06/11/2020
M27 is dropping some amazing music free on Youtube
M27 Presents
The Hilton Ruiz Quintet
Live from SMOKE
Hilton Ruiz, Piano
Joe Locke, Vibes
Leon Dorsey, Bass
Milton Cardona, Congas
Sylvia Cuenca, Drums
with special appearance by Ray Barretto.
The SMOKE filled the upper west side with souls eager to be taken a flight into a realm of color and dynamics unfelt throughout many decades. The Piano Man from midtown Manhattan, he who was born with the gift of finger dexterity, brought along a gang of Jazz Masters to this wonderful place in the upper west side. The SMOKE Jazz Club.
Straight out of mix down session from our recording studio on 99 John Street, we hurried uptown to catch this amazing set as we promoted the "Steppin' with TP: dedicated to Tito Puente" album by Hilton Ruiz.
The simmering and fizzling atmosphere was electrifying during these two days.
Hilton Ruiz (May 29, 1952 – June 6, 2006) was an American jazz pianist in the Afro-Cuban jazz mold, but was also a talented bebop player. He was of Puerto Rican descent.
Born in New York City, Ruiz began playing piano at the age of five after being inspired by Duke Ellington. At the age of eight he performed Mozart at Carnegie Hall.
In high school Ruiz studied jazz piano with Mary Lou Williams. In 1973 he was a sideman for Roland Kirk, then later for Clark Terry. He also worked with Betty Carter, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaría. He co-wrote a music instruction book, Jazz and How to Play It. He appeared on the soundtrack to Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Joe Locke, Vibraphone
Widely considered to be one of the major voices of his instrument. He has performed and recorded with a diverse range of notable musicians, including Grover Washington Jr, Raul Midón, Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Eddie Palmieri, Ron Carter, The Beastie Boys, the Münster Symphony Orchestra, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna and the Lincoln, Nebraska Symphony.
Milton Cardona, Congas
(November 21, 1944 – September 19, 2014) was a percussionist, vocalist and conga player from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
Milton Cardona made well over 1000 recordings, nine of which won Grammies. His career and was highly influenced by Mongo Santamaria. He studied violin during his childhood in The Bronx, New York, and played bass guitar professionally in New York City as a youth before playing percussion. He collaborated with Kip Hanrahan, Spike Lee, Paul Simon, Willie Colón, David Byrne, Cachao, Larry Harlow, Eddie Palmieri, Don Byron, Celia Cruz, Guaco, Hector Lavoe, Ned Rothenberg, Rabih Abou-Khalil and Jack Bruce from the rock band Cream.
Leon Dorsey, Bass
Leon Lee Dorsey: (born March 12, 1958) is an American jazz bassist, known for his well-received debut for Landmark Records. He teaches at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
A composer and arranger, he has performed with jazz luminaries that include: Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, John Lewis, Kenny Clarke, Jon Hendricks, Gloria Lynn, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Dorothy Donegan, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Ellis Marsalis, Neena Freelon and Terumasa Hino. Other career highlights include working with Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall, guest appearances at the White House under Presidents Reagan and Clinton and performing with Joe Williams and the operatic diva Marilyn Horne. He has graced jazz festivals throughout the world and recorded with Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey, Arthur Prysock, Freddie Hubbard, Dakota Staton and numerous other jazz artists. Completing his Doctorate in Classical Double Bass under the distinguished Ron Carter at the Grad Center of City University of New York with, Dorsey holds Masters Degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the Manhattan School of Music and two Bachelor of Music Degrees from Oberlin College. Holding his convictions, Dorsey says he owes it all to God.
Sylvia Cuenca: Drums
Sylvia Cuenca is an active drummer on the New York jazz scene who is contributing outstanding performances in a variety of situations.
Cuenca has also performed with such jazz luminaries as Billy Taylor, Frank Foster's Loud Minority Big Band, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Helen Merrill, John Hicks, Valery Ponomarov, Lew Soloff, James Spaulding, Kenny Barron, Ray Drummond, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, George Cables, Hilton Ruiz, Jon Faddis, Eddie Henderson, John Handy, Kenny Drew Jr., Emily Remler, Richie Cole, Dave Stryker, Jessie Davis, Ralph Bowen, Vincent Herring, Paul Bollenback, Geoffrey Keezer, Mark Whitfield, Ralph Moore, Catherine Russell, Dianne Reeves, Dianne Schuur, Denise Donatelli, Ernestine Anderson, Lea Delaria, the European based Vienna Art Orchestra and many others. Currently she is an adjunct instructor at Columbia University and she resides in New York City.
November 11 & 12, 2005
copyright Marco Matute 2005-2020
M27 Presents The Hilton Ruiz Quintet Live from SMOKE Hilton Ruiz, Piano Joe Locke, Vibes Leon Dorsey, Bass Milton Cardona, Congas Sylvia Cuenca, Drums with s...