Christian Sands, who was mentored by pianist Billy Taylor as a teenager, went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music and after graduating, she joined the band Inside Straight, which has toured internationally.
Sands was mentored by pianist Billy Taylor, who allowed the teenager to close one of the sets that Taylor played at the Kennedy Center. Sands went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music. After graduating, Sands joined Inside Straight, one of bassist Christian McBride's bands; they have toured internationally. 
