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Cruzing Along
Adam Cruz releases his new CD- Milestone.
Adam Cruz was born 1970 in New York City the son of timbalero player Ray Cruz. His parents separated when he was four, and when his father moved out, he left him a drum kit as a gift.
“My dad also played drums, and he passed down his interest in the drum set to me. He also taught me to read music and exposed me to those timeless Miles Davis records of the 50’s and 60’s that I still cherish today.”
Cruz has been a prominent member of the jazz world through his associations with some of today’s jazz leaders including Chick Corea, Tom Harrell and Patricia Barber, Danilo Perez, Steve Wilson, David Sanchez, and pianist Edward Simon.
The name of his new album on Sunnyside Records, is Milestone, a name he didn’t choose lightly.
“I’ve had a vision to do something with my composing for a long time,” says Cruz. “But I’ve also felt a certain ripening needed to happen. This is a big step for me. I’ve invested a lot of time in practicing and studying, working at my relationship with the piano and developing a compositional voice.”
On this album, Cruz provides listeners with a strong and diverse original compositions that demonstrate his range as a writer and musician. He also demonstrates his ability to collaborate with some of the most influential jazz musicians including saxophonist Chris Potter, Steve Wilson, Miguel Zenon, guitarist Steve Cardenas, pianist Edward Simon and bassist Ben Street.
“Once I had the guys in mind, it was important for me to bring them in, into this compositional world in such a way that they would find material to be inspired by. That is the balance: the written material, the rhythms, the harmonies and melodies I’ve been hearing, while leaving the space for their personalities, their ideas and their taste.”
Cruz has been working on the music of Milestone for the last 10 years. My wife always asks me ‘How do you have so much patience?’ and I always answer the same way: “Well, it’s not right till it’s right. And I’ll know when it’s right”.
Now, with Milestone, it’s right.
CD Available here.