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Live Performance
Chris is a very versatile performer. He performs in a wide variety of musical settings. As a solo performer one night, with his duo, trio, or quartet on another, or as a member of the group, Bamboo Blue. bluebamboomusic.com.
Whatever the configuration, variety is the name of the game. A typical performance will include blues, jazz, pop covers, folk tunes, classic rock, motown, reggae, and more. Chris has an abiding love of all forms of music and enjoys mixing it up. He’ s also one of the best guitarists you’re likely to hear anywhere!
He’s had five national CD releases and recieved rave reviews around the world as a jazz musician, but a look at Chris’ resume reveals an artist with a much wider range of interests. He’s backed up artists as diverse as Bo Diddley, the Coasters, Herbie Mann and Slash. He’s opened for both MIles Davis and James Brown. He led one of the most successful casino show bands on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for five years and he learned his craft in cover bands traveling the US. Chris is equally comfortable, whatever the venue, or particular mode of expression.
CD Projects
Chris’ CDs are all jazz oriented, but quite accessible to the novice. Each one is unique, focusing on a particular style. A snapshot of a field of interest Chris was pursuing at the time. Latin jazz, fusion, smooth jazz, straight ahead and traditional jazz have all been represented.
Please scroll down and follow the links to hear samples. All songs are available as individual downloads, or full length CDs can be ordered by mail.
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Chris Cortez
Featuring: Woody Witt, Paul Peacock, Joel Fulgham, Ryan Ogrodowicz, Glen Ackerman, Jeff Mills, Andrew Lienhard, John Wooton, and Mark Piszczek.
After hurricane Katrina forced the guitarist to relocate to Houston, Cortez re-invented himself. His new CD is a collection of aggressive, original, instrumental, latin jazz/fusion tunes. Cortez burns on an acoustic guitar throughout 10 tracks, impeccably recorded. The sound is modern, fresh, and unique, presenting latin rhythms, odd meters, tight ensemble passages, and extended solos. The CD is a departure from Mum Is The Word (BBM007-2005), and Hold It Right There (BBM006-2004), in that it contains no vocals, and features Chris in a much more modern musical setting. Chris forges ahead into brand new territory on Arlington Park,Territorial Imperative, Palmettos, Interlude, Let The Cat Out, Awakenings, The Rose Of Shalamar, The Iguana, Eventide, and Different Strokes. Cortez’ spectacular guitar work is front and center, and all of the supporting cast deliver incredible performances throughout.
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Chris Cortez
Following the success of last year’s Hold It Right There, and Groovopolis, guitarist/vocalist Chris Cortez delivers a blazing set of acoustic, straight ahead jazz. The disc is a mixture of vocal and instrumental tracks, including 5 new originals, and 7 classic chestnuts like Everyday I Have The Blues, Georgia On My Mind, Sweet Georgia Brown, Honeysuckle Rose, Manha De Carnival, Lazy River, and Avalon. Cortez’s originals feature clever, “tongue in cheek” lyrics, guaranteed to bring a smile. My Way Is Better, plays to “control freaks” everywhere. The title track, Mum Is The Word, touches on the pitfalls of social interaction. Bad Attitude presents a dead-on description of the musician’s life, and Rhythm Method Blues tells the story of a man with too many children. The Brazillian flavored instrumental, Trouble With Larry is at once, touching and energetic. Everything is presented with Cortez’s ever present, and quite spectacular guitar work and feral vocals, supported by Chris’ regular band, and special guests As with all Blue Bamboo productions, this is an impeccable recording with just enough stylistic variety to keep things fresh and interesting.
Also featuring:
Sam Bruton, Jeff Mills, Edwin Livingston, Larry Panella, John Wooton, and special guests, New Orleans favorites, James Singleton, Humphrey Davis Jr., Dean Fransen, Billy Bargetzi, and John Reid.
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Chris Cortez
The mastermind behind last year's "Groovopolis," guitarist/vocalist Chris Cortez leads his amazing group through a cool, swinging collection of standards, impeccably recorded in Blue Bamboo Studios. The group includes Jeff Mills, Dean Fransen, Tommy Sciple, and Larry Panela. Additional performances by Reggie Murray, Jay Webb, and Sam Bruton.
Tracks include: Hold It Right There, Lullaby of Birdland, Ain’t Misbehavin’, All Right Ok You Win, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Jordu, Tico Tico, Stormy Weather, Cloudburst, Benny’s From Heaven, Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, Red Top, and The Best Is Yet To Come
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Chris Cortez
Groovopolis
GREETINGS PEOPLE OF EARTH!
This cosmic band of five GROOVOPLEANS, known individually as Christopher Cortez (guitar), Dean Fransen (keyboards), Jay Webb (trumpet), Lenny DiMartino (bass), and Jeff Mills (drums), are currently brewing this cosmic stew in the city known to you as New Orleans, Louisiana. The GROOVERS have found the climate, cuisine, and local GROOVETHIC to be very conducive to spreading GROOVITIS, and plan to use this city as a launching pad for their worldwide campaign to infect the earth with this very desirable condition.
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Chris Cortez
Talamasca
Original jazz from this award winning composer and guitarist. Selections include: Topaz, Talamasca, Chrono Syncrastic Infundibulum, The Iguana, Katherine, Megaman, Say Ah, Bayou Liberty, Ten Tan Tens, Greenwood Cliff, Arabesque, Different Strokes, Sirens Of Titan, Martes Gordo. Featuring: Danny Infante, Troy Jones, Chuck Arnold, John Touchy, Joe Raines, Gary Marcus, Rick Dior, and Noah Shaye.