Diversity benefits improvising musicians. The broader understanding of music that an artist holds, he or she can join a greater number of musicians in performance. The more varied experiences that improvisers carry in their minds, the more directions they can push music. The more technical abilities that a musician masters, he or she can throw more colors and shades into their final product. The more challenges that a spontaneous performer overcomes; he or she gains a series of ingrained responses to different musical situations. Diversity begets a long list of benefits for musicians.

The videos below contain two important Latin Jazz sax players showcasing their diversity. Paquito D’Rivera brings a second musical voice to a performance when he picks up his clarinet. His technical proficiency on clarinet equals his saxophone playing in every way, and of course his impeccable musicality remains consistent in every setting. There’s something in the way that he manipulates the tone and sonic qualities of the clarinet that brings different meanings to the music. David Sanchez explores a variety of Latin and jazz musical ideas, regardless of his original direction. His tone and phrasing often reflect Sonny Rollins, a logical influence due to Sonny’s highly rhythmic nature. Sanchez knows history though, and as he does below, can pull John Coltrane’s biting tone and free spirit into his statements.

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