDMAN LiVE at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at Kean Stage's Wilkins Theatre, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, N.J.

Sánchez will play the drum score live on stage while the 2014 Academy Award-winning film is shown on the screen. He is the composer of the Golden Globe and BAFTA-nominated score to director Alejandro Iñárritu's film, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). His innovative drums-only score contributed to the film's success at the 2014 Academy Awards, where it won four awards, including Best Picture.

The Los Angeles Times proclaimed the film's score "a groundbreaking soundtrack." Varietymagazine said, "Antonio Sánchez brings the Birdman score to life."

Sánchez has played with many of jazz's most acclaimed and influential bandleaders, including Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden and Joshua Redman.

"Antonio Sánchez is one of the most respected drummers working today," wrote Critical Jazz. "Sánchez transcends genre with the ability to literally play and adapt to any situation with virtually any ensemble."

At the age of five, Sánchez began playing drums in his native Mexico City. He moved to Boston to attend the Berklee School of Music and New England Conservatory, where he graduated magna cum laude in jazz studies. He relocated to New York City and soon became one of the most sought after drummers in the international drum scene. His music is featured on more than 100 albums, including 10 with Pat Metheny, three of which have been awarded the Grammy.

"It is thrilling to get on the bandstand with him every night," said Metheny. "You just can't wait to play with him."

Sánchez also leads his own bands and ensembles. He has released five critically-acclaimed albums and his debut, Migration, was called "one of the best releases of 2007" by All About Jazz. He was ranked #1 jazz drummer in Jazz Times' critics poll (2015) and Modern Drummer Magazine's reader polls (2015 and 2016).

While at Kean University, Sánchez will lead a master class with music students. Both the performance and master class, originally set for March 2, were rescheduled due to the nor'easter.

Tickets for BiRDMAN LiVE are $25 and can be purchased at the Kean Stage Box Office in Wilkins Theatre at Kean University, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, N.J., by phone at (908) 737-7469 or online at www.keanstage.com.

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