Les Sabler

Guitarist and composer Les Sabler was born and raised in 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. Later he relocated to Florida and enrolled in graduate studies at the University of Miami Jazz Department and while living in Miami 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 many times since its initial release. In1990 he released his debut CD "Hidden Treasure" which brought Les national attention on Contemporary Jazz and NAC radio formats. He has performed with his group extensively since then, both as a headliner and as opening act for many touring recording artists, including Jeff Lorber, 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 has performed return engagements there on many occasions. His group has enjoyed contributions from a variety of very talented musicians including current and former band members of Richard Elliot, The Allman Brothers Band, Greg Allman Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Nat Adderly, Acoustic Alchemy and Ahmad Jamal. Les' second CD "Time For Love" was released in 1995 on Miami based Vision Records and received substantial national airplay on Smooth Jazz radio. His performance at the 1996 Clearwater Jazz Holiday has been broadcast several times on BET television network.

Les' 2003 release entitled "Bridge The Gap" (Music Force/Sin-Drome) was co-produced by Les and Allon Sams who has done extensive work with legendary Smooth Jazz producer Paul Brown. 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 received substantial play in many other significant markets. At smoothjazzcanada.com Les was #1 Canadian artist for 2003 and #8 overall. Four tracks have been in rotation on Music Choice (DirecTV/cable) including "Midnight Reflections" which reached #1 on their chart.

Les continues to keep an active performance itinerary and in 2003 joined forces with the reunited legendary Tampa group Citiheat. The group released three popular CD's during the 1990s and received numerous awards from Tampa Bay media and associations including: "Most Outstanding Jazz Band", "Best Entertainer/Group and "Best Jazz Artists".

Some notable press quotes about Les include the following: Players Magazine wrote, "Sabler has evolved into an extremely promising artist with a shimmering guitar style that is sleek, chic and sexy." Jazztimes labeled Les "a talented up and comer." A review in MAC stated, "Sabler's guitar playing is dynamic like John Scofield's, melodic like George Benson's and compelling like Jeff Beck's. But, Sabler's sound isn't just a conglomeration of his influences, his playing is clearly and refreshingly his own." CCM stated, "Les' guitar work is incredible".