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Ramon Vazquez

Ramon Vazquez Martirena (Bassist, composer,recording artist,arranger and producer) Born on August 15, 1970 in the Cuban Province of Matanzas. From a very early age, like many Cubans,he had to flee his country and moved to Puerto Rico with his family, with the hope of making their dreams come true. He began in music while still in middle school, where there was a student band. His first musical steps were with the triangle and the clave. After learning from his professor that the band needed a bassist, Ramon accepted the challenge and this way began his dedication to the study of his instrument. Ramon graduated from the famed Escuela Libre de Musica in 1989 with high honors. He studied the bass privately and participated in several workshops and seminars including: The Manhattan School of Music Summer Workshop, the Bass Summit at the National Guitar Summer Workshop, and for three years (1995-97) the Berklee College in Puerto Rico, where he was awarded for "Outstanding Musicianship" with a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts. Ramon continued his musical studies at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music where he graduated in 1998 with a Bachelors of Music in Double Bass and Musical Education. During his musical career, Ramon has worked as a private teacher, taught at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and at the Music Department of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. His talent and charisma have allowed him to work with a great number pop, jazz and classical artists, in and out of Puerto Rico; enabling him to become one of the most sought-after bassist in the local industry. He's had the gratifying opportunity to work next to some of the great performers of popular music, such as: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Olga Tañon, Tony Vega, Enrique Iglesias, Eddie Santiago, Jerry Rivera, Lissette, Lucecita Benitez, Danny Rivera, Guillermo Davila, Lourdes Robles, Gina Maria Hidalgo, Jose Nogueras, Andy Montañez and Wilkins, among others. Ramon also has included to his musical resume performances with the Costa Rica National Symphonic Orchestra, Puerto Rico National Symphonic Orchestra and the San Juan Pop. He has also participated in dozens of recordings, including Olga Tañon's Grammy Award winning album "Olga Viva, Viva Olga". He has shared the stage with some of the best names in Jazz and Latin Jazz including: Chick Corea, Justo Almario, Hilton Ruiz, Paquito D`Rivera, Giovanni Hidalgo, Dave Samuels, Emil Richards, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, David Sanchez, Nestor Torres, Dave Valentin, Joel Rossenblat, Jane Bunnet and Miguel Zenon, among others.

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Album Review

Dominican Jazz Project: Desde Lejos

Read "Desde Lejos" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


DJP's primary composer and keyboard player Stephen Anderson has worked to get the DJP back into the studio after their 2016 Dominican Jazz Project (Summit Records) debut received so much critical and popular acclaim. The 2020 pandemic and attendant lockdowns delayed but did not cancel this follow-up, which the band recorded Desde Lejos--"From Afar." Primarily composed by Anderson in his COVID “compositional woodshed" (his term for lockdown) plus two ballads by singer-guitarist Carlos Luis, Desde Lejos remains true ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Ricano

Ropeadope
2023

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Desde Lejos

Summit Records
2021

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On the Move

A-Z Music Corp.
2003

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Un Cambio de Ritmo

From: Desde Lejos
By Ramon Vazquez

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