Hilton Ruiz (May 29, 1952 – June 6, 2006) was an American jazz pianist in the Afro-Cuban jazz mold, but was also a talented bebop player. He was of Puerto Rican descent.
Hilton Ruiz | |
|---|---|
 Hilton Ruiz in November 1976 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 29, 1952 New York City |
| Died | June 6, 2006 (aged 54) New Orleans |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Years active | 1960–2006 |
Biography edit
Born in New York City, Ruiz began playing piano at the age of five after being inspired by Duke Ellington.[1] At the age of eight he performed Mozart at Carnegie Hall.[2]
In high school Ruiz studied jazz piano with Mary Lou Williams. In 1973 he was a sideman for Roland Kirk, then later for Clark Terry. He also worked with Betty Carter, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaría. He co-wrote a music instruction book, Jazz and How to Play It.[3] He appeared on the soundtrack to Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors.[4]
On May 19, 2006, Ruiz was found unconscious on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where he had gone to shoot a video to promote a recently recorded project with M27 Records benefiting the victims of Hurricane Katrina entitled "Goin' Back to New Orleans". The police filed a report that he had injured himself in an accidental fall. Ruiz was hospitalized in a coma[5] and died without regaining consciousness a week after his 54th birthday. Ruiz was a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey.[4]
He was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in New York City.
Discography edit
As leader edit
- 1975 Piano Man (SteepleChase)
- 1977 Excition (SteepleChase)
- 1977 New York Hilton (SteepleChase)
- 1977 Steppin' Into Beauty (SteepleChase) released 1982
- 1981 Live at Jazz Unitè (Jazz Unite)
- 1984 Cross Currents (Vintage Jazz)
- 1988 El Camino (The Road) (Novus)
- 1989 Strut (Novus)
- 1989 Doin' It Right (Novus)
- 1991 A Moment's Notice (Novus)
- 1992 Manhattan Mambo (Telarc)
- 1992 Live at Birdland (Candid)
- 1993 Heroes (Telarc)
- 1995 Hands on Percussion (TropiJazz/RMM)
- 1997 Island Eyes (TropiJazz/RMM)
- 1998 Rhythm in the House (TropiJazz/RMM)
- 2003 Hilton Ruiz Songbook (Hilton Ruiz Music)
- 2003 Enchantment (Arabesque)
- 2004 A New York Story Hilton Ruiz Music
- 2005 Steppin' with T.P.- dedicated to Tito Puente M27 Records
As sideman edit
With Paquito D'Rivera
- Paquito Blowin (1981)
With Greg Abate
- Horace is Here: A Tribute to Horace Silver (2004)
With Afro Blue Band
- Impressions (1995)
With George Coleman
- Amsterdam After Dark (Timeless, 1979)
- Live (PYE Records, 1979)
With Art Davis
- Reemergence (1980)
With Chico Freeman
- Beyond the Rain (Contemporary, 1977)
With Dizzy Gillespie
- Rhythmstick (1990)
With Rahsaan Roland Kirk
- The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color (Atlantic, 1975)
- Other Folks' Music (Atlantic, 1976)
- Kirkatron (Warner Bros., 1976)
- The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man (Warner Bros., 1976)
- Boogie-Woogie String Along for Real (Warner Bros., 1977)
With Abbey Lincoln
- Golden Lady (1980)
With Tisziji Munoz
- Presence of Truth (1999)
References edit
- ^ Lloyd, Robin. "The sad and mysterious death of Hilton Ruiz". Retrieved 2018-10-17.
- ^ Lloyd, Robin (8 November 2012). "The sad and mysterious death of Hilton Ruiz". KPLU. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Bradley's Jazz and How to Play It, Book 1: : Hilton Ruiz". www.alfred.com. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
- ^ a b Keepnews, Peter (7 June 2006). "Hilton Ruiz, 54, Pianist Fluent in Jazz and Latin Rhythms, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ World Music Central News Department (24 May 2006). "Latin Jazz Pianist Hilton Ruiz in a Coma | World Music Central.org". World Music Central.