ESSENCIA
Venezuelan piano virtuoso Otmaro Ruiz and rising Brazilian guitar maestro Bruno Mangueira have released a new album titled "Essencia" (Blue Canoe Records). The album combines Venezuelan and Brazilian traditions along with American jazz and European classical influences.
All the compositions are by Otmaro and Bruno, except for Obsesion by Don Pedro Flores and Tu Mi Delirio by Cesar Portillo de la Luz.
They, Otmaro and Bruno, are also the producers of the album "Essencia", which has a duration of 1 hour: 21 min., which you can enjoy listening to, dancing on a little brick.
Otmaro Ruiz:
Born in Caracas, Venezuela. Otmaro began his musical studies at the age of eight, at the "Juan Manuel Olivares" Conservatory, where he attended academic classes which covered: theory, harmony, ear training, history & aesthetics, and analysis. This included eight years of Classical Guitar studies with professor Jose Maria Verdu.
In 1989, with partial financial aid from the Ministry of Culture (CONAC), he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he culminated his academic training at the California Institute of the Arts (CALARTS), receiving a Master Degree in Jazz Performance (1993), studying with professors David Roitstein, Paul Novros, Charlie Haden, Alfred & Kobla Lapzecko, and Amiya Dasgupta.
Otmaro has recorded 5 solo projects: "Otmaro Ruiz plays Ryuichi Sakamoto" (MIDI Inc, 1991), "Distant Friends" (MIDI Inc. / Moo Records -1993 Japan/1996 U.S.), "Nothing to Hide" (MIDI Inc./MMP Records – 1996 Japan/1999 U.S.) and “Latino” (M&I Japan 2005). His latest solo production as a leader, “Sojourn”, was released in early 2008 to raving reviews worldwide. His TV jingles in Venezuela have won him the prestigious ANDA Award 3 times, and he has received the prestigious recognition from the "Venezuelan National Institute of the Arts" for his professional achievements in a foreign land. In 2000, Otmaro Ruiz was awarded a Grammy certificate for his participation on Dianne Reeve's "In The Moment – Live in Concert" and was nominated in the same year for his collaboration as composer/performer in Alex Acuña's release "Acuarela de Tambores”. His work as a composer for the "Weston Woods Studios" children release "Chato and The Party Animals" won the "2004 Audie Award", the CINE Golden Eagle and the Bronze REMI at the 2004 Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival in the Children Production Category. His has written the soundtrack for 5 short animation films by celebrated director Ricardo Barahona, which have obtained international recognition in the Film Festival Circuits. Otmaro was voted “Pianist of the Year” and “Artist of the Generation” 2008 for the Latin Jazz Corner Magazine. In 2012, Mr. Ruiz was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music by Shepherd University and his work as arranger/producer received the recognition of the American Academy of Recording Arts with a Nomination for the Grammy Awards 2016 (Catina DeLuna and LADO B Brazilian Project). This project, his latest, has elevated Brazilian popular music to new levels, according to the immense volumes of international reviews. In 2019, with his Trio “Elemental” featuring Jimmy Haslip and Jimmy Branly, Otmaro got a Double Nomination at the Latin Grammy Awards for “Best Arrangement” and “Best Jazz Album”. His latest duet project with famed Brazilian guitarist Bruno Mangueira, Essência, an elegant and intimate mix of South American, Jazz and European musical traditions, was released in March 2020 and is already catching the attention of the international reviewers and specialized critics.
Otmaro was part of the keyboard department at Cornell School of Contemporary Music (Glendale, CA) and also was an adjunct Jazz Piano Faculty at University of Southern California for over 6 years. He teaches privately, and conducts Jazz Piano seminars and workshops in the United States and around the world, still finding time for recording sessions in Los Angeles, and leading his own quintet which includes: Jimmy Branly on drums, Carlos Del Puerto on acoustic bass, Larry Koonse on guitar and Katisse Buckingham on sax/flute. He works in his own recording studio in Santa Clarita, CA.
Bruno Mangueira:
BRUNO MANGUEIRA was born in Vitoria, Brazil in 1978. He has been appearing on the Brazilian and international scenes as a guitarist, composer and arranger. He started playing guitar at the age of 4, through his father. At 16 he began his professional activities as a big band guitarist.
Bruno has participated in concerts and recordings alongside Brazilian artists including Zizi Possi, Leila Pinheiro, Toninho Horta, Nelson Ayres, Gilson Peranzzetta, Paulo Jobim, Filó Machado, Sizão Machado and Helio Alves. His work with American artists has included Phil DeGreg, Rick DellaRatta, Mandy Gaines, Kim Pensyl and Paul Keller. In Paris, he has played with Leonardo Montana, Bruno Schorp and Fred Pasqua.
His recordings include the CDs Azeviche, (2007) Bruno Mangueira (2009), Camburi (2013), Without Borders (2019), and Essência (Blue Canoe Records, 2020). The last two albums were produced in the U.S., in collaborations with pianists Phil DeGreg and Otmaro Ruiz.
His educational activities include the Sao Paulo State Music School – Tom Jobim, numerous guest masterclasses and workshops in Brazil and at North American universities including the Univ. of Louisville and Univ. of Cincinnati. He is currently a professor at the University of Brasilia (UnB), specializing in Brazilian and Jazz Guitar and Harmony.
Viva The Latin Jazz!!
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Note: More information in "THE BIBLE OF LATIN JAZZ" book (Amazon).
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