Born in Mexico City, Antonio Sanchez began playing the drums at age five and performed professionally in his early teens. He pursued a degree in classical piano at the National Conservatory in Mexico, attended Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in Jazz Studies. Since moving to New York City in 1999, Antonio has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the international jazz scene. Following 17 years as one of the most revered collaborators with guitarist / composer Pat Metheny, he also has recorded and performed with many other most prominent artists. In 2014 he scored for Alejandro González Iñárritu's Academy Award-winning film, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and for which he won a Grammy award. Additional film/tv projects included EPIX network's Get Shorty.
His recent projects to date include Bad Hombre a socio-political electronica & rhythm epic. Channels of Energy released this past year, an ambitious project with the WDR Big Band with arrangements of his works by Vince Mendoza. His January 2019 release, Lines in the Sand, with his band Migration, is a passionate work. Sanchez turns his political anger into a moving musical statement, as much a protest against injustice as a tribute to every immigrant’s journey.
To date Antonio has been awarded 5 Grammy’s, nominations for Golden Globe & Bafta, World Discovery New Artist Discovery Award, 2 Echo Awards (Germany) and a nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album of 2017 Bad Hombre.