THC Science

Gumbi Ortiz (born October 13, 1955) pronounced “Goom-bee,” is an American percussionist, composer, producer, and music educator. For over 35 years, he has been the go-to percussionist and right-hand man for fusion guitarist Al Di Meola, accompanying him on solo shows and playing on various records, in various bands.^[1]^[2] His influences span genres, from jazz/fusion and pop to retro-soul, samba, and even a hint of Irish jig.^[3]

Ortiz’s debut solo album, Miami, pays tribute to his adopted home state of Florida, where he has resided since 1980. Saxophonists Eric Marienthal and Brandon Fields, keyboardist Jeff Lorber, and drummer Dave Weckl also play on it. Ortiz’s compositions draw from a wealth of styles, reflecting his Afro-Cuban roots, Latin rhythms, and even a touch of what he calls "Herbie Hancock funk." Ortiz has also led other projects, such as his group The Gumbi Band, The Latin Projekt, and eventually New Groove City. ^[3]^[1]^[2]

Early life[edit]

Born Gamaliel Ortiz in the South Bronx to a Puerto Rican father and Cuban mother, Ortiz played with Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente.^[1] In his late teen years, he recalls hearing Return to Forever (the jazz band with Di Meola on guitar and Chick Corea on keyboards), which inspired him to change direction.^[1]

Music career[edit]

1980s[edit]

In the late 1980s, Ortiz saw Al Di Meola perform in France. At the show, Di Meola invited a local percussionist to play with him: a tradition of Di Meola's, which Ortiz soon discovered, as a year later he was asked to play at Di Meola's show in Florida. Impressed with Ortiz's skills, Di Meola hired him as his touring percussionist.^[1]

1990s[edit]

Ortiz was a percussionist on Di Meola's 1991 album Kiss My Axe.^[4] This was well received by critics, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Album chart. He was featured again on Di Meola's next album World Sinfonia, also released in 1991.^[5] He played on Di Meola's next two studio albums, "Orange and Blue" (released in 1994) and "The Infinite Desire" (1998) in which Herbie Hancock plays acoustic piano.^[6]

Between tours, Ortiz continued to write, record, and perform music with his own bands. The first was a jam band, The Gumbi Band, whose completely improvised album Imagine That! ^[3] won a Jammy Award in 1995. It also toured the southeastern United States, and opened for George Clinton.^[3]

2000s[edit]

The Latino Projekt released the albums La Cura in 2000, and Soy de Aqui in 2005.^[3]

Ortiz played percussion in Di Meola's 2000 album World Sinfonía III – The Grande Passion, and again in 2002 with Di Meola's "Flesh on Flesh". Also in 2002, Ortiz helped compose the Iroko album, The Mango Project.^[7]

His 2007 release Miami is his only solo album. Mostly smooth jazz, it has elements of funk, salsa, and pop. Di Meola, his longtime collaborator, also returned to play on it.^[3]

Cosmopolitan Life is an album by Russian singer and composer Leonid Agutin, Di Meola and Ortiz, released in 2005.

Ortiz plays percussion on Di Meola's live albums as well. In 2008 Di Meola and the Hungarian flute player Eszter Horgas played together in Hungary to perform the remake of Bizet's Carmen.^{[citation needed]}

World Sinfonia – La Melodia is a live album by Di Meola, released in 2008.

2010s–present[edit]

Ortiz plays percussion in Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody, an album by Di Meola released in 2011.

In the early 2010s, he renamed the Latino Projekt to New Groove City and began working on their third studio album, New Groove City, released in the summer of 2012.^[1]

Ortiz and American musician Allen Carman became friends in the 1980s when Ortiz sat in with Carman’s popular Tampa-area group, City Heat. The concept for the Allen Carman Project began developing when the two musicians happened to do a gig together in 2015, when they discussed Ortiz's work with keyboardist and composer Philippe Saisse. Carman, who had been focused on his legal career, was happy to play music. In 2019 the Allen Carman Project was formed.^[8] The Allen Carman Project are: Allen Carman, Philippe Saisse, Gumbi Ortiz, Luis Aliceia and Kenny Anderson. Its debut album Carmanology has contributions from musicians such as Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, Nile Rodgers, Andy Snitzer, and Don Harrison.

