Cuban jazz legend Arturo Sandoval is bringing his trumpet to Shanghai for one night only. The guy has ten Grammys, an Emmy, and even a Presidential Medal of Freedom, but what really makes him worth seeing is the way he pushes the trumpet beyond its limits—soaring highs, thunderous lows, and pure fire on stage. If you’re into jazz (or just want to see a master at work), this is a no-miss.

Arturo Sandoval: The Trumpet Legend Returns to Shanghai

Ten Grammys. Nineteen nominations. Six Billboard Awards. An Emmy. A Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama, and a 2024 Kennedy Center Honor. Arturo Sandoval isn’t just a trumpeter—he’s a force of nature.

Born in Cuba in 1949, Sandoval grew up in poverty before falling in love with the trumpet at 12. His life changed forever when he met Dizzy Gillespie, who became both mentor and collaborator. Their story is jazz lore, and Sandoval went on to conquer the world stage, from the Grammys to the Oscars, while pioneering the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with bebop fire. HBO even turned his life into the Emmy-winning film For Love or Country, scored by Sandoval himself.

On September 19 at Huangpu Cultural Center · Da Shanghai Theater, the trumpet giant brings his all-star band for a night of blistering jazz, Afro-Cuban grooves, and the kind of showmanship that still leaves audiences in awe.

Setlist:

• Blues for Diz – a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie
• Having Fun – playful improvisation, pure joy
• Real McBop – bebop energy at its finest
• Sureña – southern rhythms with Cuban soul
• Dear Diz – heartfelt homage to a mentor
• Swinging – classic jazz swing, Sandoval style
• Soca Beat – Caribbean pulse on fire
• Bebop – lightning-fast, virtuoso runs
• Goza mi Timba – high-energy Cuban timba celebration
• Guarachand – traditional Cuban dance groove

Setlist is subject to change.

The Band:

Maximilian Gerl (Bass)

Texas-born, Berklee-trained, now one of LA’s busiest bassists, with appearances at Monterey Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz, and collaborations with Sandoval, Veronica Swift, and more.

Lisandro Pidre (Piano)

Argentine pianist who started at age 2, later trained at Berklee, with a background spanning classical studies and Hollywood film scoring under Hans Zimmer.

Daniel Feldman (Drums)

Grammy and Latin Grammy nominee from Mexico, blending Afro-Cuban, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern rhythms; Sandoval’s go-to drummer on global tours.

Carlos Maldonado (Percussion)

Grammy-winning Puerto Rican percussionist, equally at home in Afro-Latin jazz, symphonic work, and contemporary ensembles; currently artist-in-residence at University of Manchester.

Huang Ye (Saxophone)

Shenzhen-born rising star, the youngest Backun clarinet artist, now musical director of Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai’s Big Band and a protégé of Wynton Marsalis and Tan Dun.