Santi Wilson Debriano (b. Santi Wilson Debriano (b. 1955 in Panama) was a jazz bassist. Debriano was born in Brooklyn and moved there with his family when he was four years old. After studying composition at Union College, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music as well as Wesleyan University. In the late 70’s and 80’s he worked with Archie Shepp. He then moved to Paris where he played for three years with Sam Rivers. After returning to New York City, he worked with Don Pullen and Sonny Fortune, Billy Hart and Chucho Valdes. He also played with Hank Jones and Cecil Taylor. Debriano has led many of his own units including small groups in late 1980s and Circlechant which was a world-music-influenced ensemble that had among its members Abraham Burton, Will Calhoun, as well as Helio Alves. Debriano was also music director for arts at Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood, New Jersey. He was awarded a New York University award in 2001 for jazz education.
