Ruslan Sirota

Last updated
Ruslan Sirota
Ruslan Sirota, 2015.png
Background information
Origin Uman, Ukraine
Genres Jazz, R&B/soul, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, producer, composer
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, organ
Years active1996–present

Ruslan Sirota is a Grammy Award winning [1] [2] pianist, composer, and producer.

Contents

Early life

Ruslan was born in Uman, Ukraine to a Jewish family on November 4, 1980. His father, Yefim, who was an active local guitarist, introduced him to music at an early age. Picking up guitar around the age of four, Ruslan transitioned to piano around the age of seven. In 1990, his family moved to Israel, where he continued to study piano at the Bat-Yam music school. At approximately 14, Ruslan discovered jazz, instantly showing interest. By the age of 16, he was the "wunderkind" keyboardist for the then-popular Israeli jazz fusion band, "Confusion". With Confusion, he toured Israel and made several appearances at the Red Sea Jazz Festival. [3]

At 18, Ruslan auditioned for the Berklee College of Music, where he received full tuition scholarship, and moved to Boston in January 2000. During his studies at Berklee, Ruslan displayed growing interest in R&B, funk and soul music, playing with local artists and eventually becoming the resident keyboardist in a club called "Wally's Jazz Café". [3]

Later life and career

Circa 2004, Ruslan joined the Stanley Clarke band [4] [5] and moved to Los Angeles, thus marking the beginning of his professional career. [6] [7] [8]

Since then, Ruslan has been touring, performing and recording with artists such as Black Eyed Peas, Chick Corea, Kanye West, Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Seal, Josh Groban, Ne-Yo, George Duke, Marcus Miller, Al Jarreau, Victor Wooten, Eric Benét, Rachelle Ferrell, Larry Carlton, Los Angeles Philharmonic and countless others. Ruslan released his self-titled debut album, featuring Clarke, Corea and George Duke as special guests, on October 24, 2011. The album was produced by Ruslan and Clarke, released on Bungalo Records and distributed by Universal Music Group Distribution. [9] [10]

Ruslan is also a board member of the Magic Music Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to granting scholarships to music students worldwide, regardless of their choice of music teachers and/or schools. [11]

Discography

As leader

As sideman or guest

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Clarke</span> American bassist (born 1951)

Stanley Clarke is an American bassist, composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, sell out shows worldwide and have recordings reach gold status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chick Corea</span> American musician and composer (1941–2021)

Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain", "500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba" and "Windows" are widely considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis's band in the late 1960s, he participated in the birth of jazz fusion. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever. Along with McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, Corea is considered to have been one of the foremost pianists of the post-John Coltrane era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiromi Uehara</span> Japanese musician and composer

Hiromi Uehara, known professionally as Hiromi, is a Japanese jazz composer and pianist. She is known for her virtuosic technique, energetic live performances and blending of musical genres such as stride, post-bop, progressive rock, classical, nu jazz and fusion in her compositions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Return to Forever</span> American jazz fusion group led by Chick Corea

Return to Forever was an American jazz fusion band that was founded by pianist Chick Corea in 1972. The band has had many members, with the only consistent bandmate of Corea's being bassist Stanley Clarke. Along with Weather Report, The Headhunters, and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever is often cited as one of the core groups of the jazz-fusion movement of the 1970s. Several musicians, including Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Al Di Meola, came to prominence through their performances on Return to Forever albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenny White</span> American drummer

Leonard "Lenny" White III is an American jazz fusion drummer who was a member of the band Return to Forever led by Chick Corea in the 1970s. White has been called "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flora Purim</span> Brazilian jazz singer (born 1942)

Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Return to Forever with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. She has recorded and performed with numerous artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, Opa, Stan Getz, George Duke, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, Santana, Jaco Pastorius, and her husband Airto Moreira.

<i>No Mystery</i> 1975 studio album by Return to Forever

No Mystery (1975) is a studio album by jazz-rock fusion band Return to Forever, and the second featuring the quartet of Chick Corea, guitarist Al Di Meola, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White.

<i>Light as a Feather</i> 1973 studio album by Return to Forever

Light as a Feather is technically the first studio album by jazz band Return to Forever led by keyboardist Chick Corea. It features saxophonist/flautist Joe Farrell, bassist Stanley Clarke, vocalist Flora Purim and her husband, drummer/percussionist Airto Moreira, who all performed on Corea’s previous album Return to Forever, from which the group took its name.

Bill Connors is an American jazz guitarist who was a member of Chick Corea's band Return to Forever. After leaving Return to Forever, he recorded three acoustic albums and then three electric albums as a leader/soloist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chick Corea Elektric Band</span> Jazz fusion band

Chick Corea Elektric Band was a jazz fusion band, led by keyboardist and pianist Chick Corea and founded in 1986 in New York City. The band was nominated twice at the Grammy Awards. The sixth band album, a tribute one named Chick Corea Elektric Band II - Paint the World and released in 1993, received an additional nomination the next year. The group reunited in 2003, and Corea died in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Lorber</span> American jazz keyboardist

Jeffrey H. Lorber is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Prototype by his band the Jeff Lorber Fusion.

