Damian J. Sanchez revels in carrying the torch for jazz in Miami. Winning the 2015 Buskerfest Miami competition allowed the multi-instrumentalist to complete and release his debut recording titled Sessions 33 1/3, and the artist will make it official on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 305 Brews in Wynwood (3535 NW 2^nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137). Showtime is at 8 p.m., there is no cover, and all age are welcome.
 
“This debut album serves as a global jazz revue, a little bit of everything for everybody,” says Sanchez. “It captures all the different periods of jazz, while establishing a new and singular voice in this music through original compositions, and our unique ‘genre-crossing’ technique.” In other words, the release is an attempt to survey the entire history of jazz in one compilation, from beginning to end.
 
Upon his return to Miami from Memphis in 2013, Damian sensed a dearth of jazz in Miami. Spurred by the perceived negative opinion of the musical style in South Florida, Sanchez set out to not only preserve the music and educate listeners, but to expand upon the works created by those who came before him.
 
The new release contains 10 tracks ranging from traditional, early 20^th century jazz, to Sanchez’s modern day take on jazz fusion, covering everyone from Louis Armstrong to Keith Jarrett. Sanchez recorded them in part at the Miami International University of Art & Design, and partly during Sebastian Vega’s Wynwood Sessions, in March of 2014. Damian had a hand in the production of the tracks, mastered the tunes himself, and even takes a turn on vocals on “Fotos En Un Album Sin Tu Amor” (Pictures in an Album without Your Love), a Spanish-language jazz / blues number.
 
Featured players on the recording are: Carlos Avila on trombone, Shay Eishen, drums, Mike Bishop on guitar, Axel Aleman (bass), and Sanchez on all woodwinds, nylon string guitar, and vocals. The collection was edited and mixed by Andrew Yeomanson, AKA DJ Le Spam at City of Progress Studio in North Miami. Recording credit goes to Vega. Damian designed all of the album artwork and wrote the liner notes.
 
These days he’s focused on the jazz projects that live under the Damian J Project umbrella, which include: TRAD305 (New Orleans-based nascent jazz), Los Havana Knights (of origins of Latin jazz in Cuba), Swingin’ Sensations (covers the 30’s and 40’s swing / big band era), and Made From Scratch, an electronic scratch / improv collaboration.