The Michael Janisch and Aruan Ortiz Group is a new international musical collaboration of the highest order. Both leaders have performed at the forefront of contemporary jazz with some of the world’s greatest artists, such as Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Wayne Rooney, and Terry Lyne Carrington, and have done so since their formative years studying together at the Berklee College of Music. For their new group to tour extensively around mainland europe in OCT/NOV ’11, they have assembled one of the most star studded casts of recent years, calling on one of the jazz world’s most prominent and pioneering artists, saxophonist Greg Osby, as well as first call NYC resident drummer Rudy Royston to perform their collective critically acclaimed original music. Their sonic artistry spans the breadth of contemporary improvised sounds while drawing firmly and authentically from jazz’s rich tradition. Nothing short of instrumental virtuosity and ever-searching, joyous music as modern as the minute should be expected by these young masters.

Aruan Ortiz was born and raised in Santiago de Cuba and was trained in classical piano and viola in Cuba, and in Spain under pianist and educator Cecilio Tieles. His classical studies marked his predilection for twentieth century composers like Maurice Ravel, Olivier Messiaen, Arnold Schoenberg, Gustav Mahler, and Paul Hindemith. In 2002, he won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, and soon after started to explore new approaches to Cuban and Latin American music mixed with avant-garde jazz, which lead him to record “Aruan Ortiz Trio, Vol.1” in 2003 (Ayva Musica), an album that he composed, arranged and produced. The following year he was offered a position as Assistant Professor of Afro-Cuban jazz ensembles at Berklee College of Music. His work as a performer also developed during this period, touring with his projects and playing as a sideman with such distinguished jazz performers as Greg Osby, Wallace Roney, Ralph Peterson, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Cindy Blackman among others. Critics also noticed Aruan’s work, and his recordings “Aruan Ortiz Trio, Vol. 1” and “Alameda” have been featured in major international jazz magazines such as Downbeat, Jazziz, JazzTimes, Jazz Podium (Germany), Jazz Hot (France), Jazz Life (Japan), with excellent reviews. Some examples “Jazz fans applaud, and novices mark your calendars. Aruan Ortiz, critically acclaimed Cuban pianist is a “must see” (New York Post); “Original music that revealed an impressive approach to improvising and composing… giving positive meaning to the term intelligent design” (All About Jazz, New York, April 2006). Aruan can be heard as a sideman in several recordings: “Junjo” by Esperanza Spalding, “If Only for One Night” by Wallace Roney, “Earchitecture” by Jure Pukl, “Solo Corazon” by Mark Weinstein, “Evocaci�n” by Raynald Colom (Recording of the year in Spain, 2010), “Path to Sullivan Square” (featuring Terri Lyne Carrington and Wayne Krantz) by Russell Kirk, among many others. Currently he has a busy schedule teaching and leading and producing several projects like the Nawe Project, a electronic Afro-Cuban jazz-funk project, and the Aruan Ortiz Quartet, an eclectic contemporary jazz group. He also tours and performs with the Wallace Roney Quintet and with Terry Lyne Carrington.

Saxophonist, composer, producer and educator Greg Osby has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz as a leader of his own ensembles and as a guest artist with other acclaimed jazz groups for the past 20 years. Highly regarded for his insightful and innovative approach to composition and performance, Osby is a shining beacon among the current generation of jazz musicians. He has earned numerous awards and critical acclaim for his recorded works and passionate live performances. Born and reared in St. Louis, Greg Osby began his professional music career in 1975, after three years of private studies on clarinet, flute and alto saxophone. Coming from a vibrant and musical city, Osby showed an early interest in the performing arts and spent his years in secondary school with a heavy involvement in Blues and Jazz groups. In 1978 Osby furthered his musical education at Howard University (Washington, D.C.) where he majored in Jazz Studies. He continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) from 1980 to 1983. Upon relocating to New York in early 1983, Osby quickly established himself as a notable and in demand sideman for artists as varied as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jim Hall and Jaki Byard as well as with many ethnic and new music ensembles in the New York area. In 1985 Osby was invited to to join Jack DeJohnette’s innovative group, “Special Edition”. It was as a member of this ensemble Osby was able to fine tune the more challenging aspects of his conception in an open ended, no holds barred musical situation. Says Osby, “My musical thinking for performance and composition advanced by light years as Jack was open to my input and was very encouraging in pushing me to to maintain a steady flow of experimentation. It marked a major turning point in my development as an artist.” In 1987, Osby signed his first recording deal with a new German label , JMT (Jazz Music Today). With this situation, he felt that he was finally able to document life as he saw it through music. He had free creative reign to do whatever he liked. He recorded four CD titles for that label. Osby signed with Blue Note Records in 1990 and recorded fifteen outstanding recordings for that label as a leader. In 2008, Osby launched his own label, “Inner Circle Music”, which serves as a platform for many of today’s brightest artists. From the pulse of the streets and the language of a generation, Osby has sketched numerous musical essays set to a contemporary score using the improvisational nature of Jazz as the connecting thread.

Rudy Royston: Born in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised in Denver, Colorado, Royston has been a professional teacher, drummer and percussionist for almost twenty years. He studied classical percussion at University of Denver where earned undergraduate degrees in Music and English; Rudy accomplished teacher certification credentials from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Rudy grew up playing drums in church, and found his voice under the auspices of Colorado’s celebrated trumpeter Ron Miles, whom Royston deems his greatest influence, and with whom Rudy has played since 1991. He has taught, recorded and performed all styles of music from Jazz to marching percussion. Since moving to Piscataway, New Jersey in 2006, Mr. Royston has completed a Masters in Music degree from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and performed with many of today’s finest Jazz musicians. Javon Jackson, Bill Frisell, Les McCann, David Gilmore, Andy Milne, Shane Endsley, JD Allen, Sean Jones, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Edward Simone, Jennifer Holiday, Mark Gross, Ralph Bowen, Bruce Barth, George Colligan, Don Byron, Stanley Cowell, Jonathan Kreisberg, Jenny Scheinmenn and Craig Handy, to name a few. A lover of all genres of music, Rudy continues to pursue music and expand his music horizons.

FIRST SHOW/HOUSE: Admission 20 pounds (15 for students/musicians), Doors 6 pm | show starts at 7:30 pm | 90 minute set | Click HERE for Bookings.

SECOND SHOW/HOUSE: Admission 20 pounds (15 for students/musicians), Doors 10:00 pm | show starts at 10:30 pm | 90 minute set | Click HERE for Bookings.