Santi Debriano

He worked with Archie Shepp in the late 1970s and early 1980s, then moved to Paris and played with Sam Rivers for three years. He then returned to New York City. He currently lives in Staten Island.[3][4]

Debriano has led several of his own units, including small groups in the late 1980s and Circlechant, a world music-influenced ensemble which has had among its members Helio Alves, Will Calhoun, and Abraham Burton.[2] As a sideman and bandmember, he has worked with Larry Coryell, Sonny Fortune, Hank Jones, Don Pullen, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, Chucho Valdes, and Randy Weston.[1]

He leads an ensemble called Flash of the Spirit.[5] Santi's latest release is titled "Ashanti" is on JoJo Records.[6] Santi also performs frequently on guitar, with his organ group that features vocalist Nina Shanka.[7] His several concerts were broadcast by National Public Radio, WBGO and WNYC.[8][9]

With the Garth Fagan and Don Pullen, he participated in the realization the dance piece Sacred Common Ground in 1995.[10]

Santi participated in the production of two documentary films on jazz with filmmaker Marc Huraux.[11] In 1988 he worked on a documentary film Bird Now[12] and during 1996 on Check the Changes.[11]

Debriano was also the music director for arts at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey, and was given an award for jazz education by New York University in 2001.[2]