[Cover photo credit to Ruben A. Hernandez]

Grammy-Award-winning percussionist and bandleader Poncho Sanchez has announced a new album, Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Jazz Band Live at the Belly Up Tavern. Recorded live at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California, the new live album showcases new arrangements of ten songs captured over the course of a single performance.

The new live record is out today, on March 28, 2025, via Regime Music Group marking the 31st album release of Sanchez’s career.

With the Belly Up Tavern newly outfitted for audio and video capturing, Sanchez saw the opportunity for a new milestone project and handpicked material from his catalog. Since the inception of ensembles under his own name beginning in 1980, Sanchez has operated by “having his band members bring new songs or arrangements to the table and collectively fine tuning them until they get his stamp of approval.” Preparing for the live recording was no different and was approached like any other recording project.