NYC 7/07

NEW FRIENDS AT YANKEE STADIUM

NYC 7/07/ YANKEE STADIUM

NYC 7/07 Jazz

With Adam at the Village Vanguard/Paul Motian's Quintet

NYC 7/07

Holly, Adam and Luis on top of the world, Empire State Building, 1:00 AM.

NYC 7/07

Feijoada Completa and other goodies, celebrating Brazil's victory at the Copa America.

NYC 7/07 Ignacio Berroa at Jazz Standard

With family and great pianist and old friend Adam Asarnow, at Jazz Standard, seen Cuban drummer Ignacio Berroa

NYC 7/07

PRE-ORDER THE NEW CD NOW!

The official release date for my latest CD, "Of Soul and Shadow" is August 21, 2007. Pre-order it today, exclusively at www.luismunoz.net

"Of Soul and Shadow" ad campaign

This is the advertisement that will be coming out in several Jazz publications, when "Of Soul and Shadow" is officially released on August 21st, 2007.

SuperGenerous - The Legend of Johnny Cactus

REHEARSAL SHOTS/ VENTURA, CA.

NEW PROMO SHOT.

This is a new promo shot. It will be used for the "Of Soul and Shadow" campaign. Thanks to my friend John Balint for a wonderful job done with the camera and for his generosity.

MY WRITING CONSOLE

This is my workstation/home studio, where I spend most of my time writing:
COMPUTERS: Mac G4 733 MHz with a Formac monitor and a Mac Dual-Core Intel 2 x 2.66 GHz with a Dell monitor. Both run Digital Performer 5.11.
CONTROLLER: Kurzweil K2600 XS running MAC FIVE and a multitude of sample libraries, including Ivory Grand Pianos, Miroslav Vitous, Garritan and Vienna Orchestras, plus Gigasampler, Spectrasonics, Steinberg sounds, etc.
INTERFACE: Motu 828.
MONITORS: Mackie HR 824
NOTATION SOFTWARE: Believe it or not, I still work with good old pencil and paper. However, that will change,once Sibelius comes out with the Universal Binary version of their software.

These are the writing tools I use to finish and demo my compositions. However, when it comes to recording, I use acoustic instruments exclusivelly.

AT WORK: 5/25/07

Luis Muñoz live at the Litchfield Jazz Festival 2005

Keith Jarrett's European Quartet 1976/ Mandala

New Agent

I am happy to let you all know that Carlos Alberto de Leon, "Beto", is my new agent as of yesterday. Beto, born and raised in Uruguay, has been involved with music one way or another ( producer, promoter, record store owner, agent. etc.) his entire life. I am very happy to have him join the Pelin Music family. Welcome Beto!
For more info on Beto, please visit him at : www.corazonconcerts.com

RADIO PROGRAM: "LA MUSICA DE LUIS MUNOZ"

Please visit Centroamericanto ( www.centroamericanto.com ) and listen this week to the radio program special "The Music Of Luis Muñoz"

Brake from the studio

I am done with "Of Soul and Shadow". It is all mixed, mastered and ready to be pressed. I took a few days off this week, went to the Getty Museum, and watched a play in LA (Wicked). Next week, back to the drawing board.

Mercedes Sosa/Gracias a la Vida

Adam

WORKING IN PARADISE!!!!

View of the front yard of Beagle Recording Studios, in Montecito, CA, where I mixed and mastered "De Alma y Sombra".

THE LATEST ON "DE ALMA Y SOMBRA"

I am done mixing "De Alma y Sombra". I am now mastering and working on the art work, gigs and charts to start performing live the new material. Needless to say, I am VERY happy with the results. It took me two years to write, arrange and record it all, but it's been totally worth it. The CD will be out in June, on the City Hall Records label.
I 've made a few changes to the band's format. This time it will be a 8 piece ensemble, with the addition of percussionist John Nathan handling mainly the marimba parts. We will continue exploring the mix of Costa Rican flocklore and Jazz that we started to do on this new recording (John is on three tracks on "De Alma..."). Costa Rican percussionist Ramses Araya, also present on the new recording, will be joining us on several gigs. Regards! Luis.

