Dear friends,

First of all, I want to wish you all a wonderful upcoming year, and to thank you for your friendship and support!
2014 was a great year from me.  I set up a plan at the beginning of the year, to finish two projects, and I succeeded.  First, my trip in May to NYC to start an "all vocals" CD and record with two of the greatest Jazz singers in the world,  Magos Herrera, Claudia Acuña, plus Adam Asarnow.  Then coming back to California to record a CD with my new quartet (Jonathan Dane on trumpet, Brandon Statom on acoustic bass and Dan Zimmerman on guitars), and finishing the first CD with two other incredible singers, Téka Penteriche and Lois Mahalia.   I am very happy to let you know that both CDs are finished and ready to be released this year.  The first one ("VOZ") in June and the second one ( 3/4- Trio/Quartet) in December.

 I am also  exited to play live again.  So, our first performance of 2015 will take place at a great venue in our hometown of Santa Barbara, CA: The Piano Kitchen(430 Rose Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA. I will be there with my trio ( With Brandon Statom and Daniel Zimmerman) on January 23, at 8:00 PM.  Hope you can join us .  Best to all!   Luis.

FIA 2012 COSTA RICA

Fotos de Tomás Solano Donato

SOUNDCHECK-COSTA RICA FIA 2012

ARTICLE IN COSTA RICAN NEWSPAPER "LA REPUBLICA"

http://www.larepublica.net/app/cms/cms_periodico_showpdf.php?id_menu=50&pk_articulo=39263&codigo_locale=es-CR">

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS FIA 2012/COSTA RICA!

Dear friends,

It is with great joy that I announce my participation in the International Festival of the Arts, FIA 2012, in San José, Costa Rica. This will be my group’s first presentation in my homeland, in almost 20 years. We will be performing on Friday, March 23, at 8:00 PM, at the “Auditorio Nacional”. A possible second performance will take place on Wednesday, March 28, at a new venue belonging to the Universidad Latina, at the Paseo Colón, In San José.

I will be traveling with my fellow band mates Jonathan Dane on trumpet, Tom Etchart on bass, George Friedenthal on piano and Narciso Sotomayor on guitar. Several dear Costa Rican musicians, will be collaborating with us, among them Checko D’Avila, Edín Solís and others. I am really looking forward to sharing my music with old friends and family once again! Hope to see you all!!!

http://www.festivaldelasartes.go.cr/">

Luis Muñoz Jazz Sextet at The Yellow House Concerts, Santa Barbara, CA. on July 30, 2011.

MY MUSIC STORE ON FACEBOOK!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Luis-Munoz/130735190961?sk=app_155326481208883">

First recording session for "LUZ"/7/29/11

First recording session for my upcoming "LUZ" CD, today with NYC pianist and old friend Adam Asarnow.

ACAM AWARD/PREMIO ACAM

I got the award: Jazz Composer/Author of the Year 2011 in Costa Rica by ACAM (Association of Musical Authors and Composers), for my work on my 2010 "INVISIBLE" CD.
Me gané el premio ACAM (Asociación de Compositores y Autores Musicales)Compositor/Autor de Jazz del Año 2011, por mi trabajo realizado en el CD "Invisible".

NEXT PERFORMANCE: MARCH 10 AT 7:00 PM IN SANTA BARBARA, CA.

Próxima Presentación/Next Performence: Soho Club (1221 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA. (805) 962-7776), on Thursday, March 10, at 7:00 PM

LUIS MUNOZ JAZZ SEXTET TOMORROW LIVE AT "MY FLORIST" IN VENTURA, CA!

Luis Muñoz Jazz Sextet next performance: TOMORROW SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2011, from 7 to 10:00 PM at "My Florist" 76 South Oak St. in Ventura, CA. Featuring Jonathan Dane on trumpet, Brad Dutz on percussion and marimba, Tom Etchart on bass, George Friedenthal on piano and Narciso Sotomayor on guitar. For more info: (805)653-0003. Concert is FREE!!! Hope to see you!

