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S.F. Trumpeter Bill Ortiz on Playing with Souls of Mischief, Covering Gil Scott-Heron, and Touring with Sheila E.

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citylogo S.F. Trumpeter Bill Ortiz on Playing with Souls of Mischief, Covering Gil Scott Heron, and Touring with Sheila E.​”Souls of Mischief brought me in initially to replace a sample that was going to cost them too much to clear!” So says San Francisco-born trumpeter Bill Ortiz with a laugh as he recalls his contribution to the Bay Area rap quartet’s cherished debut album ’93 ‘Til Infinity. Ortiz’s playing can be heard on the chorus and outro to the song “Live And Let Live.” Now Ortiz has brought his commingling with the rap world up to date by featuring The Grouch and Zion I‘s Zumbi on his latest EP, which begins with a titular cover of Gil Scott-Heron’s “Winter In America” and is out now digitally.

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Bill Ortiz Video “Winter In Ameria” from the EP “Winter In America” Featuring Tony Lindsey and The Grouch

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0 Bill Ortiz Video Winter In Ameria from the EP Winter In America Featuring Tony Lindsey and The Grouch

This song is a cover and tribute to the iconic artist Gil Scott-Heron, and features some very dynamic performances by Grammy award winning Santana vocalist Tony Lindsey, and conscious hip hop poet “The Grouch.” This song can be found on my latest EP release of the same name. The video was created by Ari Berger and domoarifoto- she’s an outstanding young visual artist. A longstanding member of the Santana band, Bill Ortiz is proud to present his new solo EP release Winter In America from his forthcoming album, Highest Wish. A follow up to his debut solo album From Where I Stand, the new project features conscious emcees such as The Grouch, Zumbi (of Zion I) and K-Maxx, as well as fellow Santana member (and 11 time Grammy® Award Winner) Tony Lindsey, and iconic poet/vocalist Linda Tillery, featured with a spoken word performance of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Nobel Peace Prize speech.

Join the Debut of My Video for “Winter In America” January 23.

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Hi Everyone,

I wanted to let all my friends and fans know about the debut of my video for my release of “Winter In America” on Monday January 23rd 2012, at Noon Pacific Standard Time. You will be able to watch right here on my site.

This song is a cover and tribute to the iconic artist Gil Scott-Heron, and features some very dynamic performances by Grammy award winning Santana vocalist Tony Lindsey, and conscious hip hop poet “The Grouch.” This song can be found on my latest EP release of the same name. The video was created by Ari Berger and domoarifoto- she’s an outstanding young visual artist.

I look forward to your feedback-I hope you like it as much as I do icon smile Join the Debut of My Video for Winter In America January 23.

My EP is available to my Facebook friends and fans now at http://billortizmusic.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for your continued support of my music and independent artists!

Best Regards,

Bill Ortiz

Santana’s Trumpet Player Goes Hip-Hop For MLK Day

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Santana’s Trumpet Player Goes Hip Hop For MLK Day(AllHipHop News) Bay area rap veterans The Grouch and Zumbi will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with a new collaborative EP with Santana’s trumpet player, Bill Ortiz.

The Grouch and Zumbi by are among the artists who have teamed with Bill Ortiz to release the album Winter in America, which is the predecessor to his forthcoming album, Highest Wish.

Bill Ortiz has played with Santana for over 12 years, but he has also been connected to the Hip-Hop world as well.

Bill Ortiz has played trumpet on a variety of Hip-Hop artists’ tracks, including “93 til Infinity,” which was a hit for the Souls of Mischief, as well as songs by Tony Toni Tone, Destiny’s Child, TLC, and others.

“Carlos has always used music to inspire and bring people together,” Ortiz explained. “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.”

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Santana Trumpeter Bill Ortiz Readies New Hip-Hop EP “Winter in America” Featuring Many Special Guests

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cover250 Santana Trumpeter Bill Ortiz Readies New Hip Hop EP “Winter in America” Featuring Many Special Guests

December 20th, 2011 (San Francisco, CA)—A longstanding member of the Santana band, Bill Ortiz is proud to present his new solo EP release Winter In America from his forthcoming album, Highest Wish. A follow up to his debut solo album From Where I Stand, the new project features conscious emcees such as The Grouch, Zumbi (of Zion I) and K-Maxx, as well as fellow Santana member (and 11 time Grammy® Award Winner) Tony Lindsey, and iconic poet/vocalist Linda Tillery, featured with a spoken word performance of Dr. Martin Luther 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,” Ortiz adds of how he chose his featured guests. “We often celebrate ignorance in our society, so I wanted to celebrate consciousness.” Ortiz covers Gil Scott Heron’s 1973 hit 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’s been 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” and has worked with Tony Toni Tone, Sheila E, TLC, among others. Continue reading →