The New Generation/David Gomez

MY SET UP

This is my present drum set up: Yamaha Birch Absolute Drums and Hardware ( 20" Bass, 10" and 15" Toms, 6.5 x 14' Snare), Evans G1 Heads, Paiste Traditional Cymbals, Toca Timbal and Bell, Regal Tip Sticks and Fat Congas Cajón used as a throne.

RECORDING "LA VERDAD"

Singers Gil Valencia and Andy Zúñiga recording "la Verdad".

SKetchbook/Azul 3

SKetchbook/Azul 2

Sketchbook/Azul 1

LAST RECORDING SESSION

Photos from the last recording session for " De Alma y Sombra".
Costa Rican percussionist Ramses Araya playing Bata Drums on the cut "Adam's Dream". Alto sax player Dave Binney working on "Paso a Paso".

SKETCHBOOK/THE JUGGLER 2

SKETCHBOOK/THE JUGGLER 1

MONK EN COSTA RICA/SHORT STORY

Pipín era un cholo alto, fuerte y narizón, de dientes grandes y protuberante quijada o "gaveta," como les dicen en Costa Rica. Por diez años fuimos inseparables. Vivía a sólo media cuadra de mí, en una casa esquinera verde con sus padres don Pablo y doña Soledad, su hermano Francisco, su tío Rodrigo y su abuelos don Juan y doña Camelia. Don Pablo era policía y su esposa doña Soledad, una hermosa mujer de boca amplia, ojos almendrados y caderas fuertes y sensuales, como una Sofía Loren tica...Read more

COMING UP IN MAY/NEW CD

My new CD "De Alma y Sombra" will be released this May, on the "Pelin Music" Label, distributed by City Hall Records (www.cityhallrecords.com). It will include 11 cuts total, featuring some of the greatest musicians that I have ever worked with, among them, trumpeters Adolfo Acosta (Tower of Power) and Jonathan Dane, Ron Kalina on chromatic harmonica, Dave Binney on alto sax, Ramses Araya ( Ruben Blades) on percussion, George Friedenthal ( Kenny Loggins) on piano, bassists Tom Etchart, Nico Abondolo and Randy Tico, and vocalists Gil Valencia and Andy Zúñiga. I'll be on the road after that with an 8 piece band. We'll keep you posted on upcoming performances. Thanks! Luis.

Sketchbook/Conguero

BERNARDA Y LA LUJURIA/SHORT STORY

Piedades de Santa Ana era un puñado de viviendas llenas de niños semidesnudos, perros flacos, carretas olvidadas con bueyes invisibles y canastos de café vacíos. Frente a las casas de piso de tierra y techo de tejas, viejos se sentaban a saludar con sus bastones de rama de güitite a todo aquel que pasara por enfrente. Escolares agarradas de la mano llenaban las aceras sobre un fondo de girasoles y veraneras en flor. Calles enmarcadas por frondosos árboles de jocote y carao guiaban jinetes a su destino... Read more

Monk # 1/"Any notes you want"

Jan Garbarek,Egberto Gismonti,Charlie Haden

Sketchbook/Mask

Mixing sessions

Mixing sessions for my upcoming CD "De Alma y Sombra" ( Of Soul & Shadow), continue at Beagle Studios in Montecito, CA. I'll be there tomorrow from 2:00 PM until midnight. So far, we've finished seven cuts: Entre El Mar Y La Tristeza, El Vedado, Al Silencio, La Semilla, Mas Allá De La Nostalgia, La Verdad and Adam's Dream. Four more to go and we'll be done.

Sketchbook

ACAM award

My ACAM award ( for composer/producer of the year in the Jazz field, 2006) has arrived from Costa Rica

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. I have created it in order to share some of my daily experiences, musical and otherwise, with friends and fans. Enjoy.

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