In 2016, Ortiz worked with Marc Antoine on the album Laguna Beach. He also plays on a few songs from Senri Kawaguchi's 2016 album Cider: Hard & Sweet.

Ortiz is credited on Saisse's album On the Level, which was released in 2017.^[9]

The Allen Carman Project released the album I've Arrived in February 2024.

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f DeYoung, Bill (2021-04-16). "Talking music and the muse with percussionist Gumbi Ortiz". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
^ ^a ^b Imelda Dutton, Gumbi Ortiz, el domador de las congas, Orlando Sentinel, September 26, 2015, Page W1
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Gumbi Ortiz Musician - All About Jazz". All About Jazz. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
^ Al Di Meola - Kiss My Axe Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2024-02-27
^ Al Di Meola - World Sinfonia Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2024-02-27
^ "AL DI MEOLA". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
^ "The Mango Project - Iroko | Album", AllMusic, retrieved 2024-03-04
^ "TACP-BIO-ALLEN CARMAN | The Allen Carman Project". Retrieved 2024-02-29.
^ "BIO". Philippe Saisse. Retrieved 2024-03-07.

[:0-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f DeYoung, Bill (2021-04-16). "Talking music and the muse with percussionist Gumbi Ortiz". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved 2024-02-27.

[imedu-2] Imelda Dutton, Gumbi Ortiz, el domador de las congas, Orlando Sentinel, September 26, 2015, Page W1

[:1-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Gumbi Ortiz Musician - All About Jazz". All About Jazz. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 2024-02-27.

[4] Al Di Meola - Kiss My Axe Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2024-02-27

[5] Al Di Meola - World Sinfonia Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2024-02-27

[6] "AL DI MEOLA". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.

[7] "The Mango Project - Iroko | Album", AllMusic, retrieved 2024-03-04

[8] "TACP-BIO-ALLEN CARMAN | The Allen Carman Project". Retrieved 2024-02-29.

