Home » Jazz Musicians » Luis Munoz

Luis Munoz

Luis Muñoz is a composer, producer, arranger and percussionist from Costa Rica. He has released ten CDs of his compositions as a leader, all of them receiving multiple accolades and awards from the world media. His 2015 CD “VOZ”, a project with singers Claudia Acuña (Chile), Magos Herrera (México) and Téka (Brazil) was chosen by Downbeat Magazine among the “Best CDs of the Year” and by Jazziz Magazine among the “12 Best Albums of the Year”. Latin Jazz Network called it “A perfect Album” (5 Stars). Mr. Muñoz has received 6 ACAM nominations (Association of Composers and Musical Authors) in Latin America and 4 awards so far, including two “Jazz Record of the Year” awards. In 2016 Mr. Muñoz was chosen among the “12 Best Artists of the Year” by NPR’s AltLatino. His CD“The Dead Man” (2017) was named “Best Record of the Year” in Jazziz Magazine. Lois Mahalia was born in British Guyana. She began singing and performing on stage at the age of 5 with her brothers. She moved to the US at age 13 and continued singing in churches with her musical family. She has done extensive work as a session artist and has performed, recorded, and toured with artists such as Kenny Loggins, Joe Sample, Michael McDonald, Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, Norman Gimble, and Joe Walsh from The Eagles. Luis J. Muñoz Inc. Luis Muñoz/President 742 Forest Park Blvd. # 308 Oxnard, CA 93036 Ph: (805) 451-6196 Fax: (805) 278-9651 Email: [email protected] www.luismunoz.net https://www.facebook.com/luismunozmusic Instagram: luisjmunoz Twitter: @luismunozmusic

Awards

9 ACAM Award nominations and 5 ACAM Awards, including for for Jazz Composer/Producer of the Year, Best Jazz CD of the Year, Best Instrumental Record of the Year in Latin America. CDs in the "Best 10 Records of the Year" 4 years in a row in Jazziz Magazine, including "Best Record of the Year" in 2019 fon "The Dead Man" CD.

Gear

Luis Muñoz plays Yamaha drums, Paiste Cymbals, Toca percussion, Evans drumheads and Regal Tip drumsticks exclusively.


Tags

4
Album Review

Luis Munoz: The Dead Man

Read "The Dead Man" reviewed by James Nadal


In a thought-provoking concept of intertwining a short story by Uruguayan writer Horacio Quiroga, with a personal near-death experience set to music, drummer/composer Luis Muñoz offers The Dead Man, as a lesson in living life in the present moment, for that is all there is. Muñoz has been quite productive over the past few years, releasing Luz in 2013, and Voz, in 2015, on his own Pelín Music label. Both records were carefully crafted creations combining Latin vocals ...

5
Album Review

Luis Munoz: Voz

Read "Voz" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


There's selfless, and then there's really selfless. This vocal-centric album of original compositions written and arranged by drummer Luis Muñoz falls into the latter category. Instead of using this as a platform to promote his own playing, which wouldn't necessarily be frowned upon considering the fact that it's his album, Muñoz's contributions on the performance end--drums, Rhodes piano, percussion, keyboard, and melodica--are strictly about sonic enhancement and support. He even sits out three of these nine tracks, proving that the ...

7
Album Review

Luis Munoz: Voz

Read "Voz" reviewed by James Nadal


There is no need to hurry if one has arrived at the space in time where inspiration and music dissolve into a boundless cascade of emotion. Multi-talented Luis Muñoz, has channeled his production skills into a sublime direction on Voz, collaborating with a trio of premier vocalists, augmented by an attuned supporting cast. Though Muñoz contributes his drumming and composing skills, it his sense of trust in others that makes this a special project. Initiating what is a ...

3
Album Review

Luis Muñoz: Luz

Read "Luz" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Luis Muñoz gathers strength with each of his recordings as he goes past the post of the previous one, making new ideas and developments his haunt. Luz, as the title would suggest, injects new light into his music. Muñoz conceives and marvelous executes his game plan. Driving the rhythm and the beat from the drummer's seat he opens up new vistas for his band. Form and genre are enveloped brilliantly as a spectrum fed by an enlightened ...

3
Album Review

Luis Muñoz: Luz

Read "Luz" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Lessons in light--or, in Spanish, luz--lush arrangements need not be dense, as proven in Costa Rican-born Californian Luis Muñoz's compositions, orchestrations and arrangements on Luz, his sixth release for the Pelin label following the widely acclaimed Invisible (Pelin, 2010) and Of Soul And Shadow (Pelin, 2008).While his roots go back to Central America, this release bears a folkish Americana, one that absorbs influences and styles from every musician with whom Muñoz interacts. From the shortest, simplest melody of ...

4
Album Review

Luis Munoz: Luz

Read "Luz" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Luis Muňoz's Luz is an unabashedly romantic paean to Latin music in its various guises. There is, however, nothing syrupy in this enchanting seventh release for the Costa Rican composer and percussionist, replete with “jazzy" creative spontaneity. Muňoz's impressionistic compositions are carefully arranged around a central theme, allowing adequate space to spotlight individual side musicians. The exquisite tango “Amarilis" features violinist Laura Hackstein's wistfully passionate strings as she plays the head with Astor Piazzolla-like flair. Pianist Adam ...

4
Album Review

Luis Muñoz: Luz

Read "Luz" reviewed by James Nadal


Akin to wind and rain, music can no longer be confined or characterized by geography; it knows no borders and wanders free. In the case of Latin America, music has gone full circle in that jazz musicians initially sought inspiration and ideas from the United States, but are now realizing that their own regional cultures can be an encouraging source from which to to draw. Costa Rican-born Luis Muñoz--an award winning drummer, arranger, composer, and producer--is one that has never ...

Read more articles
"It is, simply put, one of the best Latin jazz ventures of the year...Brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed, Vida is a vital testimony to Luis Muñoz's artistic genius. Indispensable! **** (4 stars)." (Todd S. Jenkins, Downbeat magazine)

One of the top ten best Jazz CDs of 2004... "And hands down, the coolest Latin Jazz disc of the year... Phenomenal"

(Jazzreview.com)

"A masterpiece."

(Mark Holston, Hispanic magazine)

"A truly monumental work… Enticing and rewarding from beginning to end." (Americas magazine)

"Vida is simply one of the most tantalizing, brilliant and enjoyable discs of the year. It will likely make my year-end top 10."

Read more

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Glimmering Path

Pelín Music
2024

buy

The Dead Man

Pelín Music
2017

buy

VOZ

Pellin Music
2015

buy

Luz

Pelin Music
2013

buy

Invisible

Pelín Music
2011

buy

Invisible

Pelin Music
2010

buy

Invisible

From: Luz
By Luis Munoz

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.