OTMARO RUIZ: Distant Friends

OTMARO RUIZ
Em 1997 assisti a um concerto de latin jazz em Miami, no qual se apresentou o grupo do saxofonista venezuelano Justo Almario. O pianista do grupo era o jovem OTMARO RUIZ, que me deixou boquiaberto, pela técnica, agilidade, lucidez do fraseado, "groove", etc. Um dos temas que o grupo tocou foi "The best is yet to come", de Cy Coleman, imortalizado por Frank Sinatra. Essa música é cheia de "armadilhas", pela sua complexidade harmônica. Mas Otmaro não deu a menor importância a essas dificuldades e transitou pelos tortuosos caminhos harmônicos, com montunos inacreditáveis, em altíssima velocidade. Coisa de craque. Eu estava em boa companhia, com Archie Peña (baterista) e Leo Quintero (guitarrista), ambos venezuelanos e velhos amigos de Otmaro. Depois do concerto fomos tomar uns drinques e conversei bastante com Otmaro, um gentleman, boa praça e boa pinta (o mulherio não tirava os olhos do cara)...
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OTMARO RUIZ
Otmaro Ruíz (born June 27, 1964, in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan pianist,
keyboardist, composer and arranger. A versatile and sophisticated musician, Ruíz has
excelled in several types of Latin, jazz, rock and pop settings. He began his formal musical studies at the age of eight on piano, classical guitar, harmony, history and aesthetics. He also was exposed to other artistic activities such as drawing and acting. At the same time, he studied organ and pursued a scientific career as a biologist at the Simón Bolívar University, but kept playing keyboards on the side, landing his first professional work in a pop group in 1980. Decided to focus entirely on music, Ruíz dropped out of school in 1983, playing in his native Venezuela often enough to gain a solid reputation. He toured and recorded with local
prominent artist and jazz and pop artist visiting his country, and also became a busy studio musician as a jingles composer and arranger, until he decided it was to time to move on and set new professional goals. In 1989 Ruíz moved to Los Angeles, California, where he finished his academic training at CalArts, obtaining a master's degree in jazz performance in 1993. In the meantime, he began playing with percussionist Alex Acuña, appearing in two albums during the early 1990s. He later recorded with Arturo Sandoval, which was followed in 1996 by a world tour supporting Gino Vanelli. The rest of the decade, he worked with Jon Anderson, Robbie Robertson, Herb Alpert and John McLaughlin. In the new millennium, he has recorded and toured with Dianne Reeves. Ruíz remains active up to the present day, generally recording and touring with L.A.-based groups and vocalists, and commanding his own projects. He also participated in an international jazz-project "JB Project" with American
bassist Brian Bromberg and Japanese drummer Akira Jimbo. They released two studio
albums: Brombo (2003) and Brombo II (2004)
(Source: wikipedia)
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ALBUM REVIEWS
Virtuosity and emotional intensity characterize the Latino flavored jazz of 35 year old Venezuelan pianist Otmaro Ruiz. He uses his piano to tell a kaleidoscope of stories always demonstrating a depth of human sensitivity. On one hand his compositions are lyrical and poetic. On the other, they are captivating, infectious and very exciting. The way Otmaro Ruiz plays piano is unique, his personal signature is on every note he plays.On Distant Friends, Otmaro is joined by some of the greatest names in contemporary jazz. The album features Peter Erskine on drums, Alex Acuna on drums and percussion, John Pena on electric bass, Dave Carpenter on acoustic bass, Ernie Watts on tenor sax, Justo Almario on soprano and tenor, and Pedro Eustache on flute and cuatro. The keyboardist perfectly captures all the fire
and beauty of Latin American rhythms in this collection of seven outstanding compositions. When a group of musicians such as this reach a thorough understanding of their instruments, the result is a straight forward form of expression that's free from unnecessary show boating. As you listen to the album, it slowly reveals a prodigious stylistic range and musical connection that resonates with the unguarded spontaneity of live performance. The album kicks off with the lively "Suelto Y Difrazao" in which John Pena's bass compliments Ruiz's crisp, clean riffs with responses by turn staccato and fluid. The level of energy continues with the beautiful title cut, "Distant Friends". Ernie Watts really shines with his superb tenor sax throughout this later day fusion of Brazilian influences and Weather Report flavored arrangements. Indeed, Wayne Shorter could even take some pointers from the amazing solos that Otmaro and Ernie trade back and forth. "Juego De Toque" bears a strong resemblance to the stylistic chops of Chick Corea, but much more interplay happens between the piano, and the sweet soprano solo provided by Justo Almario. Next,"El Primero" gives the listener a change of pace. It is a beautiful ballad, perfectly augmented by the deftly articulate acoustic bass of Dave Carpenter. "Beat by Beat" continues in the ballad tradition with Justo, Pedro, and Gilbert Castellanos adding a trio of wonderful horn accompaniment to Dave's upright, and the compelling piano of Ruiz. "Astoria's Princess" dedicated to Otmaro's sister Orlena, features some great ensemble playing and it's subtle shading is always well punctuated by Otmaro shifting in out out of time changes with ease and grace as the song slowly builds in intensity. The finale, "Criollisima" brings to mind the 60's collaborations of Stan Getz, and Antonio Carlos Jobim in the first 12 bars, but then swings into high gear. The musical conversation between Otmaro and Justo Almario on
soprano, and Pedro and Gilbert on flute and flugelhorn is a real standout. With this deftly articulated collection, Ruiz and his band have given the world a musical treat to savor. Highly recommended listening!
(Source: makimusic@earthlink.net )
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Otmaro Ruiz is a keyboard genius! Couldn't agree more with the previous review! Otmaro is truly gifted -- his music and this CD has an energy and passion that is beyond compare! I've seen him as a backup musician for Gino Vannelli and Dianne Reeves. He and his music deserve critical attention and acclaim! You will NEVER be disappointed in his live performances or recordings
(By TJ "snackytee" (Pennsylvania)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: assino em baixo dos comentários aí de cima. Não é sem razão que
Otmaro é "darling" de grandes artistas, dentre eles Oscar Castro Neves e Dori Caimmy (que já o requisitaram para gravações), Arturo Sandoval, Dianne Reeves, Gino Vanelli, etc. Otmaro é um pianista antenado com a modernidade, fruto de um enorme talento inato e muito estudo e aplicação. Sua música mescla a influência latino-americana e o jazz de vanguarda. Um "cracaço", o meu amigo OTMARO.
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OTMARO RUIZ: Distant Friends

