The offspring of a distinguished composer from Panama, Santi Debriano ranks among the most active jazz bassists working in the New York region. Beyond directing his own ensembles, such as the multicultural jazz collective Circlechant, he has held positions in the Don Pullen Trio, the Pharoah Sanders Group, the Sonny Fortune Group, the Billy Hart Band, the Louis Hayes Quintet, the Larry Coryell Group, and the Archie Shepp Quartet. In sideman roles he has shared stages with Chucho Valdés, Hank Jones, Cecil Taylor, Randy Weston, and Freddie Hubbard.
Having grown up in the United States since the age of four, Debriano had already taken up both guitar and bass by nine. He pursued composition studies at Union College in New York and concentrated on bass violin at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston before completing a master’s degree in music at Wesleyan University, where his focus centered on ethnomusicology and world music. During his tenure with the Archie Shepp Quartet in the late seventies he appeared on four recordings and participated in the documentary Imagine the Sound. After relocating to Paris he remained three years with the Sam Rivers Trio, then returned to the United States and established himself on the New York jazz circuit.
As a leader Debriano has explored multiple formats, guiding a two-bass quintet and a trio throughout the late eighties while also performing Latin repertoire as a member of the Panamaniacs. He continues to direct Circlechant, a culturally varied unit featuring Brazilian pianist Helio Alves, former Living Colour and Mos Def drummer Will Calhoun, and tenor saxophonist Abraham Burton.
Debriano has exerted comparable influence through education. Serving as music director of the performing arts program at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, NJ, he highlighted African, Afro-Caribbean, Latin American, and African-American traditions. In 2001 he received a jazz educator award from New York University.
