Santi Debriano

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Santi Debriano is an American jazz bassist, composer, and teacher born on June 27, 1955, in Panama City, Panama.

Early life and education
Debriano grew up in Brooklyn after moving there with his family at age four. His father was a song composer in Panama. He began playing jazz as a teenager and went on to study at Franklin K. Lane High School. From 1972 to 1976 he studied composition and politics at Union College in New York. He later attended the New England Conservatory of Music and Wesleyan University.

Career
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Debriano worked with Archie Shepp. He then moved to Paris and played with Sam Rivers for three years before returning to New York City, where he has lived in Staten Island. He has led his own groups, including Circlechant, a world-music influenced ensemble that has featured players such as Helio Alves, Will Calhoun, and Abraham Burton. He also leads Flash of the Spirit.

As a sideman, Debriano has worked with many renowned artists, including Larry Coryell, Sonny Fortune, Hank Jones, Don Pullen, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, Chucho Valdés, and Randy Weston.

Debriano’s recent projects include Ashanti, released in 2022 on Jojo Records. He also performs regularly on guitar with his organ-based group that features vocalist Nina Shanka. His work has been widely broadcast, including National Public Radio, WBGO, and WNYC. He collaborated with Garth Fagan and Don Pullen on the dance piece Sacred Common Ground in 1995.

Beyond performance, Debriano has contributed to documentary films about jazz, including Bird Now (1988) and Check the Changes (1996). He served as the music director for arts at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey, and received a jazz-education award from New York University in 2001.

Discography
As leader
- Obeah (1987, Freelance)
- Soldiers of Fortune (1989, Freelance)
- Panamaniacs (1997, Evidence)
- Circlechant (1999, HighNote)
- Artistic License (2001, Savant)
- 3-Ololy (2006, Bellaphon)
- Flash of the Spirit (2021, Truth Revolution)
- Ashanti (2022, JoJo Records)

As sideman
Debriano has appeared on numerous albums with a wide range of artists, including Larry Coryell, Sonny Fortune, Hank Jones, Don Pullen, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, Chucho Valdés, Randy Weston, Bill Barron, Baikida Carroll, Jim Pepper, Charlie Rouse, David Murray, Bob Thiele Collective, Larry Willis, and others.

Santi Debriano is recognized for his rich contributions as a bassist, his inventive compositions, and his commitment to jazz education and community music.