We are so thrilled to announce that Aruán Ortiz has been named Guggenheim Fellow in Music Composition 2024 by one of the most distinguished foundations in the world.
It is marvelous such a recognition to his work, and to be in a class of so many forward-thinking academics, artists, scientists, intellectuals, composers, dancers, writers, and researchers, whose work has revolutionized this world.
So listen closely to Pastor’s Paradox. It speaks, improvises, and melodizes our times too, with Ortiz’s rampant keys, the bowed ground-work of Dhar and St Louis, Aklaff’s finessing drums, and Byron’s curlicuing notes adding their lucid messages.
Pianist Aruán Ortiz practices contemporary jazz where he mixes different references creatively. In 2023, he released the album “Serranias – Sketchbook for Piano Trio” (Intakt), and is preparing to release, via Clean Feed, “Pastor’s Paradox”. On the occasion of his visit to Coimbra, we spoke with the pianist: an exclusive interview where Ortiz tells us about his influences, his career, and his music.
A very original pianist, Aruán Ortiz practices contemporary jazz where he mixes different references creatively. Under his name, Ortiz has built an increasingly solid discography: “Hidden Voices” (2016), with Eric Revis and Gerald Cleaver; “Cub(an)is” (2017), solo piano; “Live In Zurich” (2018), with Brad Jones and Chad Taylor; “Random Dances and (A)tonalities” (2018), with Don Byron; “Inside Rhythmic Falls” (2020), with Andrew Cyrille and Mauricio Herrera. 2023 was a memorable year for the Cuban-born pianist: in March he published “Serranias – Sketchbook for Piano Trio” (Intakt) and in August he published “Prophecy”, a trio recording with Ivo Perelman and Lester St. Louis. On his most recent album, “Pastor's Paradox” (released by the Portuguese Clean Feed), Aruán Ortiz sought inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr. and is excellently accompanied by musicians such as Don Byron, Pheeroan akLaff and Lester St. Louis, who realized a original music with absolute brilliance. In April last year, the pianist showcased his vibrant pianism in an extraordinary concert at the Convento de São Francisco, in Coimbra.
So listen closely to Pastor’s Paradox. It speaks, improvises, and melodizes our times too, with Ortiz’s rampant keys, the bowed ground-work of Dhar and St Louis, Aklaff’s finessing drums, and Byron’s curlicuing notes adding their own lucid messages. –Chris Searle, Morning Star–
On this project, as a pianist, violist, and composer, Aruán Ortiz has created a 21st-century chamber music/jazz work that celebrates the power of music to represent the enduring influence of history... to offer us hope for a better future and musical prayers for a more peaceful world. –Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs–
Acclaimed pianist and composer Aruán Ortiz will conduct a Masterclass about Composition and Improvisation titled "Deconstructing Composition to Build your Creative Process at MUK University in Viena, on Friday, February 23rd, 2024.
The Cuban pianist, violist, and composer Aruán Ortiz, who lives in New York and Barcelona, will be a guest with the Barbara Bruckmüller Jazz Orchestra in February 2024 for a seven-day residency. Aruán has been active in the New York progressive jazz and avant-garde scenes in the United States for more than 20 years. His music spans a range of musical styles and has been interpreted by contemporary classical and jazz ensembles, dance companies, and in feature films and multimedia works. A conceptualist and music researcher, Aruán's music consolidates his Afro-Cuban and Haitian heritage with avant-garde and progressive jazz and contemporary classical language.
Pianist and composer Aruán Ortiz is one of two “composers of extraordinary gifts” awarded with the Goddard Lieberson Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Composer Shawn Okpebholo also received this fellowship as part of the 2025 Awards in Music honoring 17 established and emerging composers.