When a four-year-old pounds on drums, it
sounds like a four-year old pounding on drums. But when
Ronnie Gutierrez
was four years old, the sounds he made on bongos resonated more like
music than noise. It was no surprise that Gutierrez, the son of 1960s
percussion icon Mike Gutierrez, would start creating music at a young
age. The combination of his raw talent and the influence of the Latin
music legends that surrounded him – such as Willie Bobo, Luis Miranda
and Bobby Montez – secured Gutierrez’s place in musical prodigy history.
By the time Gutierrez was 12, he had his own band and was performing for
school and church events. Over a musical career that spans four decades,
he has performed throughout the world in genres ranging from classical
to contemporary. His diverse list of performances include playing in
orchestras – the California Philharmonic, Germany’s V.D.R. Orchestra and
Holland’s Metropole Orchestra – as well as performing with Grammy
Award-winning artists such as Al Jarreau, Andrea Bocelli and Jeffrey
Osborne. “I grew up listening to the music my father played – Frank
Sinatra, Barbara Streisand and Tito Puente,” said Gutierrez, who was
born and raised in Los Angeles. “I love classical music as well as R&B
soul, but my heart is in salsa.”
Saucy Salsa
It will be the Gutierrez brand of salsa that the audience hears when
Gutierrez, his father and other members of
their Latin Jazz All Stars band perform at the Chumash Casino Resort on
September 19. The Latin Jazz All Stars will perform a few tracks from
Gutierrez’ CD, Like Father Like Son. The styles on the CD range from
Cuban, Puerto
Rican and Brazilian influences to Latin Jazz, including old school
salsa. Gutierrez’ 75-year-young father sings
lead vocals. Audience members will no doubt be on their feet the minute
the Latin Jazz All Stars begin their first song. The music is
electrifying and inspires you to dance – cha-cha, samba, salsa – even if
dancing is not routinely in your repertoire. Their eclectic sound transcends
cultural and generational boundaries and will have you moving in a way
you didn’t know you could. About Ronnie As a native of Los Angeles,
Gutierrez grew up in the heart of the music scene. He attended Los
Angeles Valley College as well as the Dick Grove School of Music, a
leading contemporary music school. His recent collaborations have been
with smooth jazz artists where
he has brought his style of Latin jazz to performances with a variety of
artists including Brenda Russell, David
Sanborn, George Duke and Peabo Bryson. Gutierrez is currently finishing
up a summer tour as a percussionist with smooth jazz great and six-time
Grammy Award nominee Dave Koz. The 23-city tour has crisscrossed all
across the U.S., taking the band from Napa to New York and Camarillo to
Chicago. The summer tour ends on September 27 at the Greek Theater in
Los Angeles. “I love living life and playing music,” said Gutierrez,
quite simply. Once you hear him perform, you’ll be loving life, too, as
you listen to him play his music.