Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin – 9:00 PM

BRASIL, the new album by Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin is a showcase for the unique talents of two of the most successful and influential musicians of their generation.  It has been an enduring friendship and collaboration, from playing the famed Baked Potato in Los Angeles in the 70s, to collaborations on Grusin’s records and films and Ritenour’s albums, plus years of touring together on the biggest stages.

Guitarist Ritenour and pianist Grusin began their fervent involvement in Brazilian music half a century ago. And, as boldly demonstrated on BRASIL, their new studio recording in several decades dedicated to the genre, their passion remains unabated. BRASIL is a bracing survey of contemporary Brazilian sounds featuring some of that country’s most notable young musicians.

Lee Ritenour has been working with top recording artists since the start of his career. Nicknamed “Captain Fingers” for his virtuosic guitar skill, he rose to international prominence on the electric jazz/fusion wave of the 1970s. His musical partner, Dave Grusin, is one of the most prolific composer/arrangers of the last five decades. A pianist and producer, Grusin’s recordings have won several awards over the years, including ten Grammy Awards, an Oscar for The Milagro Beanfield War soundtrack, as well as a Grammy for the Grusin and Ritenour 1985 collaboration Harlequin. The duo’s classically influenced albums, Two Worlds and Amparo, were nominated for Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2008, respectively.

Although a generation apart, when it comes to music Ritenour and Grusin are on the same page. A California native, Ritenour started on guitar at the age of eight. By sixteen, he was in the Los Angeles recording studios working with top musicians twice his age and experience. A founding member of Fourplay –with Harvey Mason, Nathan East and Bob James – Ritenour’s smooth, melodic style has inspired an entire generation of guitarists. Apart from his session work for other artists, he has over forty recordings under his own name.

Grusin, born in Colorado, studied at the University of Colorado before relocating to Los Angeles for a career in music. By the late 1960s, he was producing film scores. Among his better-known soundtracks are The Graduate, Tootsie and the theme for St. Elsewhere. He co-founded the GRP label in the late 1970s and produced many top-selling recordings. In concert, Ritenour and Grusin personify the best in a symbiotic relationship, bringing a fresh perspective to the worlds of classical music and jazz. All Music Review describes their music as “sheer artistry.”

Lee Ritenour Website
Dave Grusin Website
Sponsored by William & Cloy Codiga – William J. Codiga Family Foundation
(Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)