Pianist Hilton Ruiz passes this morning

      Pianist Hilton Ruiz passes this morning

      New York, NY –June 6, 2006

      Famed 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 Orleans hospital Intensive Care Unit with severe trauma to the face and a fractured skull. The circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are under investigation by the New Orleans Police Department.

      Born in New York City on May 29, 1952, Ruiz was a child prodigy, appearing on the Sandy Becker television show, performing at Carnegie Recital Hall at the age of eight, and playing in an accordion symphony at nine. Well-trained in all areas, he studied classical piano as well as Latin and received jazz guidance from the great Mary Lou Williams. "I was pretty lucky," he says, "in being exposed to a lot of different kinds of music, and studying them with good teachers."
      By his early teens, Ruiz was working with a variety of Latin soul bands and, at age 14, recorded with a group called Ray Jay and the East Siders. But jazz was always close to his heart, and his obviously superlative improvisational skills quickly opened doors. Before he was twenty, Ruiz had worked with Frank Foster, Joe Newman, Cal Massey, Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson—an impressive list for an established player, a remarkable list for a relative newcomer. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Freddie Hubbard, Tito Puente, Clark Terry, Ismael Rivera, Mongo Santamaria, George Coleman and so many others. He was a Student of the Great Jazz Master, Mary Lou Williams.

      A short discography includes:

      2005 Tribute to Puente * 2003 Enchantment * 1997 Island Eyes * 1994 Hands on Percussion * 1993 Heroes * 1993 Excitation * 1992 Manhattan Mambo * 1992 Live at Birdland * 1991 A Moment's Notice * 1989 Doin' It Right * 1988 El Camino [The Road] * 1988 Strut * 1986 Something Grand * 1984 Cross Currents * 1981 Live at Jazz Unite * 1977 New York Hilton * 1977 Steppin' Into Beauty * 1976 Rhythm in the House * 1975 Piano Man
      Das absolute Wissen führt zu Pessimismus; die Kunst ist das Heilmittel dagegen.
      Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), dt. Philosoph