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Otmaro Ruiz
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz: Lado B Brazilian Project 2
by Pierre Giroux
Catina DeLuna and Otmaro Ruíz have once again teamed up to explore the rich tapestry of Brazilian music in Lado B Brazilian Project 2. As a follow-up to their earlier exploration of this repertoire, this album sees the duo delve even deeper into Brazil's lyrical and melodic treasures, producing results that are both innovative and rooted in tradition. They have assembled a stellar band to perform Ruíz's arrangements, including two carry-overs from their first edition: guitarist Larry Koonse and bassist ...
Continue ReadingCatina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz: Lado B Brazilian Project 2
by Katchie Cartwright
In a time of disembodied digital-only releases, luxuriously well-crafted albums like Catina DeLuna and Otmaro Ruiz's Lado B Brazilian Project 2, with physical disk, album notes, lyric translations and evocative graphics, can really be the balm. The project was born in 2015 with the release of Lado B Brazilian Project (Self Produced), which received a Grammy nomination in 2016. The idea was to interpret what we might call Great Brazilian Songbook--classics by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque, Dorival ...
Continue ReadingLiz Cole: I Want to Be Happy
by Richard J Salvucci
"Unfortunately, I became entangled in a variety of day jobs and set music on the backburner for a shameful number of years. Finally, I have realized that I don't want to work in an office." How often has some frustrated artist said just those words, or some variant? The music business is a tough one, and how many singers, pianists or other instrumentalist have harbored similar thoughts? Yes, everyone pays dues, but some pay more than others, and for a ...
Continue ReadingJeff Richman: XYZ
by Jim Worsley
XYZ could perhaps reference any number of things. Sparing us that rabbit hole, in this case it references boundaries pushed to their fullest extent with some exceptional new music from fusion guitarist Jeff Richman. Richman's previous release, Sizzle (Nefer Records 2017) was/is a record that lives up to its name. There is something to be said about not putting out a record every eighteen months, twenty-four months, or any other calendar-driven period. It would seem that Richman threw away the ...
Continue ReadingStaci Griesbach: My George Jones Songbook
by William H. Snyder
Some might question why write an All About Jazz review of an album featuring songs made popular by George Jones? Duke Ellington had the answer when he said, “There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind ... the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. If it sounds good it's successful; if it doesn't it has failed." Staci Griesbach and her colleagues have made good music ...
Continue ReadingJohannes Luley: Qitara
by Friedrich Kunzmann
Having made a name for himself with recent and ongoing progressive rock formation Perfect Beings, Johannes Luley released his debut record Tales From Sheepfather's Grove in 2013. While said effort was of rather mesmerizing and ambient nature, strongly inspired by Jon Anderson's Olias The Sunhillow, the guitarists current outing Qitara reflects his continuing explorations of the jazz world and the many possibilities of guitar manipulation. With the support of an impressive cast of musicians Luley has crafted a versatile collection ...
Continue ReadingOtmaro Ruiz: Sojourn
by Raul d'Gama Rose
The Chambers Dictionary describes the word “sojourn" as “a temporary residence or stay, as of one in a foreign land." Pianist Otmaro Ruiz's musical journey offers all the right cues for his Sojourn being so apt to document. Even though it gets somewhat personal at times, it is memorable for anyone interested in taking the journey with him. The obvious association of the word “Sojourn" is where all of Ruiz's simplicity ends. He has a truly complex character, in the ...
Continue ReadingOtmaro Ruiz - Sojourn (2008)
Source:
Something Else!
By PicoThese days, there's very little in the way of positive vibes coming out of Venezuela to U.S., so to balance things out, I'm going to offer up one: Otmaro Ruiz.Ruiz hails from Caracas, but his muse---not to mention his abilities on piano---brought him to the musically rich environs of Los Angeles as a young man. It wasn't long before he was landing quality gigs playing for the likes of John McLaughlin, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, ...
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Otmaro Ruiz Announces Los Angeles Dates to Support Latest Album, "Sojourn"
Source:
Michael Ricci
Widely considered to be one of the most important jazz musicians working today, Venezuelan pianist and composer OTMARO RUIZ is known for his unsurpassed virtuosity and versatility at the instrument, as well as for the lyricism and complexity of his compositions. A true jazz giant, he is at ease in all styles of music, from straight-ahead jazz to pop, rock, salsa, Afro-Cuban and fusion. One of the most sought-after session keyboardists in Los Angeles, Ruiz has performed in virtually every ...
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Primary Instrument
Keyboards
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Clinic/Workshop Information
Offering different session formats focusing on Modern Creative Improvisation, Piano technique and Styles (modern language, brazilian, and south american elements)
Photos
Music
XYZ
From: XYZBy Otmaro Ruiz
One Finger Snap
From: GiftsBy Otmaro Ruiz
O Escultor De Sons
From: EssênciaBy Otmaro Ruiz
Small Hotel
From: In2uitionBy Otmaro Ruiz
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Otmaro Ruiz
Instrument: Keyboards
Born: June 27, 1964
