Sabater's Bio

Bronx born protégé, was destined to extend the Sabater reputation within the music industry. Among the salsa greats that carved their own Hollywood stars in the 60’s, was the legendary Jimmy Sabater Sr., Jimmy Jr’s own father, who’s velvet voice would echo internationally and still remains until this day as his key signature. While other children played with blocks and crayons, Jimmy Jr’s playpen was a house flooded with accomplished musicians that soon became his family. Among these were Eddie and Charlie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, Tito Puente, Bobby Capo, Nicky Marrero, Joey Pastrana, Machito, Chocolate, Cheo Feliciano and others he spent quality with, such as Victor Paz. The environment for this youngster was rich in melodies and creative composers. Jimmy Jr. tagged along for his dad’s performances with the Joe Cuba Sextette, eventually sleeping over many of the musician’s homes. He practically grew up with Willie Colon, Jr. and Danny Palmieri.

Jimmy Jr. attended 5th grade at C.S. 232 where he become one with the trumpet. He later took his studies to the Johnny Colon Music School under the supervision of Jerry Gonzalez. Jimmy Jr. became a senior band member and performed alongside up and coming talent Ricky Gonzalez in the school’s jazz band. After graduation he attended City College and of course, as a fish would be out of water, he sought immediate placement in the music ensemble under the direction of both Bob Norton and Jimmy Heath. Right around this time Jimmy Sr. and Charlie Palmieri formed a group called ‘Combo Gigante’. Here they recruited locals Barry Rodgers, Dick Taco Mesa and Mauricio Smith. As destiny would dictate it was an honor for Jimmy Jr. to share the stage with such giants. They all went on to perform on infamous stages like The Village Gate with the memorable event ‘Salsa Meets Jazz’. This created such a magnetic atmosphere that it attracted jazz wonders  pianist Mckoy Tyner and Kenny Burrell. Events like these lead to historic endeavors with legends Vicentico Valdez and an explosive stage bombshell at the time, La Lupe.

Jimmy Jr. went on to perform and record 2 albums with Conjunto Cache, yet while playing with the Ray Ramos Orchestra he was recruited by Peter Nater to play with Grupo Fascination, denominated one of the hottest bands of the 80’s, here he jammed with former Fania All-Stars Sal Cuevas and Eddie Montalvo. Other side gigs included events at Casa Borinquen with Ray Barretto’s pianist and very dear friend Ricky Gonzalez. At around this time Jimmy Jr. accepted a 20 year commitment to serve the city yet continued playing with the Harbor Conservatory Big Band, directed by Luis Bauzo and Tito Puente’s musical director Jose Madera – and again still extending his trumpet talents to play steady for Ray de La Paz, until Ray began to sing with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

The dynamic ‘father and son’ duo initiated history when both Jimmy Jr. and Jimmy Sr. recorded their very first album together entitled “MO”. On this album Jimmy Jr. sang backup vocals on 6 tunes and played flugul horn on other tunes while painting his own Hollywood cloud. He later lines that cloud with silver on ‘his pop’s’ 50th anniversary in music – When Jr. sat in to trade trumpet solos with John Walsh and Kevin Bryant. Latin extraordinaires Dave Valentin, Ray Barretto, Sonny Bravo and Little Johnny shared the stage paying tribute to the living legend Jaime Sabater Sr. for half a century of dedication to music. This classic celebration took place at the popular Birdland, NYC and pretty much sealed Jr’s fate with a kiss.  

This kind of trayectory steered Jimmy Jr. right into the path of film and t.v., eventually being casted in the movie “El Cantante” - a film lead by Rican Icons Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Here he portrays a trumpeteer in a band lead by 70’s salsa legend Hector Lavoe – a historic etching in the Sabater legacy. The trail continues with Jr’s collaboration on La India’s hot music video for Telemundo, Channel 47. Reiterating the “like father, like son” motto, a proud addition in film was an exclusive cameo on the Hector Lavoe docudrama “The Singer”, here Jimmy JR portrays his own father in a scene set in the 60’s when Hector Lavoe (portrayed by Raul Carbonell) was brought up on stage to perform with the “Joe Cuba Sextette”.

nd as every story must go on, Jimmy Jr. recently retired from serving his city and now opens a new chapter in the Sabater Book of Music. He’s pounded his years of experience and musical knowledge into an entity he calls “Los Salseros del Hudson” - an ensemble of 12 handpicked musicians that deliver an explosive sound and already had their first film experience as they portrayed the “Joe Cuba Sextette” – backing Jimmy Jr. in “The Singer” as well. “Large orchestras are a dying breed” says Jimmy Jr. “Although we play mambo and cha cha, most of our repertoire consists of tunes already recorded by my dad. I’m just trying to preserve the sound of yesteryear” he adds.  

Based Upstate, New York, “Los Salseros del Hudson” can be seen performing around surrounding areas – but it is Jr’s  vision, as his father’s was, to spread the tune of latin music all over the world while maintaining the family tradition alive for years to come.