Antonio Sanchez

Jazz drummer Antonio Sánchez achieved pop culture recognition for his percussive score to director Alejandro González Iñárritu's offbeat tragicomedy film "Birdman" (2014). Long prior to this, however, Sánchez had staked out a reputation as a distinguished and prolific performer within his chosen genre. A bona fide musical prodigy, the Mexico City native sat behind his first drum kit at the age of five and was playing professionally by the time he reached adolescence. As a university student, Sánchez attended the finest institutions -- including Mexico's National Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and the New England Conservatory -- then attained his big break in 1997, when college professor Danilo Perez helped him land the drum chair in the Dizzy Gillespie United Nations Orchestra. Not long after, Perez also invited Sánchez to join his touring trio, and then to record on his 2000 album Motherland. On that tour, Sánchez met jazz guitar legend Pat Metheny, who instantly grew impressed with him, then brought him into The Pat Metheny Trio as a regular member. In that capacity, Sánchez performed on the ensemble's recordings Day Trip (2008) and Unity Band (2012). Concurrently, Sánchez recorded several albums with himself as leader, including Migration (2007), Live in New York (2010), and New Life (2013), each of which drew widespread popular and critical acclaim. He also netted several Grammys along the way for his work with Metheny. Critics lauded Sánchez's contributions to "Birdman," many noting his score's ability to perfectly complement the cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki and the conception of a two-hour film presented as one extended single take. The score constituted Sánchez's first contribution to a motion picture.