TRACKS/FAIXAS
1. Suelto y Difrazao'
2. Distant Friends
3. Juego de Toque
4. Primero
5. Beat by Beat (*)
6. Astoria's Princess
7. CCS-Lax
8. Just in Time
9. Cuantos Años
10. Criollisima

(*) Faixa com defeito irrecuperável.
(*) Track with unrecoverable damage.

PERSONNEL & TRACK CREDITS :
Suelto Y Difrazao'
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards
John Peña: electric bass
Aaron Serfaty : drums
Alex Acuña: percussion

Distant Friends
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards
Dave Carpenter: electric bass
Alex Acuña: drums
Ernie Watts: tenor saxophone solo
Pedro Eustache: flutes
Gilbert Castellanos: flugelhorn

Juego De Toque
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards
John Peña: electric bass
Alex Acuña: drums, percussion
Justo Almario: soprano saxophone
Gilbert Castellanos: trumpet, flugelhorn

El Primero
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards
Dave Carpenter: acoustic bass
Aaron Serfaty: drums
Ernie Watts: tenor saxophone

Beat By Beat
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards, shakers
Dave Carpenter: acoustic bass
Peter Erskine: drums
Alex Acuña: drums
Justo Almario: tenor saxophone solo
Pedro Eustache: flutes, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Gilbert Castellanos: trumpet solo, flugelhorn

Astoria's Princess
Otmaro Ruiz: piano
Dave Carpenter: acoustic bass
Alex Acuña: drums, percussion

CCS-LAX
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards, vocal
Dave Carpenter: acoustic bass
Peter Erskine: drums
Justo Almario: soprano saxophone
Pedro Eustache: flutes solo, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Gilbert Castellanos: trumpet, flugelhorn

Just In Time
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboard solo
John Peña: electric bass
Alex Acuña: drums, percussion
Ernie Watts: tenor saxophone solo
Pedro Eustache: flutes
Gilbert Castellanos: trumpet, flugelhorn

Cuantos Años
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards, vocal
Dave Carpenter: acoustic bass
Aaron Serfaty: drums
Alex Acuña: percussion
Justo Almario: soprano saxophone solo
Ernie Watts: tenor saxophone
Pedro Eustache: flute solo
Gilbert Castellanos: trumpet flugelhorn

Criollisima
Otmaro Ruiz: piano, keyboards (guitar & F.Horn Samples)
John Peña: electric bass
Aaron Serfaty: drums
Alex Acuña: percussion
Justo Almario: soprano saxophone solo
Pedro Eustache: flutes, venezuelan cuatro
Gilbert Castellanos: flugelhorn