Luis Jacinto Muñoz (born August 19, 1953) is a Costa Rican percussionist, producer, arranger and composer. He is a multiple-time ACAM Award winner.[1]
Luis Jacinto Muñoz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 August 1953 San José, Costa Rica |
| Origin | Costa Rica; University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Occupations | Composer, Arranger, Producer, and Percussionist |
| Website | www |
Education
editAfter graduating from high school in 1971, Muñoz entered the University of Costa Rica, where he studied architecture. At the same time, he enrolled at the National Conservatory of Music, where he took flute lessons with the principal flutist of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica.[2]
In 1974, Muñoz immigrated to the United States. He enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and studied composition with Peter Racine Fricker and Stephen Hartke.[3][4]
Career
editMuñoz began his musical career as a rock & roll drummer in his native Costa Rica. In 1968, he formed his first band, The King Kats. Their recording Midnight Sunshine became a number one hit in 1968 and became one of the first original rock & roll songs ever recorded by a Costa Rican group.[5][6][7]
Muñoz's involvement in other projects of importance in the national music scene followed, including playing drums with Jazz pianist Pibe Hine, forming the Trio de Rock Acústico with singer and songwriters Alvaro Fernández and Pamela Johnson, and acting as arranger, co-producer, and performer in Compadre, a record by Alvaro Fernandez.[8][9] Muñoz's first compositions were in 1975. After finishing his formal studies at UCSB, he started the band Pelin. In 1980, Muñoz was invited by the Costa Rican Government. He toured the entire country performing and recording music.[10]
In 1995, Muñoz was signed by Fahrenheit/Jazz, a record label out of Denver, Colorado. His 1996 CD, The Fruit of Eden, marked the beginning of his recording career. In 1998, Muñoz released his second project, Compassion. Then in 2004, he created his record label, Pelín Music, and released Vida.[11]
In 2011, Muñoz won his second ACAM Award for Jazz Composer of the Year with Invisible (2010).[12] In 2015, Muñoz released a vocal record Voz which won him 2 ACAM Awards (Jazz Record of the Year and Best Sound Engineering), plus a nomination for a third award, for Producer of the Year.[13]
In 2017, Muñoz recorded, The Dead Man, originally inspired by a short story of the same name by Uruguayan author Horacio Quiroga. The Dead Man won the fifth ACAM award for Best Instrumental Record of the year.[14]
In 2019 Muñoz collaborated with Guyanese singer Lois Mahalia and released The Infinite Dream, his first vocal project in English.[15]
Discography
editSolo
edit| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Fruit of Eden | Pelin Music |
| 1996 | The Fruit of Eden | Fahrenheit Records |
| 1998 | Compassion | Fahrenheit Records |
| 2004 | Vida | Pelin Music |
| 2007 | Of Soul and Shadow | Pelin Music |
| 2013 | Luz | Pelín Music |
| 2015 | Voz | Pelín Music |
| 2017 | The Dead Man | Pelín Music |
| 2019 | The Infinite Dream | Pelín Music |
| 2024 | Glimmering Path | Pelín Music |
References
edit- ^ "Looking on the Bright Side with Luis Muñoz". independent.com. 2017-01-05. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Hrayr Attarian,"Luis Munoz: Luz". allaboutjazz.com. 2013-02-15. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Jessica Rojas Ch.,"Luis Muñoz, el abanderado del jazz costarricense en Estados Unidos". nacion.com. 2021-07-27. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Raul Da Gama,"Luis Muñoz – Luz". latinjazznet.com. 2013-02-10. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "Luis Muñoz". jazzmusicarchives.com. 2017-03-25. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Charles Donelan,"Luis Muñoz - Luz". independent.com. 2013-02-21. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "Sonic Moods". latinomagazine.com. 2017-03-25. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Charles Donelan,"Luis Muñoz Releases Invisible". independent.com. 2010-04-26. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "Transitions in Traditions". latinomagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-30. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Andrew Gilbert,"Hearing Voices: 'Voz' by Luis Muñoz". kqed.org. 2015-11-01. Archived from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Felix Contreras,"Alt.Latino Playlist: Slow Grooves To Close Out Summer". npr.org. 2019-09-25. Archived from the original on 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Andrew Gilbert,"Luis Munoz: Vida". allaboutjazz.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ BRIAN ZIMMERMAN,"Luis Muñoz – "Secrecy"". jazziz.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ Raul Da Gama,"Luis Muñoz Presents: The Dead Man". latinjazznet.com. 2017-03-25. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "New jazz cd reviews by Brad Walseth". Archived from the original on 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2022-06-11.