[9] "BIO". Philippe Saisse. Retrieved 2024-03-07.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Multiple issues|
-{{Short description|American Musician and Percussionist}}
-{{Promotional tone |date=March 2024}}
+{{BLP sources|date=April 2024}}
+{{notability|1=Music|date=April 2024}}
-'''Gumbi Ortiz''' (born October 13, 1955) pronounced “Goom-bee,” is an American percussionist, composer, producer, and music educator. For over 30 years, Gumbi has been the go-to percussionist and right-hand man for fusion guitar legend [[Al Di Meola]], accompanying Di Meola on solo shows and playing on various records, in various bands.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=DeYoung |first=Bill |date=2021-04-16 |title=Talking music and the muse with percussionist Gumbi Ortiz |url=https://stpetecatalyst.com/talking-music-and-the-muse-with-percussionist-gumbi-ortiz/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=St Pete Catalyst |language=en-US}}</ref>  Ortiz brings a rich blend of Latino heritage to his eclectic musical style. His influences span across genres, from [[Jazz fusion|jazz/fusion]] and [[Pop music|pop]] to [[retro-soul]], [[samba]], and even a hint of [[Irish jig]]. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jazz |first=All About |title=Gumbi Ortiz Musician - All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/gumbi-ortiz |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=All About Jazz Musicians |language=en}}</ref>
+}}
+{{Short description|American musician and percussionist}}
+[[File:Gumbi ortiz marlo miller.6076fe7a53eff.png|thumb|Ortiz playing percussion]]
+'''Gumbi Ortiz''' (born October 13, 1955) pronounced “Goom-bee,” is an American percussionist, composer, producer, and music educator. For over 35 years, he has been the go-to percussionist and right-hand man for fusion guitarist [[Al Di Meola]], accompanying him on solo shows and playing on various records, in various bands.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=DeYoung |first=Bill |date=2021-04-16 |title=Talking music and the muse with percussionist Gumbi Ortiz |url=https://stpetecatalyst.com/talking-music-and-the-muse-with-percussionist-gumbi-ortiz/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=St Pete Catalyst |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=imedu>Imelda Dutton, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-gumbi-ortiz/146501817/ Gumbi Ortiz, el domador de las congas], ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'', September 26, 2015, Page W1</ref> His influences span genres, from [[Jazz fusion|jazz/fusion]] and [[Pop music|pop]] to [[retro-soul]], [[samba]], and even a hint of [[Irish jig]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Gumbi Ortiz Musician - All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/gumbi-ortiz |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=All About Jazz  |date=17 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
-Gumbi Ortiz’s debut solo album, “Miami,” pays tribute to his adopted home state of Florida, where he has resided since 1980. The album features a rich ensemble of jazz greats, including saxophonists [[Eric Marienthal]] and [[Brandon Fields (musician)|Brandon Fields]], keyboardist [[Jeff Lorber]], and drummer [[Dave Weckl]]. Ortiz’s compositions draw from a wealth of styles, reflecting his Afro-Cuban roots, Latin rhythms, and even a touch of what he calls "Herbie Hancock funk." While “Miami” marks his official solo release, Gumbi has also led other acclaimed projects, such as his group The Gumbi Band, which won accolades at the first [[Jammy Award|“Jammy” Awards]]. His passion for jamming and blending diverse musical influences has made him a standout performer in his own right. <ref name=":1" />
+Ortiz’s debut solo album, ''Miami'', pays tribute to his adopted home state of Florida, where he has resided since 1980. Saxophonists [[Eric Marienthal]] and [[Brandon Fields (musician)|Brandon Fields]], keyboardist [[Jeff Lorber]], and drummer [[Dave Weckl]] also play on it. Ortiz’s compositions draw from a wealth of styles, reflecting his Afro-Cuban roots, Latin rhythms, and even a touch of what he calls "Herbie Hancock funk." Ortiz has also led other projects, such as his group The Gumbi Band, The Latin Projekt, and eventually New Groove City. <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=imedu/>
 == Early life ==
-Born Gamaliel Ortiz in the South Bronx to a Puerto Rican father and Cuban mother, Gumbi sat-in and played with greats such as [[Eddie Palmieri]] and [[Tito Puente]].<ref name=":0" /> In his late teen years, Ortiz recalls hearing ''Return to Forever'' (the pioneering jazz band with Di Meola on guitar and [[Chick Corea]] on keyboards). The band inspired Ortiz to change direction.<ref name=":0" />
+Born Gamaliel Ortiz in the [[South Bronx]] to a Puerto Rican father and Cuban mother, Ortiz played with [[Eddie Palmieri]] and [[Tito Puente]].<ref name=":0" /> In his late teen years, he recalls hearing Return to Forever (the jazz band with Di Meola on guitar and [[Chick Corea]] on keyboards), which inspired him to change direction.<ref name=":0" />
