A longstanding member of the Santana band, Bill Ortiz is proud to present his newsolo EP release Winter In America from his forthcoming album, Highest Wish. A followup to his debut solo album From Where I Stand, the new project features consciousemcees such as The Grouch, Zumbi (of Zion I) and K-Maxx, as well as fellowSantana member (and 11 time Grammy® Award Winner) Tony Lindsey, and iconicpoet/vocalist Linda Tillery, featured with a spoken word performance of Dr. MartinLuther King's Nobel Peace Prize speech.
“Carlos has always used music to inspire and bring people together,” explains Ortiz.“I follow in that tradition. I’ve been really encouraged by some of the Bay Area hip-hop artists like Zumbi and the Grouch who make music with enlightened lyrics,” Ortizadds of how he chose his featured guests. “We often celebrate ignorance in oursociety, I wanted to celebrate consciousness.” Ortiz covers Gil Scott Heron’s 1973hit on the title track “Winter in America” as an homage to the recently departed Heron.
And while Ortiz is known over the past 11 years as the trumpeter with Santana, he’sbeen involved in the Hip-Hop and R&B movements for as long as he’s played music.He played trumpet on the classic hip-hop Souls of Mischief album “93 til Infinity” andhas worked with Tony Toni Tone, Sheila E, TLC, among others.
In the nineties Ortiz began working with R&B/Hip-Hop group Tony Toni Tone as atouring band member and featured soloist. He performed on five releases from themulti-platinum selling group, as well as toured the US, Canada and Europe. Heaccompanied Tony Toni Tone when they joined Janet Jackson on her "Alive" tourand made numerous TV appearances with them. This exposure led Ortiz to recordingwith Destiny's Child, En Vogue, Souls of Mischief, Sheila E, TLC, Total, and Johnny"Guitar" Watson, among others.
Following his stay with Tony Toni Tone, Ortiz toured and recorded with the legendaryBoz Scaggs, and began a long and fruitful association with highly acclaimed jazzvocalist Lavay Smith (with whom he still works), recording two CDs and touring theUS and Europe yet again.
Presently Ortiz is recording and touring with Carlos Santana, work which includes hisperformances on the Grammy® Award winning singles Smooth and The Game ofLove. In addition, he has been very active as a studio musician playing Hip-Hop, R&Band Jazz. In 2009, Bill Ortiz released his debut solo album “From Where I Stand,”which charted on Billboard and garnered huge success among critics and fans alikein the USA and around the world. He is endorsed by Shure microphones and recentlyby Rebel Spirit Clothing.
For more information, or to place an order with IDC, visit us on the web@ www.independentdistro.com or fax orders to (415) 292-5007.
Bill Ortiz “Winter In America” EP LAR# 00006 IDC Cat # 0471
Independent Distribution Collective 880 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 292-7007
Check out more from Bill Ortiz @
www.billortiz.com
Track Listing
1) Winter In Amercia featuring Tony Lindsay
and The Grouch2) I Still Believe
Phoenix Black Remixfeaturing Zumbi and
Linda Tillery3)Wordplay The K-MaxxRemix featuring K-Maxx
4) I Still Believe The Mongomery Bus
Remix5) Winter in America
(Radio Edit)
File Under:Hip Hop, R&BSpoken Word
Santana Trumpeter featuring a remix of the epicGil Scot Heron Anthem with vocals by Tony Lindsay
(Santana) and The Grouch (Living Legends) and a tributeto MLK featuring Zumbi (Zion I) and Linda Tillery
