Peru is a beautiful country located as part of the continent of South America neighboring Ecuador and Colombia, Brazil to the East, Bolivia to the SouthEast, Chile to the South, and the Pacific Ocean to the West.

Visitors enjoy many wondrous sites that include Amazon rain forests, mountains, artistic landscapes: all encapsulated within a rich history that expands over 10,000 years.

With such a long history, Peru has undoubtable developed deep artistic values that define the richness of its unique culture.

One of the most recent developments in Peru has been the arrival of Jazz music. In the capable hands of Afro-Peruvian Jazz musicians like drummer Alex Acuna, Susana Baca, Gabriel Alegria, Jose Cespedes, Richie Zellon, and others, Jazz music has begun to develop roots in Peru.

Blending distinctly authentic Afro-Peruvian rhythms of Andean and Creole origin with indigenous instruments combined with the musical language of Jazz music has produced a unique and vibrant sound that has not only enriched Jazz; but, Afro-Peruvian Jazz may be the next new musical frontier waiting to be explored.

Among the new generation of young Afro-Peruvian Jazz musicians that are emerging on the national Jazz scene is pianist Kiki Sanchez. Born in Lima Peru, Sanchez began playing piano at age 11. Later he moved to Miami, Florida where he continued studying piano as well as cultivating a deep love for American Jazz.

His musical journey can now be heard on his debut CD entitled "Dreams." By today's standards, "Dreams" is enveloped in a smooth Latin Jazz format with a perfect balance of Afro-Peruvian rhythm and Jazz harmonies.

Although Sanchez is a young player, his musical interpretation is resounding, leaving the listener with admiration and much anticipation for greater things to come from a musician of such high caliber.

Recently, Kiki Sanchez has produced an instructional DVD called "The Real Latin Piano and the introduction to Afro-Peruvian Rhythms" that is also very much recommended. In it you'll find essential musical knowledge that accentuates the building blocks of Latin music, as well as offering a fresh introspective view on various Afro-Peruvian rhythms as applied to Jazz.

With all these great musical things happening in Kiki's life, it is no doubt that greater things are still to come for this young inspiring Jazz musician. It will be fascinating to watch Kiki's musical growth and bless the world with his music. More about Kiki at: www.kikisanchez.com