-== Music Career ==
+== Music career ==
-=== 1980's ===
+=== 1980s ===
-In the late 1980's, Ortiz saw Al Di Meola perform in France. At the show, Di Meola invited a local percussionist to play with him. A tradition of Di Meola's, which Ortiz soon discovered, as a year later, he was asked to play percussion at Di Meola's show in Florida. Di Meola, impressed with Ortiz's skills, hired him to play as his touring percussionist. <ref name=":0" />
+In the late 1980s, Ortiz saw Al Di Meola perform in France. At the show, Di Meola invited a local percussionist to play with him: a tradition of Di Meola's, which Ortiz soon discovered, as a year later he was asked to play at Di Meola's show in Florida. Impressed with Ortiz's skills, Di Meola hired him as his touring percussionist.<ref name=":0" />
-=== 1990's ===
+=== 1990s ===
-Ortiz was credited as a percussionist on Di Meola's 1991 album [[Kiss My Axe]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Al Di Meola - Kiss My Axe Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/kiss-my-axe-mw0000270627 |access-date=2024-02-27 |language=en}}</ref> The project was well received by critics, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Album chart. He was featured again on Di Meola's next album [[World Sinfonia]], also released in 1991. <ref>{{Citation |title=Al Di Meola - World Sinfonia Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/world-sinfonia-mw0000265283 |access-date=2024-02-27 |language=en}}</ref> He was credited on Di Meola's next two studio albums, "Orange and Blue" (released in 1994) and "The Infinite Desire" released in 1998 in which Pianist [[Herbie Hancock]] plays acoustic piano. <ref>{{Cite web |title=AL DI MEOLA |url=https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2075#discography |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Progarchives.com |language=en}}</ref>
+Ortiz was a percussionist on Di Meola's 1991 album ''[[Kiss My Axe]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Al Di Meola - Kiss My Axe Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/kiss-my-axe-mw0000270627 |access-date=2024-02-27 |language=en}}</ref> This was well received by critics, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Album chart. He was featured again on Di Meola's next album ''[[World Sinfonia]]'', also released in 1991.<ref>{{Citation |title=Al Di Meola - World Sinfonia Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/world-sinfonia-mw0000265283 |access-date=2024-02-27 |language=en}}</ref> He played on Di Meola's next two studio albums, "Orange and Blue" (released in 1994) and "The Infinite Desire" (1998) in which [[Herbie Hancock]] plays acoustic piano.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AL DI MEOLA |url=https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2075#discography |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Progarchives.com |language=en}}</ref>
-Between tours, Ortiz continued to write, record, and perform music with his own bands. The first of these was a jam band called The Gumbi Band, whose completely improvised album ''Imagine That!'' won a Jammy Award in 1995. The Gumbi Band also toured the southeastern United States, and opened for George Clinton. <ref name=":1" />
+Between tours, Ortiz continued to write, record, and perform music with his own bands. The first was a jam band, The Gumbi Band, whose completely improvised album ''Imagine That!'' <ref name=":1" /> won a Jammy Award in 1995. It also toured the southeastern United States, and opened for George Clinton.<ref name=":1" />
+=== 2000s ===
-In the late 1990s, he formed The Latino Projekt, a St. Petersburg based band.
+The Latino Projekt released the albums ''La Cura'' in 2000, and ''Soy de Aqui'' in 2005.<ref name=":1" />
+Ortiz played percussion in Di Meola's 2000 album ''[[World Sinfonía III – The Grande Passion]]'', and again in 2002 with Di Meola's "Flesh on Flesh". Also in 2002, Ortiz helped compose the Iroko album, ''The Mango Project''.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Mango Project - Iroko {{!}} Album | website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-mango-project-mw0001102141 |access-date=2024-03-04 |language=en}}</ref>
-=== 2000's ===
-The Latino Projekt had released the albums La Cura in 2000, and Soy de Aqui in 2005. <ref name=":1" />
+His 2007 release ''Miami'' is his only solo album. Mostly smooth jazz, it has elements of funk, salsa, and pop. Di Meola, his longtime collaborator, also returned to play on it.<ref name=":1" />
-Ortiz was credited for percussion in Di Meola's 2000 album "[[World Sinfonía III – The Grande Passion]]". He was credited again in 2002 with Di Meola's release "Flesh on Flesh". Also in 2002, Ortiz helped compose the Iroko album, The Mango Project.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Mango Project - Iroko {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-mango-project-mw0001102141 |access-date=2024-03-04 |language=en}}</ref>
+''[[Cosmopolitan Life]]'' is an album by Russian singer and composer [[Leonid Agutin]], Di Meola and Ortiz, released in 2005.
