Rhythms of Latin Jazz flowed through the Hering Auditorium on Sunday as Poncho Sanchez's band made its second appearance in Fairbanks after four years.

"We just came from Columbia. And you feel uneasy because you hear stories of muggings and ransoms," said Sanchez, referring to the recent jazz festival in Medelin, Columbia. "But Alaska's a nice get-away to a place not so hectic. Clean and fresh, you know. And the salmon is great."

The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band has nine members and even more percussion and brass instruments. While dedicating a song to a young birthday-girl in the crowd, doing tribute to other artists, the band played music from their past records, including their newest album "Do It."

With his trademark hat, full beard and conga necklace, Sanchez played his three congas with a smooth, energetic motion to an enthusiastic crowd. Though he sat in the center of the stage, each band member took regular turns at solos, which brought a cheering reaction from the crowd.

Before the show, Sanchez admitted that he might have a couple butterflies.

"But that's healthy, I think, you know," Sanchez said. "This is still fun. That's why I do it. And we have a lot of young guys in the band now who keep me going."

Sanchez, now going on 55, began his own career in Cal Tjader's Latin Jazz ensemble in 1975. In 1983 he began recording with Concord Records and hasn't broken with them since.

Sanchez thought he was a big shot in the seventh grade when he learned to pluck a few tunes on the guitar. Excited to show off his skills to friends in his hometown of Los Angeles, he took a step back when his best friend, Ralph, announced he was part of a whole band.
"My mouth just kind of dropped open," Sanchez explained. "I said, 'You have a band!"

His friend's band needed only one space to be filled -- lead singer.
"So I got up and did the best impression of James Brown I could," Sanchez said.
It wasn't until high school that he picked up on the congas. Listening to his older siblings records, Sanchez taught himself to play at the age of sixteen.

"Latin rhythms came second nature, you know," said Sanchez, "because it's what I listened to at home."

It's a good thing too, because the 2000 Latin Grammy Award winner does not read or write music. As a composer, Sanchez said that he's a last minute kind of guy, and writing music requires a little assistance from band members' trombonist Francisco Torres and pianist David Torres.

"They come over, I hum the melody, they plunk it out on the piano, and write it down," Sanchez said.

"I'm not a great composer," Sanchez said, with a bit of a laugh. "But I have 30 tunes, so I guess I'm not so bad."

Even though Francisco and David are "real good composers," as Sanchez said, "Somehow I always meet them at the finish line."