Although the music he heard as a child was dominated by the influence of his native land, Sagebin also listened to jazz and classical music. He first worked professionally in São Paulo, Brazil, as a studio musician and composer. In 1985 he won the Best Original Soundtrack Award for Short Animated Film at the Gramado Brazilian Film Festival. In the 90s, he spent time in Tokyo, performing with a band led by singer-percussionist Babe Hanna. Over the years, Sagebin, who has worked throughout the Americas and in Europe, has played with many artists, including Joe Henderson and Antonio Carlos Jobim. For his 2003 trio set When Baden Meets Trane he selected music to display his range of interests. In particular, his compositions reflected upon influences from European and South American classical composers as well as the two musicians named in the album’s title track, Baden Powell and John Coltrane. The fluid blending of Brazilian fire and grace with the hard bop styling of Sagebin’s piano playing proved potent and garnered many favourable reviews. His trio for this date included bass player Santi Debriano and drummer Paulo Braga.