Otmaro Ruiz | Bruno Mangueira - BLUE CANOE RECORDS

BIOGRAPHY

OTMARO RUIZ
Considered one of the most important jazz pianists in the current scene, Venezuelan Otmaro Ruiz is known for his versatility and virtuosity. After working intensively in Venezuela with artists such as Soledad Bravo and Ilan Chester, Otmaro moves to Los Angeles in 1989 to join the group of great names of the jazz world such as Alex Acuña, Justo Almario y Abraham Laboriel, with whom still collaborates in diverse projects.

With an intense musical career, filled with concerts, workshops and recordings worldwide, Otmaro worked for 5 years with Dianne Reeves as a pianist and musical director. During this period, Otmaro participated in the recording project of her CD “In The Moment – Live in Concert”, which won the Grammy Award 2001. In that same year, Alex Acuna’s album “Acuarelas de Tambores", also with Otmaro’s collaboration, was nominated to a Grammy. His collaboration with Weston Woods Studios for the Scholastic Series of animated children videos have won important recognitions like the “2004 Audie Award” in the Children Production Category and Bronze Remi at the 2004 Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival (for the Soundtrack of “Chato and The Party Animals”); Otmaro also received a Life Time Special Award “International Exposure” from the Venezuelan National Artist’s Institute (for outstanding career in a foreign country). In 2012, Otmaro was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Musical Arts from Shepherd University. His work as an arranger was recognized by the American Academy of Recording Arts with a 2016 Grammy Nomination...
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BRUNO MANGUEIRA
Born in 1978 in Vitoria, Brazil, Bruno Mangueira appears regularly on the Brazilian and international scenes as a guitarist, composer, and arranger. He has performed alongside Brazilian artists including Zizi Possi, Leila Pinheiro, Toninho Horta, Nelson Ayres, Filó Machado, Gilson Peranzzetta, Paulo Jobim, 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.

Mangueira has been featured as a soloist with symphony orchestras and big bands in Brazil and the United States. He has also arranged and been a musical director for numerous CDs, DVD, and concerts. His compositions have been performed by orchestras and big bands internationally. His recordings as a soloist include five CDs, two of them produced in the USA, in collaborations with pianists Phil DeGreg and Otmaro Ruiz.

He completed his doctorate in music at the University of Campinas, developing part of his studies at the University of Cincinnati (USA). He is currently a professor at the University of Brasilia, specializing in Brazilian and Jazz Guitar, Harmony, and Ensembles.

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LATEST RELEASE

Otmaro Ruiz - Bruno Mangueira - Essencia

Featuring:

Piano: Otmaro Ruiz
Guitar: Bruno Mangueira

All songs composed by Otmaro Ruiz and Bruno Mangueira (except for "Obsesion" composed by Pedro Flores and "Tu Mi Delirio" composed by Cesar Portillo De La Luz)

Produced:  Otmaro Ruiz & Bruno Mangueira
Tracking Engineer:  Ramon Huerta
Mixing/Mastering:  Jimmy Branly
Piano Technician:  Ron Tuttle
Photography:  Jay Matsueda
CD Layout Concept:  Pedro Lares
Graphic Design: Jay Matsueda, Pedro Lares