JOSE VALENTINO RUIZ
"I love Bari Woodwinds mouthpieces! I am able to produce so many timbral changes, colors, and sounds that reflect exactly how I feel. I would recommend them to anyone who is serious about music and who is desiring to perform with honesty, flexibility, and passion."
Dr. José Valentino Ruiz is a 2-time GRAMMY nominated artist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, educator, clinician, and record producer known for his passionate performances, versatility & fluid expression on the flute, saxophone, bass, piano, and Latin percussion.
He has collaborated on albums with Grammy-winning and internationally recognized artists/composers such as Chick Corea, Paquito D'Rivera, Jim Walker, Phil Ramone, Jonathan Butler, Alex Acuña, Aaron Neville, Brian Lynch, Nestor Torres, Dave Valentin, Andy Montanez, Hubert Laws, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Dave Cleveland, and Abraham Laborie.
As a radiant performer, José has performed with his ensembles, Crossmatch Vamp, José Valentino Band, and Touch (iPad Band), at many prestigious venues: Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood Music Center, DC Jazz Festival, The NAMM Show (Largest music convention in the world), RCA Dome, Festival Miami, Orlando Convention Center, COG International General Assembly, National Museum of Arts of Puerto Rico, Tampa Jazz Festival, Low Country Jazz Festival, Cape Coral Jazz Festival, St. Armand's Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Winter Park Jazz festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival, National Flute Association, Florida Music Educators Association Conference, Texas Music Educators Association Conference, National Association for Music Education Conference, Florida Technology and Education Conference, Popular Music Education Conference, TEDx Talk, ESPN, FOX News, CBS, NBC, World News, CNN, ABC, Univision, and Telemundo.
In 2015, the 16th Annual Latin-GRAMMY awards nominated Dr. Ruiz's album, Jose Valentino & The Latin Jazz Ensemble "I Make You Want To Move" for Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year. Recently, Dr. Ruiz co-released a groundbreaking project entitled, "We Are One: An Exploration of Latin American Music, with flute phenomenon Jim Walker. The project is a one-of-a-kind multi-cultural music education embarkation. One year later, Jose returns as a contestant for the biggest night in Latin music's prestigious competition, the 17th Annual Latin-GRAMMY awards, only this time to be honored as a nominee for master engineering, co-composing, and participating as a multi-instrumentalist for renowned pianist Bruno Miranda's album "MOSAICO." This album is deemed top five in the world for Best Instrumental Album of the Year. The feelings and sounds of joy, friendship, and brotherly love are apparent in each song from the album, which is representative of the professional working dynamic of Jose's production team, the same team of musicians, producers, composers, and engineers who were involved in the previous year's nomination.
Academically Dr. Ruiz has garnered the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Musical Studies from the University of South Florida, Master of Music in Instrumental Performance from the University of Miami, Doctor of Philosophy in Music, concentration in Music Education for the University of South Florida, and a Doctor of Ministry in Global Missions and Ethnodoxology from Micar Christian University.
Dr. Ruiz is most passionate about imparting experimental wisdom and applicable opportunities for music business students at Lee University's School of Music where he is acting Assistant Professor of Music Business and Electric Bass. Through his pedagogy, music business majors are becoming "uniquely equipped to thrive in a modern music industry as 'musicianaries' (aka, music missionaries) for the kingdom of God."