Les Sabler

Tampa Bay Smooth Jazz Artist. Perfect performer for that event that requires great music with style.

About Les Sabler

Guitarist and composer Les Sabler has been a Florida resident since 1978. Most of his years Florida were spent in Sarasota and he has lived in Tampa since 2000. Les is a native of Montreal, Canada and graduated as a Jazz major from Concordia University. During his college years he also worked as music director of the college radio station and spent many nights at "The Esquire Show Bar" and "In Concert" listening to and studying performances by many Jazz and Blues legends. Les moved to Florida to enroll in graduate studies at the University of Miami Jazz Department and while living there he performed and toured with a variety of Jazz, Latin and R&B bands which laid an important foundation for his composing and guitar style.

Les points to Larry Carlton, George Benson, Lee Ritenour and Wes Montgomery as influences but his music also draws from a variety of other influences outside the guitar realm. In 1989 he composed and produced an original soundtrack for the Canadian Television Network documentary "Lost Treasures of the Titanic", which chronicled the discovery of the sunken ship and retrieval of its artifacts. The documentary has been broadcast numerous times since its initial release.

In 1990 he released his debut CD "Hidden Treasure" which brought Les significant national attention on Contemporary Jazz and NAC radio formats. Les' second CD "Time For Love" was released in 1995 on Miami based Vision Records and also received considerable national airplay on Smooth Jazz radio. He has maintained an active performance itinerary with his group both as a headliner and as opening act for numerous touring acts including Spyro Gyra, Jeff Lorber, Michael Lington, Diane Schurr, Richard Elliot, Fattburger and many others. Les was selected by Walt Disney World to perform with his group at the opening of Pleasure Island Jazz Company and performed return engagements throughout the 1990's.

His group has enjoyed contributions from a variety of very talented musicians including band members of Richard Elliot, The Allman Brothers Band, Greg Allman Band, Dickey Betts, Marshall Tucker Band, Nat Adderly, Acoustic Alchemy, Ahmad Jamal and others. Les' 2003 release entitled "Bridge The Gap" (Music Force/Sin-Drome) was co-produced by Les and Allon Sams and several tracks have received substantial radio attention including the first single release, an instrumental arrangement of the Earth Wind and Fire classic, "Reasons". The track was on top 20 rotation at WJZZ / Philadelphia and WJST / Tampa for most of 2003 and continues to receive substantial play in many markets. On Canadian Smooth Jazz radio Les' composition and title track "Bridge The Gap" was the #1 Canadian and #8 overall for the year in 2003. Four selections from the CD have been in rotation on Music Choice (DirecTV/cable) including "Midnight Reflections" which reached #1 on their chart.

In 2005 Les was honored to receive nominations for Best Guitarist and Best Album for the inaugural Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Recent notable appearances included the 2005 Clearwater Jazz Holiday, opening for Spyro Gyra at Lakewood Ranch, FL, opening for Michael Lington in Orlando, FL, 2006 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA and several National Anthem performances for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Les is currently working on production of a new recording which is anticipated to be released in 2006.

Genres Performed by Les Sabler

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• R & B
• Smooth Jazz