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At 13 you played your first professional gig with your
grandfather, pianist Bob Hayes, and famed trumpeter Lou
Colombo with whom you performed with for 10 years. Can you
tell us about your experience playing with legendary
musicians? What’s the best piece of advice they gave you? Any
memorable stories or performances you can share?
The old-school musicians played with amazing passion for the
music and weren't as concerned with technical ability - they
only wanted to play good music. My granddad and Lou were
both very loyal people - especially to me - and I have tried to
carry that loyalty with my friends and the musicians I play with.
The best piece of advice they gave me that we are entertainers
and our main job is to entertain and play for the audience.
Transitioning from a career in music to the banking industry
must have been a huge undertaking. I know that you’ve also
been involved with Culture and Art Advisory Committees
while in the banking industry. Please fill us in on how you
balance both of these passions and what impact your
involvement has had on fostering cultural and artistic
initiatives.
I've been fortunate to have been playing music for 20 years and
work in banking for 13 years. Being involved in the community
with these various endeavors has led to a lot of contacts and
that tends to support the other occupation.
KAREEM SANJAGHI THU, APR 04 | 7:30PM
What do you enjoy most about leading your own group and
freelancing as a drummer? Are there any drummers or musicians who have influenced
I think my biggest strength as a band leader is I let the other your style and approach to drumming?
musicians play without giving them direction. I've never Jazz drummer Jake Hanna and Green Day's drummer Tre Cool.
corrected someone on or off the bandstand. We discuss the Two musicians that play with a lot of energy and a relentless
songs and what arrangements to play - I find the musicians like pulse/drum beat that drove the bands they played in.
working with me because I let them do their job and that allows
them to play to the best of their ability without restrictions. If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, from
any genre or era, who would it be and why? What kind of music
do you imagine creating together?
I heard a band recently a few times in Nashville - Kelley's
Heroes - playing with an incredible sense of rhythm and
excitement and that is a band I'd love to collaborate with. I enjoy
playing all the musicians I play with, especially Ann Austin and
Fred Boyle who will be joining me at this concert.

FOLLOW KAREEM SANJAGHI

Kareem with Lou Colombo;
photo by Ed Maroney.