<i>Children of Forever</i> 1973 studio album by Stanley Clarke

Children of Forever is the debut album by jazz fusion bassist Stanley Clarke. It was recorded in December 1972, and was released in 1973 by Polydor Records. On the album, Clarke is joined by vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Andy Bey, flutist Arthur Webb, guitarist Pat Martino, keyboardist Chick Corea, and drummer Lenny White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Marienthal</span> American jazz musician

Eric Marienthal is a Grammy Award-nominated Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres.

<i>Thunder</i> (SMV album) 2008 studio album by SMV

Thunder is the debut studio album by supergroup S.M.V., consisted of bassists Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten. It was released on August 12, 2008 via Heads Up International. Recording sessions took place at Hannibal Studio and Threshold Sound + Vision in Santa Monica, at House of Blues Studios in Encino, at Westlake Studios and Le Gonks West in Los Angeles, at VixMix Studios in Nashville, and at Ryan's Place in Topanga. The entire album was produced by Marcus Miller with co-production by Clarke and Wooten. It features contributions from Antoinette "Butterscotch" Clinton on vocals, George Duke, Ruslan Sirota, Ariel Mann, Chick Corea and Karlton Taylor on keyboards, Ronald Bruner Jr., Poogie Bell, Derico Watson and J. D. Blair on drums, Kevin Ricard on percussion, Michael "Patches" Stewart on trumpet, and Steve Baxter on trombone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mads Tolling</span> Danish-American violinist, violist, and composer

Mads Tolling is a Danish-American violinist, violist, composer and two-time Grammy Award-Winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Earl</span> American jazz bass guitarist

James Christopher Earl is an American jazz bass guitarist who is a member of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! band.

<i>The Stanley Clarke Band</i> 2010 studio album by the Stanley Clarke Band

The Stanley Clarke Band is an album by the Stanley Clarke Band led by jazz bassist Stanley Clarke. It was released by Heads Up Record in June 2010 and was produced by Clarke and Lenny White. Band members include Ruslan Sirota on keyboard, Ronald Bruner, Jr. on drums and featured performer Hiromi on piano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Vibberts</span> Musical artist

Brian Vibberts is an American audio engineer, a native of Portland, Connecticut, who has been active since 1991. He is a 7-time Grammy Award winner and has participated in the making of numerous albums that have resulted in Grammy Award nominations and winners. Also known by the nickname, "Dr Vibb," he has creatively recorded or mixed many multi-platinum artists in many genres, including Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, The Pussycat Dolls, Bon Jovi, Natasha Bedingfield, Green Day, Trace Adkins, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Ice Cube, Boyz II Men, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Brad Paisley, Ringo Starr, Mariah Carey and Tony Bennett.

<i>Forever</i> (Corea, Clarke & White album) 2011 live album / Studio album by Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White

Forever is a double CD album of live acoustic recordings recorded in California, Tokyo and Seattle in 2009 by the Return to Forever pianist Chick Corea, bass player Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White and studio rehearsals with guests Jean-Luc Ponty, Bill Connors and Chaka Khan. It was released on the Concord label I 2011.

References

  1. "Grammy nominees and winners". Grammy.com. Feb 13, 2011. Retrieved Feb 14, 2011.
  2. Djansezian, Kevork (Feb 13, 2011). "The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards – Press Room". Zimbio/Getty Images . Retrieved Feb 14, 2011. Ronald Bruner Jr. and Ruslan Sirota accept the Best Contemporary Jazz Album award on behalf of the The Stanley Clarke Band for "The Stanley Clarke Band" in the press room at The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
  3. 1 2 "Biography". Jazz.ru. Retrieved Nov 8, 2009.
  4. Sullivan, Stefan (Dec 3, 2005). "Stanley Clarke: His bass is hit; Jazz legend plays at Blues Alley". The Washington Times . Retrieved June 17, 2010. Keyboardist Ruslan Sirota[...]displayed not only solid old school chops[...]but also the technical wizardry that Mr. Clarke's fusion idiom seems to demand.
  5. "The Stanley Clarke Band". Concord Music Group . Retrieved July 8, 2010. "Ruslan is becoming a recognizable force in the music world," Clarke notes. "He is one of the few musicians I'm aware of that knows a thousand songs. He has a unique understanding of the jazz language."
  6. "Ruslan Sirota Discography and Music". CD Universe . Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  7. "Ruslan Sirota Credits". Artistdirect . Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  8. "Ruslan Sirota". Barnes & Noble . Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  9. "Ruslan by Ruslan". iTunes Store. October 24, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  10. "Ruslan: Ruslan Sirota". Amazon. October 24, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  11. "Ruslan Sirota for magicmusicfoundation.org". NME . Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  12. Wain, Phil (June 15, 2010). "A Review of "The Stanley Clarke Band"". No Treble. Retrieved July 8, 2010. Ruslan Sirota's "Soldier" opens the proceedings; the Ukrainian born, former child-prodigy wrote the piece to frame his concerns about continuing global conflict.