Les Sabler

b. c. 1956, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Playing guitar from early childhood, Sabler attracted interest while attending Vanier College in Montreal and later Concordia University, majoring in jazz. He played guitar on campus radio stations; although in his teens he played rock ‘n’ roll, during his university years he moved by way of the blues into jazz and fusion. Developing a formidable technique, Sabler played at leading Montreal clubs, such as the Esquire Show Bar and In Concert. He then attended the University of Miami, studying music and especially guitar. After leaving university, Sabler played in a trio on cruises. He drifted out of full-time music but in the late 80s, by which time smooth jazz had started to attract an expanding audience, Sabler found steadily more openings. Sabler retained links with Canada and in 1989 composed the soundtrack score for a television documentary, Lost Treasures Of The Titanic. He has toured North America, sometimes opening for headliners such as Richard Elliot, Diane Schuur and Spyro Gyra. In Florida, where he remains based, Sabler also plays with Citiheat. Among guitarists whose work proved to be an influence on him were George Benson, Larry Carlton, Wes Montgomery and Lee Ritenour. His records have received much airplay on Canada’s smooth jazz stations and in 2005 he was nominated as Best Guitarist and Best Album at the first Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.