Category Archives: Press

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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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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