Santi Debriano (b. 1955) has been composing and performing contrabass and ensemble music professionally since 1982 throughout North America, Europe, and the Far East.
His abilities as an improviser, arranger, and composer have made him a favorite of such greats as Archie Shepp, Sam Rivers, Pharaoh Sanders, Oliver Lake, Freddie Hubbard, and others.
His work as a leader has been documented on several recordings with his groups. After completing his B.A. at Union College, graduate work at the New England Conservatory under Tiny Martin and Miroslav Vitous, and M.A. at Wesleyan University, Debriano joined Archie Shepp’s quartet for four years.
After a three-year stint living in Europe, where he performed regularly with the Sam Rivers Trio, he relocated to New York in 1985.
Once in NY, Debriano began working with a wide variety of musicians in the greater New York community including Kirk Lightsey, Sonny Fortune, Chico Freeman, Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Louis Hayes, Danilo Perez, and others.
He focused on composing for a pair of cooperative groups, Panamaniacs with pianist Danilo Perez, and the bass trio Castle Magic, with bassists Essiet Essiet and Harvie S.
He now leads the band Flash of the Spirit, in which he showcases his modern jazz and Latin jazz compositions. Their latest cd, Flash of the Spirit, will be released in January 2020.