Otmaro Ruiz & Bruno Mangueira

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 moved 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 he 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 an 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… In 2019, Otmaro’s album titled “Elemental” received two Latin Grammy Nominations.

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. In 1998 he moved to the city of Campinas, where he completed his bachelor's, masters and a doctorate in music from the University of Campinas (Unicamp). He also lived in São Paulo, New York City and Cincinnati, where he developed part of his doctoral studies as a visiting scholar at the University of Cincinnati.

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.

Appearing as a soloist with symphony orchestras and big bands in Brazil and the U.S., he has worked as an arranger and musical director for various CDs, DVD and concerts. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by orchestras and big bands in several Brazilian and North American cities.

His recordings as a group member include the CDs of the Trio Azeviche (2007), big band Banda Urbana (2011), and trio with Nailor Proveta and Carlos Roberto Oliveira on Companhia Sarau – Mostra Instrumental (2007).

His first album as a soloist, Bruno Mangueira (2009), featured appearances by Toninho Horta, Nailor Proveta, Toninho Ferragutti, and Léa Freire. This album was released at the TV show Instrumental SESC Brasil (SescTV), recorded in a live concert in São Paulo, and also had a concert in New York City. It was pre-nominated for the Brazilian Music Award.

Bruno’s second CD, Camburi (2013), features guest Brazilian artists Leila Pinheiro, Filó Machado, Beth Bruno, and Gilson Peranzzetta. It was released in Brazilian and U.S. cities, including Bruno’s concert with the symphony orchestra and big band at the University of Louisville Jazz Fest 2014 — an event that also featured bassist Christian McBride.

His current projects include Brazilian major singer Zizi Possi's new show "Zizi Possi sings Chico and Edu", featuring songs by Chico Buarque and Edu Lobo, and the completion of a CD in collaboration with pianist Phil DeGreg, recorded in the USA.

His educational activities include the Sao Paulo State Music School (2009–11), 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, Harmony and Improvisation and Ensembles, and also coordinating the project "Música Popular UnB" and the Guitar and Popular Music Lab (LGMP).

Awards

Otmaro Ruiz - Grammy Nominated Artist