Cuban-born Arturo Sandoval, who is making his Hawaii debut this week, started playing music as a 13-year-old in a village band, learning the basics of music theory and percussion. And he hasn't stopped, either in his daily practices or 200 performances a year.
"OK," Sandoval says in a telephone interview from his Florida home near Miami, "modesty apart, my whole life I always perform and practice seriously. I never thought of music as a hobby or whatever. No, no, no.
"I always love and respect the career. And I think if anyone deserves what I have achieved I do, 'cause nothing came from heaven to me and I won no lottery. I just practice like a stupid guy every day of my life."
Sandoval, 57, is an energetic, exciting trumpeter whose flashing phrases, high-note acrobatics and dynamic, charismatic playing style was first noted in the group Irakere, which he founded with saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and pianist Chucho Valdes.
As a child, Sandoval had little exposure to jazz, only hearing traditional Cuban music, what he called "son", which was played by a septet with a trumpet and bongos.
Then one day, a fellow trumpeter played him a record by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. It changed Sandoval's life.
"It was love at first listen," he said, laughing. "Dizzy taught me many, many things but the most most important was to always love of the music, to talk about it, to be involved in it, and don't be afraid of it."
And he does, starting before dawn when he arises and even before brushing his teeth Sandoval plays the piano for 30 minutes.
"Music starts my day, maintains my life."
The constant traveling and performing has helped his creativity, Sandoval insists.
"You play in different places with different musicians and it all keeps you fresh and on edge."
In 1964, Sandoval began classical trumpet studies at the Cuban National School of Arts. After being discharged from the Cuban military, Sandoval formed Irakere, considered Cuba's most important jazz ensemble, with saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and pianist Chucho Valdes.
His talent led him to associations with many great musicians, the most important being Gillespie, whom Sandoval calls "my spiritual father."
The two musicians met in Cuba in 1977 when Gillespie was playing impromptu gigs throughout the Caribbean with saxophonist Stan Getz.
"I've never had a complex about meeting famous people," he said. "If I respect somebody, I go there and try to meet them."
After Irakere performed at the 1978 Newport Jazz Festival in New York, they signed with Columbia Records, but three years later, Sandoval, in search of new musical possibilities, formed his own band.
Sandoval and Gillespie began to play and record together regularly. And it was while touring with Gillespie's Grammy Award-winning United Nation Orchestra in Rome in 1990 that Sandoval requested political asylum.
He resettled in Miami, becoming a full professor at Florida International University, then recorded his American debut "Flight To Freedom."
Like Wynton Marsalis, Sandoval has a parallel career as a classical performer. His recording, "The Classical Album," features trumpet concertos by Hummel and Mozart as well as his own Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra. He continues to perform with symphonic orchestras worldwide as well as conduct clinics. He's also written and performed on several film soundtracks.
So what's next?
"Dunno. I don't spend much time thinking on the future. I concentrate on what I have to do tonight and tomorrow. My responsibility is to play good tonight."
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval performs:
Time:Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.