-His 2007 release "Miami" marks his only solo album. While it was mostly a smooth jazz project, the album has elements of funk, salsa, and pop. Al Di Meola, his longtime collaborator also returned to feature on the album. <ref name=":1" />
+Ortiz plays percussion on Di Meola's live albums as well. In 2008 Di Meola and the Hungarian flute player Eszter Horgas played together in Hungary to perform the remake of Bizet's ''Carmen''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
-[[Cosmopolitan Life]] is an album by Russian singer and composer [[Leonid Agutin]], Di Meola and Ortiz, released in 2005.
+''[[World Sinfonia – La Melodia]]'' is a live album by Di Meola, released in 2008.
-Ortiz is credited for his percussion on Di Meola's live albums as well. In 2008 Di Meola and the virtuoso Hungarian flute player, Eszter Horgas played together in Hungary to perform the remake of Bizet's Carmen.
+=== 2010s–present ===
-[[World Sinfonia – La Melodia]] is a live album by Di Meola, released in 2008.
+Ortiz plays percussion in ''[[Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody]]'', an album by Di Meola released in 2011.
+In the early 2010s, he renamed the Latino Projekt to New Groove City and began working on their third studio album, ''New Groove City'', released in the summer of 2012.<ref name=":0" />
-=== 2010's - Present ===
-Ortiz is credited for percussion in [[Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody]], an album by Di Meola released in 2011.
+Ortiz and American musician Allen Carman became friends in the 1980s when Ortiz sat in with Carman’s popular Tampa-area group, City Heat. The concept for the Allen Carman Project began developing when the two musicians happened to do a gig together in 2015, when they discussed Ortiz's work with keyboardist and composer [[Philippe Saisse]]. Carman, who had been focused on his legal career, was happy to play music. In 2019 the Allen Carman Project was formed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TACP-BIO-ALLEN CARMAN {{!}} The Allen Carman Project |url=https://theallencarmanproject.com/tacp-bio-allen-carman/ |access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> The Allen Carman Project are: Allen Carman, Philippe Saisse, Gumbi Ortiz, Luis Aliceia and Kenny Anderson. Its debut album ''Carmanology'' has contributions from musicians such as [[Marc Antoine (musician)|Marc Antoine]], [[Rick Braun]], [[Nile Rodgers]], [[Andy Snitzer]], and [[Don Harrison Band|Don Harrison]].
-In the early 2010s, he renamed The Latino Projekt to New Groove City and began working on their 3rd studio album. The self-titled album New Groove City was released in the summer of 2012. <ref name=":0" />
+In 2016, Ortiz worked with [[Marc Antoine (musician)|Marc Antoine]] on the album ''Laguna Beach''. He also plays on a few songs from [[Senri Kawaguchi]]'s 2016 album ''Cider: Hard & Sweet''.
-Ortiz and American musician Allen Carman became friends in the 1980's when Ortiz sat in with Carman’s popular Tampa-area group, City Heat. The concept for The Allen Carman Project began developing when the two musicians happened to do a gig together in 2015, when they discussed Ortiz's work with renowned keyboardist and composer [[Philippe Saisse]]. After decades of touring with Al Di Meola, Ortiz was ready for a change. Carman, who had been focused on his legal career, embraced the opportunity to rediscover his musical passion. In 2019 The Allen Carman Project was formed. <ref>{{Cite web |title=TACP-BIO-ALLEN CARMAN {{!}} The Allen Carman Project |url=https://theallencarmanproject.com/tacp-bio-allen-carman/ |access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> The Allen Carman Project are: Allen Carman, Philippe Saisse, Gumbi Ortiz, Luis Aliceia and Kenny Anderson. The band's debut album "Carmanology" features contributions from renowned musicians such as [[Marc Antoine (musician)|Marc Antoine]], [[Rick Braun]], [[Nile Rodgers]], [[Andy Snitzer]], and [[Don Harrison Band|Don Harrison]]. Ortiz’s percussion adds extra flavor to their distinctive sound, which blends contemporary jazz with funky elements.
+Ortiz is credited on Saisse's album ''On the Level'', which was released in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BIO |url=https://philippesaisse.com/bio |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Philippe Saisse |language=en-US}}</ref>
-In 2016, Ortiz worked with musician [[Marc Antoine (musician)]] on the album Laguna Beach. He also is credited with percussion on a few songs from [[Senri Kawaguchi]]'s 2016 album "Cider: Hard & Sweet".
+The Allen Carman Project released the album ''I've Arrived'' in February 2024.
-Ortiz is credited on Saisse's album "On the Level", which was released in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BIO |url=https://philippesaisse.com/bio |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Philippe Saisse |language=en-US}}</ref>
-The Allen Carman Project released their latest album "I've Arrived" in February of 2024.
 ==References==
@@ Line 53: / Line 55: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Ortiz, Gumbi}}
 [[Category:1955 births]]
+[[Category:Living people]]