Finding Inspiration at the Villa
Poncho Sánchez, an icon of Latin jazz, was captivated by the refined ceramic vessels, the architecture, and the serene atmosphere of the Villa Outer Peristyle
Poncho Sánchez
Photo: Chris Tuite
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All kinds of creative people—including Poncho Sánchez—come to the Getty for inspiration.
On his visit to the Getty Villa Museum a few years ago, renowned Latin Jazz musician Poncho Sánchez climbed to the top of the amphitheater to take a panoramic view. He said out loud, “Wow, look at this!” he recalls.
Sánchez, a percussionist, band leader, and salsa singer (think “Baila Baila”) won a Grammy in 2000 for Best Latin Jazz Album, and his congas are on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
During his visit, Sánchez and his wife also joined up with 25 members of his 100-member family. “We’re always looking for ways to make memories together,” he says. His niece Marcia Sánchez, a docent at the Villa for eight years, had organized the trip and was providing a personal tour of the antiquities she introduces to visitors.
She made a special effort, she remembers, to include music-related works, such as the Fragments of a Sarcophagus with Muses, which shows one of the subjects holding a lyre.
“I also told him of the patronage system that supported artists in ancient times, because it’s a good example of the importance of the arts in history,” Marcia recalls.
Sánchez recollects being particularly struck by the Greek ceramic vessels on display. “What I like is that someone made them with their own hands,” he says. He photographed the wall texts next to some of the objects so he could read them again later and find answers to the questions bubbling up. “I wondered if ancient drums were made out of ceramic,” he says.
Poncho Sánchez (second from left) and his family at the Getty Villa Museum.
Photo: Cordelia Sánchez
Outside the galleries, he was fascinated by the “impressive architecture” and the “gorgeous” Outer Peristyle, where he caught up with his siblings, nieces, nephews, and in-laws and took family photos.
After his three-hour visit, Sánchez resolved to return soon. He’ll have more time, now that he’s scaled back to playing just two concerts per month and recently finished up his latest album, Live at the Belly Up Tavern. And the Villa might inspire him in his other projects: researching the history of Latin jazz, soul, and traditional Cuban music and writing an autobiography.
“The Villa can inspire you because it is gratifying to see how each piece of art tells a story. I’ll come back with my mind and heart even more open,” he says.
