A sophisticated jazz pianist,
Christian Sands emerged in the 2000s displaying his deep understanding of the post-bop and swing traditions. A protégé of the late
Dr. Billy Taylor,
Sands drew early accolades for his performances at the 2006 and 2007 Grammy Awards, as well as similar appearances alongside
Taylor at the Kennedy Center. Following early solo albums and work as a member of
Christian McBride's band, the pianist came into his own with his 2017 Mack Avenue debut,
Reach, and its 2018 follow-up,
Facing Dragons.
Sands was born in 1989 in New Haven, Connecticut, where he first started playing piano at age three, and by age five he was composing. As a teenager, he attended both the Neighborhood Music School and the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven. He was also a regular participant in the Jazz in July music camp at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he first met his mentor, pianist
Billy Taylor. After high school,
Sands further honed his skills at the Manhattan School of Music, where he graduated with his bachelor's and master's degrees. Since leaving school, he has performed with a bevy of luminaries, including
Lou Donaldson,
Kirk Whalum,
Phil Woods,
James Moody, and
Wycliffe Gordon.
As a solo artist,
Sands debuted with Footprints at age 12 in 2002. He followed up with 2004's Harmonia and 2008's Risin', the latter of which featured trumpeter
Josh Evans. There were also high-profile appearances at the 2006 and 2007 Grammys, including a duet with legendary pianist
Oscar Peterson.
Sands gained wider recognition performing as a guest of
Taylor at the pianist's 2006 and 2007 Jazz at Kennedy Center series. He then joined bassist
Christian McBride's outfit, contributing to albums like 2013's
Out Here and People Music. He also recorded with bassist
Ben Williams, and appeared with
the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, led by
Bobby Sanabria, on the Grammy-nominated Kenya Revisited Live.
In 2014,
Sands was a finalist in the American Pianists Association Jazz Fellowship Awards. Three years later, he released
Reach, his debut album for Mack Avenue Records. Featured on the record were guest appearances by guitarist
Gilad Hekselman, bassist
McBride, and saxophonist
Marcus Strickland. The following year, he returned on Mack Avenue with
Facing Dragons, which featured his core rhythm section of bassist
Yasushi Nakamura and drummer
Jerome Jennings, as well as contributions by
Strickland and trumpeter
Keyon Harrold. Coming off a two-year residency living in Shanghai,
Sands released
Be Water, which found him drawing inspiration from martial arts icon Bruce Lee. ~ Matt Collar