Percussionist Antonio Sánchez Accompanies Birdman Screening at Kean University

Five-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez will perform BiRDMAN LiVE, the drum score to the 2014 Academy Award-winning movie live on stage, in conjunction with a screening of the film, on Friday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Kean Stage.

Sánchez 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 it "a groundbreaking soundtrack."

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."

Sánchez began playing drums at age five 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 playing 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 on the Kean University campus, Sánchez will host a master class for a group of music students from Kean's Music Conservatory.

"Being able to bring award winning artists to our stage is one thing, but to have such a heavyweight from the jazz world share his talent and interact with our students enriches our students' academic lives here at Kean," said Steve Cochran, manager of Kean Stage.

Tickets for Antonio Sánchez: 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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