The Center for International Exhibition and Performance since 1987
The goal of this workshop is to guide students to expand their individual musical narrative
by integrating influences from contemporary classical music, irregular rhythms, Afro-Cuban
polyrhythm and avant-garde improvisation into their musical vocabulary, to transcend their
musical stylistic limits.
During the class I'll emphasize the use and embellishment of rhythmic, polyrhythmic
patterns and permutations; as a melodic material during the process of improvisation and
real time composition. I'll also talk about some harmonic expansion and control of phrasing,
to achieve a personal sound and original perspective. Attention will be paid to the
importance of developing exercises to build musical structures using different harmonic and
melodic systems, and music analysis.
Aruan Ortiz
Born in Santiago de Cuba, pianist, violist, and composer Aruán Ortiz has been an active
figure in the progressive jazz and avant-garde scene for more than 20 years. Ortiz’s
career includes writing, producing, conducting, and directing music for jazz ensembles,
orchestras, dance companies, chamber groups, and feature films, incorporating
influences from contemporary classical music, Cuban-Haitian rhythms, and avant-garde
improvisation. He consistently strives to break stylistic musical boundaries. Ortiz’s works
include “Episodes of an Unforeseen Departure” (2023), premiered by the Harlem
Chamber Players; “Piedras de Ida y Vuelta” (2023), premiered by Ensemble Ipse; and
“Remaining Tropiques: Then and Now” (2023); the jazz suite “Pastor’s Paradox” (2022),
inspired by the political legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., premiered at Teatro Dallas;
the multi-disciplinary project “Flamenco Criollo” (2021), premiered at the Flamenco
Biennale Nederland; and the score for ballet Santiarican Blues Suite (2011). Ortiz has
more than 15 albums as a leader, and has collaborated on more than 30 recordings. As
a music researcher and conceptualist, his works express a reverence for the rich
diversity present in the music, history, politics, literature, visual arts, oral cultural
expressions and traditions of the Afro-descendent communities in the Americas.