NEXT CONCERT: TEDXPURAVIDA IN SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA-2/10/11

I will be participating in a TEDxPuraVida conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, on february 10. The performance will be broadcasted live on the internet. There will be 12 speakers (among them, Laura Chinchilla, president of Costa Rica) and 4 artists, for a full day of "Ideas worth spreading". I will be playing with George Friedenthal (piano), Checko D'Avila (Soprano sax), Ivan Rodríguez (violin), Narciso Sotomayor (guitar) and Marco Ortiz (bass). I will be playing alto flute on this occasion. For more info, and to watch our performance live, go to: http://www.tedxpuravida.org/

LUIS MUNOZ "INVISIBLE" CD 2010

mages from the recording of Costa Rican Composer/percussionist Luis Munoz's lastest CD "INVISIBLE", on Pelin Music, featuring singers Lois Mahalia and Teka Penteriche, plus David Binney on alto sax, Jonathan Dane and Jeff Elliott on Trumpet, Ramses Araya and Brad Dutz on percussion, George Friedenthal on keys, Narciso Sotomayor and Chris Judge on guitars, Laura Hackstein on violin, Tom Etchart on bass, Ron Kalina on chromatic harmonica, Jim Calire on Hammond organ and Luis Munoz on drums, percussion, alto flute and keyboards. For more info:
Luis J Muñoz Inc. / Pelin Music
PO Box 30943
Santa Barbara, CA 93130
Ph: (805) 451-6196
/Fax: (805) 569-1257
E-mail: luismunozmusic@cox.net
www.luismunoz.net
http://luisjournal.blogspot.com/
www.cityhallrecords.com

PERFORMANCE/ "TED" CONFERENCE IN FEBRUARY IN COSTA RICA

On Thursday, February 10, 2011, I will be participating in a TED conference in San José, Costa Rica. The performance will be a collaboration between three Costa Rican musicians ( Checko D'avila on soprano sax, Iván Rodríguez from the group "Malpaís" on violin and a bass player to be determined), and three members of my Jazz sextet (George Friedenthal on piano, Narciso Sotomayor on guitar and myself on Alto Flute). We will be performing "Tango y Sangre de la Media Noche", an eleven minute composition from my most recent "Invisible" CD. For more information, visit: http://tedxpuravida.org

ON MY WAY TO COSTA RICA

On my way to Costa Rica for two weeks: family, old friends, lots of music, ocean. rainforest, a few radio and newspaper interviews to promote "Invisible","pinto con pescado"...Over and out!

BACK IN THE STUDIO

After spending a couple of weeks in Costa Rica, having fun with old friends and family, I am back in the studio, doing the very last sessions needed to finish my new CD. Here, my friend and fellow band member, master percussionist Brad Dutz, lays some marimba and hand percussion tracks, while I do an alto flute track on "Tango y Sangre de la media Noche".

COSTA RICA

BACK FROM COSTA RICA

I am back from Costa Rica. I had a wonderful time with friends and family. On my flight back I had the pleasure of hanging with the members of the Club Sport Herediano Costa Rican soccer team, many of them part of the National Team. Here I am with Andy Herron, (ex Chicago Fire, ex Columbus Crew), center forward for the Costa Rican team that beat the US last week 3 to 1.

Costa Rica 3, USA 1

Having a great time...A brake from the business aspect of the trip. An incredible performance by Costa Rica. I had the pleasure of being at the stadium with my friend Agustin.( I am the one wearing a red shirt... :) ). Celebration with a delicious steak at "El Chicote" and a few cold "Imperiales" afterwards. Also working on a Central American tour for next spring. Back in the US on Tuesday.

Happy Cannyon/Santa Inez Mountains/ Business meeting

Agustin Fallas, my dear friend from childhood and my manager for issues in Latin America came and visit me to plan some concerts down south and at the same time, have some fun together in CA. Good conversations, good meals and a few great Jazz concerts (David Binney at the Pasadena Jazz Institute)...Here are a couple of pictures taken during our drive up north to Happy Canyon in the Santa Inez mountains. Not a bad spot at all to talk business!