"LUZ" CD (2013)

"Invisible" CD (2010)

"Of Soul and Shadow" CD (2007)

"Vida" CD (2004)

"Compassion" CD (1998)

"The Fruit of Eden" CD (1996)

Sunday, December 31, 2006

NEWS 2006/2005

NEWS 2006

12/30/06
Happy New Year everyone!!!!
I finally finished Rolando Gingras' CD, which will be coming out in the Spring. It features Airto Moreira on percussion and the wonderful singers Yana Purim (Flora's sister) and Pauline Wilson (from the band Seawind). I wrote, arranged and produced 6 of the 9 tracks, plus play keyboards, flutes, drums, bass and percussion.

Also, I am almost done with the recording of my new CD. It will be done by mid January. Bassist Nico Abondolo, Costa Rican percussionist Ramses Araya (Ruben Blades' band), trumpet player Adolfo Acosta (Tower of Power) and New York based alto saxophonist Dave Binney are some of the guest musicians who were in the studio with me during this last few weeks. (Look for new images of the sessions in the "photo section"). "De Alma y Sombra" will be out in May. Regards! Luis

11/24/06
Luis Muñoz Live at ROCK'S
Friday, December 1st. 9:30 PM
Cover Charge $10.00
801 State St, Santa Barbara, CA
For reservations call: 884-1190
After achieving much success with his previous CD "VIDA", including receiving an ACAM award last June for Best Jazz Recording of the Year from the Association of Costa Rican Authors and Composers, and being named to the top 10 list of best Jazz recordings of the year by Jazzreview.com and Latin Jazz Network, Luis is finishing a new recording. "De Alma y Sombra" (Of Soul and Shadow) is scheduled to be released in March of 2007, on the City Hall Record label. Luis will be accompanied by George Friedenthal on Keyboards, Tom Etchart on bass, Tom Buckner on woodwinds, Jonathan Dane on trumpet, Lorenzo Martinez on percussion and fellow Costa Rican Narciso Sotomayor on guitar. The recording features 20 guest performers, including Adolfo Acosta (Tower of Power), Ramses Araya (Ruben Blades) and New York sensation Dave Binney on alto sax. Please join us!

6/15/06
Starting this month, my entire music catalog will be distributed by City Hall Records (www.cityhallrecords.com).

5/12/06
This month, the National Organization of Costa Rican Authors and Composers (ACAM), will be giving Luis Muñoz a special achievement award, for his overall work as a composer and producer, and for his work on "VIDA", his 2005, internationally acclaimed recording. The presentation will take place on May 17th, 2006, at the Children's Museum National Auditorium, in San José. The ACAM awards are the Costa Rican version of the GRAMMYs.

5/3/06
I am happy to announce the addition of Narciso Sotomayor to the band. Narciso is an old friend of mine from Costa Rica ( we've known each other for over 30 years). He'll be adding more of that Costa Rican spice to the mix with his wonderful guitar playing. Welcome!!!!!!

A couple of additional upcoming gigs in the CA Central Coast:
July 30th, 5:00 PM, Garden of the World, Thousand Oaks, CA
August 17th, 9:00 PM, SOho Music Club, Santa Barbara, CA
Please, join us. Luis.

5/1/06
I am done writing all the material for my new CD "PAZ", (a total of 11 compositions) . Recording sessions will start in late June, for an early 2007 release.

4/28/06
I am writing, arranging, recording and producing a new CD for EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument) and brass player Rolando Gingras. We both met many years ago, and had the pleasure of touring together with Brazilian Jazz greats Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. In addition to writing all the music, I will also be playing every instrument in the recording, except EVI and brass. He is in Rio de Janeiro right now. We'll start recording as soon as he comes back. The CD will be out this Christmas. L.

2/22/06
Greetings! I will be in Costa Rica for two weeks setting up some gigs for later on this year. Also, I am happy to announce that I am starting to write the music for my next CD. Tentatively called "PAZ", this project will consist of a long piece with a series of movements, blending the Jazz tradition with Costa Rican folklore. I would use an instrumentation based on marimba, guitar and percussion, along with horns and a "Jazz" rhythm section. Some of the main melodic themes would be extracted from folkloric material or will be "folkloric" in style. The harmonic structures would be more in accord with Jazz and the Classic music tradition. Literature will be a point of thematic departure and inspiration: from short stories and poetry, to rural anecdote and urban tales. There would be plenty of room for improvisation and spontaneous interaction among performers. I hope to get started with the recording in the Fall, for an early 2007 release.
Regards! Luis.

1/18/06
"Happy New Year!
We welcome Marianne Sciolino and the entire "Sciolino Artist Management" team! ( www.samnyc.us ). As of 1/10/06, they are our new management company.

NEWS 2005

12/1/05
"Latin Jazz Network" names "Vida" one of the top 20 recordings of the year

12/1/05
jazzreview.com named "Vida" one of the top ten best Jazz CDs of 2004... "And hands down, the coolest Latin Jazz disc of the year...". Mark Holston, from Hispanic Magazine called it "a masterpiece…".

11/1/05
Starting Tuesday, November15, we'll be playing every Tuesday, from 8:00 to 11:00 PM at the "Café Des Artistes", a great little Jazz club in Ventura, CA (533 East Main Street. Downtown Ventura. 641-9951). We'll be joined for several performances by the wonderful trumpeter Steve Huffsteter. Steve is a veteran of the LA Jazz Scene, having performed with Ray Charles, Louie Bellson, Poncho Sanchez, Tony Bennett, Nat "King" Cole, Mel Torme and Ella Fitzgerald, among many. Please join us!!!!!

10/15/05
Band member, trumpet player/ composer Jonathan Dane has a new CD and web site of his own. The CD, entitled "Very Life", was recorded with the Jonathan Dane Quartet including pianist Otmaro Ruiz, bassist Chris Colangelo and drummer Jason Harnell. ( www.jonathandane.com )

10/1/05
On 10/9/05, we'll be performing at the Santa Barbara Jazz Festival, outdoors, at the beautiful Courthouse Sunken Gardens ( www.meifestivals.com/sba.html )

7/15/05
This summer will be going to the East Coast. The band (Jonathan Dane, brass; Tom Buckner, woodwinds; George Friedenthal, Keyboards; Chris Judge, guitars; Tom Etcahrt, bass; Lorenzo Martínez, percussion and myself on drums) will be performing at the Litchfield Jazz Festival in CT. On 8/05/05, we'll be sharing the bill with Nicholas Payton, McCoy Tyner, Dave Brubeck and the Caribbean Jazz Project, among many. ( www.litchfieldjazzfest.com/Programs/JazzFest )

5/1/05
Downbeat magazine gave "Vida" four stars (****).



Email Luis at: luismunoz@luismunoz.net


©2006 PELIN MUSIC