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Hilton Ruiz

If there was a pianist who personified the term "Latin Jazz" it would have to be Hilton Ruiz. His knowledge, ability and technical skill in bop, blues, stride, avant garde, his innate talent for the Afro Cuban montuno,and his fusing of the genres made for a unique style that was all his own. Born in New York City in 1952,of Puerto Rican parents, Hilton Ruiz was a piano prodigy who by the age of five was appearing on local television, playing church organ, and performing at Carnegie Hall by the time he was eight. After lifelong classical training he under took personal training under the great Mary Lou Williams. He would accredit this tutoring for laying the foundation of his musical career. He played in local Afro Latin bands as a teen, but it would be jazz that would be his calling.While still in his teens he played with some of the best players in the New york area and started to build a strong reputation as a jazz man.In 1974, he became Rahsaan Roland Kirks' pianist, exposing him to the avant garde extractions of jazz.He performed on Kirks " Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color," and "The Return of the 5,000 pound Man." He remained and toured the world with Kirk until 1977. He became part of the New York avant garde movement, and was also highly sought after as an accompanist for vocalists, recording sessions, and band member. In 1975 he released "Piano Man" as his first effort as leader. This was a bop influenced session,recorded with a trio format.After many successful releases,and a transition from bop piano into more Latin flavors, in 1992 he recorded the critically acclaimed "Manhattan Mambo," which is still one of his most popular to date.On the record "Heroes,"released in 1993, he pays tribute to his favorite and influential jazz figures. Fast forward to 2005 in which he dedicated "Stepping with TP" to his long time friend and musical collaborator Tito Puente.One of his last projects in 2006 was as pianist/arranger on the Ray Barretto "Standards,Rican- Ditioned" which was a session of Puerto Rican musicians playing jazz standards. This was to be Ray Barrettos' last record.Hilton had recorded a last album based on a New Orleans theme in 2006, but it has yet to be heard. He would go on to record over twenty records as a leader, appear in hundreds of sessions, nurturing and developing a Latin bop style that would be his signature trademark.His collaborations with Tito Puente, and the top Latin players, established his credentials even further, and gained him a huge following in the Latin market.His involvement in the Latin Jazz world helped to broaden the appeal of the music to a broader market.

Hilton Ruiz: Enchantment

Read "Enchantment" reviewed by Russ Musto

by Russ Musto
November 23, 2003

The term Latin jazz is too confining a label to describe the multifaceted music created by Hilton Ruiz on this just released recording from November of 2000. The New Yorker towers over most other musicians of his generation in both talent and tuition, with an imposing two handed pianistic technique and impressive knowledge of music history, garnered in no small part through his early studies with jazz matriarch Mary Lou Williams. As a member of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's Vibration Society, ...

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Album Review

Hilton Ruiz: Enchantment

Read "Enchantment" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
August 25, 2003

If there's one thing associated with Caribbean music, it's rhythm. After all, the islands (and the continental areas surrounding them) were among the first New World colonies to adopt the styles of Africa. Pianist Hilton Ruiz may have grown up in Manhattan, but the 49-year old keeps a stockpile of island rhythms at his fingertips.

Having a Panamanian percussionist (Renato Thoms) and a Venezuelan drummer (Marlon Simon) on Enchantment certainly doesn't hurt when it comes to keeping time. ...

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Music Industry

Revisiting Latin Jazz Classics: Manhattan Mambo, Hilton Ruiz

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
June 27, 2008

he Revisiting series features albums from the past that played a significant role in Latin Jazz history. The purpose of this series is to introduce new Latin Jazz listeners to important albums and look back at these albums in historical perspective. Each entry will jump to a different point in Latin Jazz history - this week well visit 1992. When a Latin Jazz musician reaches their artistic prime, the future either holds possibilities or lost potential. Fueled by creative fires, ...
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Event

Jazz Memorial for Hilton Ruiz Monday, October 23 7:30 p.m. At St. Peter's Church

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
October 23, 2006

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Obituary

Jazz Pianist Hilton Ruiz Dies at 54

Source: All About Jazz
June 7, 2006

Jazz Pianist and Composer Hilton Ruiz Dies at 54 After Fall in Front of New Orleans Bar

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY NEW ORLEANS Jun 6, 2006 (AP)-- Jazz pianist and composer Hilton Ruiz, who excelled in a wide variety of styles from Afro-Cuban rhythms to the blues, died early Tuesday, never regaining consciousness after a fall in front of a French Quarter bar. He was 54. Ruiz, who had come to New Orleans from his home in Teaneck, N.J., to work ...
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267

Obituary

Latinjazz Pianist Hilton Ruiz Passes

Source: All About Jazz
June 6, 2006

Pianist Hilton Ruiz Passes this Morning Latin music and Jazz artists get together for Hilton

New York, NYJune 6, 2006Famed Puerto Rican/New York Composer, Pianist and Jazz musician Hilton Ruiz passed away this morning at 3:51 a.m. at the East Jefferson General Hospital, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was still on life support when he peacefully expired. His daughter and wife, both named Aida, were by his side.

Hilton Ruiz had been in a coma at the New ...
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Obituary

Jazzman Hilton Ruiz Dies

Source: All About Jazz
June 6, 2006

JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS - Jazz pianist and composer Hilton Ruiz, who came to New Orleans to work on a Hurricane Katrina benefit recording, died early Tuesday, his agent and manager said.

Ruiz, who turned 54 on May 29, had been comatose at East Jefferson General Hospital since he fell early May 19 in front of a French Quarter bar.

He died about 3:50 a.m. Tuesday, agent Joel Chriss said in a telephone interview from New ...
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166

Music Industry

Pianist Hilton Ruiz in Critical Condition

Source: All About Jazz
May 25, 2006

NEW ORLEANS -- Jazz pianist and composer Hilton Ruiz was in critical condition Wednesday, nearly a week after he was found on Bourbon Street with an unexplained skull fracture and broken bones in his face, according to his agent. Ruiz, whose 54th birthday is next week, has been unconscious since he was found early Friday after leaving the Utopia bar, agent and manager Joel Chriss said from New York in a telephone interview. Chriss said he was told that the ...
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Performance / Tour

Chico Freeman Quartet w/Hilton Ruiz Saturday, Oct 7th 8:00pm Creole Restaurant & Jazz Supper Club

Source: All About Jazz
October 5, 2005

October 5, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] Creole Restaurant & Jazz Supper Club N'Awlins & Creole Cuisine 2167 Third at 118th Street, East Harlem, NYC http://www.creolenyc.com 212-876-8838 SPECIAL EVENT Saturday, Oct 7, 2005 Dinner from 6:00pm, Supper club First Show at 8:00pm: CHICO FREEMAN QUARTET with Chico Freeman-tenor sax and Hilton Ruiz-piano. Expect to hear a spectrum of jazz, a slice of recent jazz history, as Chico and Hilton take us on a ...
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114

Event

Hilton Ruiz / Dave Valentin Latin Jazz Ensemble April 9, Camden County Concerts

Source: All About Jazz
March 26, 2005

2005 Cross County Concert Series HILTON RUIZ / DAVE VALENTIN LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE GORDON THEATER Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – Camden Campus Third & Pearl Streets, Camden, NJ 08102 - Concert Hotline 856.225.2700 Saturday, April 9 - 8 p.m. TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

“One of the world’s best kept secrets (Ruiz)." ~ NY Daily News

Two jazz greats arrive in South Jersey for an evening ...
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Festival